Travel quarantine instructions (catered)

Accommodation

Travel quarantine (self-catered)

By Adrian 19 Jul 2021

Updated on 19 July 2021.

Have you seen our new requirements, requests and recommendations for staying safe, together?

You can find all our COVID-19 content at campuslife.london.ac.uk/tags/COVID-19.

There is a quick summary at campuslife.london.ac.uk/covid19-guidance-start-here_122007.

We also recommend that you stay up to date with guidance from the UK government and the NHS.

Travelling to the UK

Everyone arriving in England from outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands) must:

have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 3 days before departing for England;
book and pay for COVID-19 tests to take after arrival in England (the number of tests and where they may be taken depend on where the person has travelled from);
complete a passenger locator form before arriving at the UK border; and
follow the red, amber, or green rules relevant to the area where they have travelled from.

If you have travelled from or through a red list country

You must quarantine in a government-approved hotel.

If you have travelled from or through an amber list country...

… and you have been fully vaccinated by the NHS

You will not have to quarantine, but you will need to complete a passenger locator form and take a coronavirus test before arriving in the UK; and take a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival in the UK. The government guidance is HERE. You can see how to get your NHS COVID Pass to confirm your vaccination history HERE.

Please note that if you have travelled from or through France in the 10 days prior to arriving in the UK, you must follow the instructions as if you are not fully vaccinated.

… and you have not been fully vaccinated with an NHS vaccine

You must quarantine when you arrive in the UK and take pre-paid PCR tests on days 2 and 8 after arrival. Quarantine normally lasts for 10 full days after you arrive, but there is an option to take an additional, paid-for, "test-to-release" COVID-19 test on day 5 of quarantine.

See our guidance for residents in catered accommodation or self-catered accommodation.

If you have travelled from a green list country and have not visited any red or amber list countries in the 10 days prior to arrival in the UK

You will not have to quarantine, but you will need to complete a passenger locator form and take a coronavirus test before arriving in the UK; and take a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival in the UK. The government guidance is HERE.

Quarantine in halls

Below are the key instructions that you must follow when quarantining after international travel. You will also find our self-isolation and quarantine FAQs helpful.

Notify us

Tell us that you have to enter travel quarantine using the form at bit.ly/uolselfisolation.

If you do not complete the form, we will not be able to support you as detailed below.

STAY IN YOUR ROOM

You may leave your room only for the following reasons, as infrequently as possible and returning to your room without delay:

If applicable, to use the shared bathroom for your cluster flat – and please wipe down surfaces after use.
If applicable, to use the shared kitchen to prepare food – do not use at the same time as anyone else, and do not eat your food in the kitchen (take it to your room).
To evacuate the building if the fire alarm sounds, or other emergency.
To obtain medical care or essential medicines, or to collect or return coronavirus tests.
To use the hall garden as outlined HERE.
Other limited reasons, outlined at gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk.

Do not allow anyone into your room

No one else should enter your room unless it is to help in an emergency.

Shared bathroom facilities

If you share bathroom facilities, please use the toilet and shower cubicles marked with an orange “travel quarantine” sign.

New arrivals: we can help you with food

If this is your first arrival in London this academic year (e.g. at the start of term 1 in September/October), we will provide you with food for the first three days of your travel quarantine. From day four, you should arrange a supermarket delivery and ask a friend to bring the delivery to your room/flat from reception.

At Eleanor Rosa House

We can provide you with a box of basic emergency supplies to last for three days.

In self-catered accommodation at all other halls

We will deliver breakfast, lunch, and dinner to your room, Monday to Friday; and brunch and dinner, Saturday and Sunday, for your first three days of travel quarantine.

Use delivery services instead of going out

Please order food and other essentials online, for delivery to your hall, instead of going out shopping. You might find THIS LIST of delivery companies useful.

Wear a face covering and keep a safe distance

You must wear a face covering over your mouth and nose at all times when outside your room.

The UK government guidance about face coverings is HERE. The Mayor of London's face covering guidance is also very helpful. Keep a safe distance of at least 2 metres from other people at all times.

Wipe shared surfaces and equipment

Take care to wipe down all surfaces and other items in the shared kitchen and/or bathroom before and after you use them.

Clean your hands more often

Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitiser:

When you enter the building
After using the bathroom
Before eating or preparing food
Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

Catch coughs and sneezes

Catch coughs and sneezes with a single-use tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve at the elbow. Then wash or sanitise your hands.

Take care of your mental health and wellbeing

What to do if you develop symptoms of coronavirus

See HERE for what to do if you develop a new, persistent cough, fever (high temperature), or loss/change in your sense of taste/smell.

This is mandatory guidance

The police and Public Health England have powers to detain individuals who do not comply with this guidance.

In the Intercollegiate Halls, failure to quarantine/self-isolate when this is indicated will trigger paragraph 24.1 of the Licence Agreement:

24 In any of the following instances the University is entitled to end this agreement and recover possession of the Accommodation. Any other rights or remedies the University may have will remain in force:

24.1 on 24 hours’ notice if Your behaviour constitutes a serious risk to the health, safety or welfare of Yourself or others, or serious risk to the University’s or others’ property.

Adrian is a medical doctor, the Student Health & Wellbeing Manager at the University of London and the Warden of Connaught Hall, where he has lived for almost 25 years.
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