Arriving in Wales during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Self-isolation on Arrival
We understand that some students will not be able to come to Cardiff and will initially be applying to study remotely because of travel restrictions. When you do travel for your studies, you must follow the quarantine/self-isolation rules and penalties in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland (if your journey involves transit stops in these countries).
These rules are constantly changing and vary between countries. Always make sure you check the most up to date government guidance on travel restrictions and border control.
Current Welsh Government guidance states that you will have to self-isolate for 14 days if you are arriving in Wales from anywhere not on the list of exempt countries.
If you arriving from Heathrow Airport, we understand that they are developing a Covid-19 testing facility to test passengers for Covid-19 upon their arrival in the country. Currently, you are still required to isolate upon your arrival in the UK, even if you test negative for Covid-19. To see if this is definitely the case as you arrive in the UK, we would strongly advise you to monitor the Heathrow website.
Upon your arrival in Cardiff, if you are presenting symptoms of Covid-19 you should get a test as soon as possible and no later than five days of the symptoms occurring.
Cardiff University have said that if you, or someone you live with, has symptoms of Covid-19 you should follow the Government’s Guidance. Currently, this means that if you have symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 you must self-isolate for at least 10 days. If your housemate or someone from your ‘support bubble’ has tested positive for Covid-19, or is displaying the symptoms listed above, you must self-isolate for 14 days. Should a housemate develop Covid-19 symptoms during the 14-day period, the isolation period for the rest of the household does not need to be extended. The individual in questions should isolate for a further 10 days from the time that the symptoms began.
Collecting your Keys and Moving In
Keys
Some landlords/agencies may have introduced alternative protocol to their normal procedures in light of the pandemic when it comes to moving in and collecting keys. You should contact your landlord to find out how and when you can collect keys and move into your property safely. We also recommend that you consult our other Housing advice pages.
Moving In
It is possible that your landlord/letting agent may be apprehensive about permitting you to live in shared private rented accommodation while you are self-isolating. Although we appreciate that this is difficult position for your landlord/agency to be in, especially if the other tenants are worried, it is our current understanding that your landlord/agency have no legal grounds to prevent you from moving in immediately. The latest Welsh Government guidance, updated 21 September 2020, How to self isolate when you travel to Wales: Coronavirus (COVID-19), gives very clear information on self-isolation and does allow you to move in with others. Very importantly, it also says that you
"should isolate in one place for the full 14 days, where you can have food and other necessities delivered, and stay away from others. You must isolate at the address you provided on the Passenger Locator Form.
This can include:
- your own home
- staying with friends or family
- a hotel or other temporary accommodation
You should not have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are providing essential care. The only friends and family who you can have contact with are those who travelled with you or people who you are staying with."
The landlord/agency may be guilty of an offence if they prevent you from living in your accommodation without lawful reason.
If the landlord/agency refuse to give you the keys or allow you to move in, you will need to seek temporary accommodation and contact us urgently for advice on what to do next.
If you are unable to reside in your private rented accommodation upon your arrival in the UK, you must complete a new Passenger Locator Form with the address of the alternative premises as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Self-isolation During your Stay
Self-isolation is different to social distancing and shielding and is something you MUST do if you might have, or have, Coronavirus. When you are self-isolating, you must not leave your home, even for University, work, purchasing essentials or exercise.
The Welsh Government guidance states that you should isolate in one place for the full 14 days, where you can have food and other necessities delivered, and stay away from others. You must isolate at the address you provided on the Passenger Locator Form.
This can include:
- your own home
- staying with friends or family
- a hotel or other temporary accommodation
You should not have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are providing essential care. The only friends and family who you can have contact with are those who travelled with you or people who you are staying with.
You cannot go out to work or school or visit public areas. You should not go shopping unless necessary - if you require help buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, you should ask friends or relatives or order a delivery.
In Wales, a person who is isolating must not leave their premises to exercise.
