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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Charlotte Dobson & Paul Britton

Beer and board games as friends and families of locked-down students drop off supplies amid Covid-19 quarantine

Worried students at a locked-down Manchester Metropolitan University halls of residence have spoken of their fears and frustrations.

One fresher told the Manchester Evening News : "It's my first time away from home in a new city and I can’t even go for a walk.

"At least with the last lockdown you were allowed out for an hour a day."

They spoke as friends and parents were seen dropping off supplies for them on Sunday afternoon at Birley Campus on Bonsall Street.

The parents of one student drove for two hours from the Midlands.

They said the lockdown would have 'a very serious impact' on the health and wellbeing of students - and said they feared some could turn to drink and drugs.

Around 1,500 students have been told not to leave their accommodation for a fortnight unless it's an emergency in a bid to contain a coronavirus outbreak at two halls of residence - Birley and Cambridge Hall on Cavendish Street.

A sign in a window at Birley campus (Manchester Evening News)

Public health officials brought in the additional measures on Friday night after the number of positive cases reached 127.

Second year students Imogen Bentley and Lauren Keating delivered groceries to a friend who is being forced to quarantine inside one of the blocks of flats.

They said many students were turning to board games to pass the time - and desperately trying to access supermarket delivery slots.

Imogen said: "We actually live in Fallowfield and one of our friends from home who is in his first year lives here.

"A lot of them have been trying to get delivery slots at Asda in Hulme, but they're really hard to get.

"We've done a grocery shop for him so we're here to drop them off at the gate."

Lauren added: "It has been quite tough because they haven't really known what was going on.

"It was completely out of the blue.

"At the moment they're allowed in the outside communal areas but they can't leave the gate."

Imogen said there was confusion when a number of students tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago.

"At first they were told only people who tested positive had to quarantine for two weeks and that other people could go out," she told the M.E.N.

"Then they got the email saying that they all had to quarantine."

Lauren added: "A lot of people are just having drinks with their flat mates in the evening.

Birley campus (PA)

"We've dropped off a crate of beer for our friend with his other shopping.

"Other people have been ordering loads of board games. Some people have definitely been hitting the board games hard."

One student, Rebecca, who only wanted to give her first name, said all students had been struggling to get grocery delivery slots at supermarkets.

At the moment she is in quarantine with 11 other students in her flat.

Rebecca said: "I knew coming to university would be different because of the virus.

"But it's my first time away from home in a new city and I can’t even go for a walk. It's crazy.

Birley Halls (MEN)

"At least with the last lockdown you were allowed out for an hour a day. We don't even have that.

"We're two days in so it's been okay so far.

"You literally go from your bed to your desk and back to bed again.”

Rebecca's parents said they felt they had no choice but to drive two hours from the Midlands to deliver supplies.

Her mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I'm a healthcare professional so I do understand the seriousness of the virus and the need to contain it.

"But locking 1700 students down is going to have a very serious impact on their health and wellbeing.

"They're almost all in flats with 11 other people.

(PA)

"It's okay if you all get on but what if you don't? That’s going to be really hard for them.

"I think a lot are turning to drugs and alcohol because there's not much else to do.

"I feel for them because they all had a dreadful time with their A-levels.

"They all came through that and now they have this situation.

"Why were people being told to go to university when they knew this was going to happen?

"People should have the choice to study online from home or be offered a reduction in fees because they are not going to be getting the full experience."

Manchester Met first-year student Joe Barnes added: "It's left morale at my flat pretty low to be fair because to put it into perspective, we have just had what should have been our freshers' week.

"We should have been going out making the most of it and now we are stuck inside for another two weeks after isolating for a week already because a couple of people in our flat have caught the virus.

"So we don't see the end of it.

"For this two-week period we have had the announcement all our lessons will be online, so theoretically I could go home and study, but for me that sort of defeats the point of coming to university at all.

"I have not only just come for my studies, I have come to meet new people and enjoy the experience."

In a message to students on its website, the university said it had partnered up with Asda in Hulme, and further details were expected.

It said a Covid-19 testing system would be put in place, as students are unable to leave their halls for local testing centres.

MMU said: "As you know, this was a decision taken in conjunction with Public Health England and Manchester City Council, and was taken on the basis of the latest data.

"With more than 100 students testing positive for COVID-19 in the halls, the decision was deemed necessary to prevent the spread of the virus to other students, staff or the local community.

"We appreciate your many concerns about the impact of this isolation period and we are working hard to put plans in place to help you in the coming days."

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