In Wales, you can only leave your premises in limited circumstances. These include where:
- you need urgent medical assistance (or where your doctor has advised you to get medical assistance) or access to veterinary care for a pet within your and it is not possible or practicable for someone else in your accommodation to do this;
- you need access to basic necessities like food and medicines and you haven’t been able to arrange for another person to get them or they cannot be delivered;
- you need to access public services such as social services and victim support services that are critical to your well-being and cannot be accessed if you remain on the premises;
- you need to leave for compassionate reasons; for example you attend the funeral of a family member or a close friend;
- you carry out specified activities in relation to edible horticulture, but only if you are residing at the premises in connection with those activities;
- you are avoiding illness or injury or escaping a risk of harm;
- you need to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;
- you are competing in a sporting event specified in Schedule 4 or providing coaching or other support to a person who is competing in such an event, to participate in the event or to undertake training or other activities connected to the event;
- you are officiating at, or involved in running, such a sporting event, to attend the event or to undertake activities connected to officiating or running the event;
- you are, in the course of your work, involved in broadcasting such a sporting event, to attend the event for the purpose of the broadcast or to undertake preparatory activities connected to broadcasting of the event;
- you are, in the course of your work, involved in journalistic activity at such a sporting event, to attend the event for the purpose of undertaking that activity.
You should not change the place where you are isolating except in limited circumstances. These circumstances will include where:
- a legal obligation requires you to change the premises at which you reside for the purpose of an isolation requirement;
- you are otherwise unable to remain at the premises at which you are residing for the purpose of an isolation requirement.
If this happens, you must complete a new Passenger Locator Form with the address of the alternative premises as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Within your accommodation
The people you're staying with do not need to stay at home, unless they travelled with you. Avoid contact with them and minimise the time you spend in shared spaces, like kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas.
If you’re staying in a hotel or guest house, you must stay away from others who didn’t travel with you, so it’s important that you don’t use shared areas such as bars, restaurants, health clubs and sports facilities. Stay 2 metres apart from other people staying there at all times.
It is important to avoid contact with other people in your home in order to reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus. You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to the outside that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.
If you can, you should use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If you have to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required after each person has used them. Make sure you use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.
Washing your hands and keeping good hygiene
Everyone should wash their hands regularly, but this is particularly important for people who have recently travelled to the UK because you could have contracted coronavirus and not yet developed symptoms. Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water, for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly. Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues into a plastic waste bag, and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly.
After isolating for 14 days
If you do not have any coronavirus symptoms after 14 days, you can stop isolating. You must still observe social distancing.
What to do if you get coronavirus symptoms
You should look for any of the following symptoms in the 14 days after the day you arrive in the UK:
- new continuous cough
- high temperature
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
If you have any of these symptoms, you should continue to isolate at home. If you are staying with others and you develop symptoms, the whole household that you are staying with will need to begin isolating.
You should apply for a test if you have the symptoms of coronavirus. Please see the guidance on testing for more information.
If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS Wales 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19) service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
If you develop symptoms, you must isolate for at least 14 days from the point you arrived in the UK and if you get symptoms during that time for at least 7 days from symptom onset, until you are better and no longer have a high temperature. You will need to isolate for 14 days from the time that you arrived in the UK even if you have had and recovered from coronavirus symptoms in this time. If you are tested and receive a negative result for coronavirus, you must continue to isolate until you have been in the UK for 14 days, even if your symptoms have gone.
If you arrived in the UK more than 14 days ago, you do not need to continue isolation once you have had symptoms for 7 days and your temperature has returned to normal. Symptoms of a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste can last for several weeks after the infection has gone and so you can stop isolating even if you have these symptoms. The household you are staying with should isolate for 14 days from the point that your symptoms start.
If you develop new symptoms or your existing symptoms worsen within your 14-day isolation period, then please contact NHS Wales 111 again and follow their advice.
Support & Shopping
If you are moving in to Cardiff University Residences, and need to self-isolate for 14 days, you will receive a welcome pack in your room on arrival. It will include bedding, basic kitchen essentials and groceries.
If you are moving in to private accommodation, you can contact your accommodation provider to see what they are able to offer you.
If you need support collecting shopping or medicine when you are self-isolating, you may be able to seek help from an NHS Volunteer. If you are staying in Cardiff, you can also contact Cardiff City Council on +44(0)2920 871 071 to get help if you are unable to leave your accommodation and need essential items.
Most UK supermarkets will deliver food and other items either for free or for a low fee. If you are using these services, you can usually submit your order online. If you’re only buying the basics, take a look at the CO-OP’s Online groceries or Sainsbury’s Chop-chop app for a quick delivery. Otherwise, other shops continue to provide their online services but, given the circumstances, delivery slots may be competitive and it is sensible to plan orders a week or two in advance if possible.
Contact Student Advice
Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410