To help keep you up-to-date with the latest information and updates, we continue to regularly update information provided on this COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQs website.
This is an evolving situation and staff and students are asked to continue to visit and regularly check the following websites for the latest updates and guidance:
Please follow advice published on the PHA website.
Northern Ireland now has full access to the NHS 111 helpline service on coronavirus. Callers should press 1 when they are advised. This service is provided in Northern Ireland solely for coronavirus guidance and not for other conditions.
In the case of medical emergency, call 999.
It makes sense to practice good hygiene and follow advice published on the PHA website.
Please remember these three simple steps:
There are other steps we should all be taking on a daily basis. Please continue to:
Your wellbeing is the University’s first priority. Please do not let any concerns about your work or studies stop you taking this advice.
VIDEO: Dr. Conor Bamford reminds us how the virus spreads and the key things we should all remember.
Developed by the Department of Health, the 'StopCOVID NI' app works by telling you automatically if you've been near another app user who tests positive and can also let them know if you test positive, though the app never knows or shares your identity or location. Download from:
Public Health Agency contact tracing
The PHA’s contact tracing service has been established to minimise community transmission of COVID-19. Close contacts will be contacted by the PHA’s contact tracing service team using the following phone number: (028) 9536 8888. Please save this number to your phone and be sure to answer any call from them, should they get in touch.
'StopCOVID NI' app
A Northern Ireland-specific contact tracing app 'StopCOVID NI' has been developed by the Department of Health. To help protect yourself and all within the Queen's community and wider public, we are encouraging all our staff and students to download this free app, which will support contact tracing, support our health service, help prevent another lockdown and save lives.
The app works by telling you automatically if you've been near another app user who tests positive and can also let them know if you test positive, though the app never knows or shares your identity or location.
You can download from:
It is important that we all monitor our own health and watch out for any of the following symptoms:
If you feel unwell with any of these symptoms, you should follow these important steps:
Your health and safety is the University’s first priority so please do not let any concerns about your work or study stop you from following any of these steps or public health advice.
If you receive a positive test, you will be given clear guidance from the health authorities to continue to self-isolate and you should update the StopCOVID NI app.
Please also inform the University immediately by calling 028 9097 3550. This is vital as it will enable us to assess the risk to others and take all the necessary precautionary steps. If you have previously used the portal to inform us that you are self-isolating, your records will be updated by the call handler accordingly. Please save this number to your phone so you can access it quickly. It is also available on the University homepage.
Your health and safety is the University’s first priority so please do not let any concerns about your work or study stop you from following any of these steps or public health advice.
If you are notified that you are a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community, you should follow all of the guidance you are given - including self-isolation if required. If you have been asked to self-isolate via the contact tracing system or by a medical professional, please inform the University via the dedicated portal. If another member of your household has been traced but they are not displaying symptoms, please check the latest advice here.
Your health and safety is the University’s first priority so please do not let any concerns about your work or study stop you from following any of these steps or public health advice.
Guidance for staff and managers regarding self-isolation is available on the People and Culture website.
Following the recent announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive, it will be mandatory at Queen's from Monday 10 August to wear a face covering "in any indoor public space where it is not possible to maintain social distancing”. This will be applied in relevant parts of University buildings and it is essential for the safety of the whole University community that this is adhered to by staff and students.
This is a rapidly changing and fluid situation so please be aware that the University’s position may change over time to reflect changes to guidance from the NI Executive and Public Health Agency. Please continue to check your University email, University FAQ pages and social media channels for updates.
It is important to emphasise that the wearing of a face covering does not reduce the importance of hand washing, good personal hygiene and social distancing, all of which are recognised as the most effective way of avoiding COVID-19.
Study spaces such as those in the libraries and Graduate School, and work areas such as office spaces have already been set-up so that social distancing can be maintained. It is therefore not mandatory for face coverings to be worn when you are at your work or study station, unless normally required as part of your role (for example in a lab or clinical setting). Similarly, one way systems and other appropriate measures have also been applied so that it is not a requirement for face coverings to be worn when moving around University buildings, for example along corridors and in stair wells. However, if you are in communal spaces such as lobby areas of buildings, social spaces and shared facilities where people tend to gather and it is not possible to maintain social distancing of 2 metres, then it is mandatory to wear a face covering from Monday 10 August.
The only exceptions have been specified by the NI Executive as follows;
There are also a small number of work settings where the mandatory use of face coverings also does not apply and staff in those areas have been made aware of this.
This reinforces the previous University position of maintaining 2 metres social distancing or 1 metre plus mitigation that was already in place. For clarity, in addition to the public/shared spaces outlined above, the wearing of a face covering may, in some instances, be one of a range of mitigations used to facilitate work to take place where social distancing of 2 metres is not possible – this is referred to as 1 metre plus mitigation.
It is not possible to be prescriptive about every potential scenario on campus where it may be necessary to wear a face-covering. All members of the community are asked to apply their common sense and act responsibly in line with public health guidance to protect themselves and those around them by wearing a face covering if social distancing cannot be maintained.
It is appreciated that many staff and students will choose to wear a face covering beyond those areas where it is mandatory as outlined above and the University fully supports this position. You should also bear in mind that for personal and health reasons that are not visible, some members of our community will not be able to wear a face covering. All staff and students are expected to respect each other’s choices in this regard.
To facilitate these guidelines, the University has a limited number of re-usable and disposable face coverings available for staff and students, should they require them.
Disposable face masks will be available from week commencing 10 August 2020, with reusable coverings available from week commencing 24 August 2020.
From Mon 31 August, a supply of face coverings and masks will be available from Faculty and School Offices and Directorate Offices including the Vice-Chancellor and Registrars’ Offices. Each office will then take responsibility for distributing to those staff who require them.
Before the 31 August, a small supply of face masks are available for collection from the security control room on Level 1, Administration Building (Tel: 028 9097-5099).
Please note that, on the basis that a central order has now been placed, there is no need to order your own face coverings/masks for your areas and you should not need to make individual requests with procurement for face coverings/masks.
Disposable face masks will be available from the Student Guidance Centre and Student Accommodation Receptions in BT1, BT2 and BT9 from Monday 10 August. The Students’ Union on Elmwood Avenue will also have a limited supply for students from Monday 31 August.
The NI Executive have provided guidance regarding the maintenance and disposal of face coverings here and you are asked to familiarise yourself with this guidance.
In addition to those shared spaces on campus where it is mandatory for all members of our community to wear a face covering if possible, it is also mandatory for students to wear a face covering during teaching.
Some members of our community will not be able to wear a face covering due to a hidden disability, medical condition or other exemption as specified by the PHA. All staff and students are expected to be sensitive and respectful of this and if someone is not wearing a face covering in an area where it is mandatory, it should be assumed that there is a legitimate reason why they cannot.
Some members of our community will not be able to wear a face covering due to a hidden disability, medical condition or other exemption as specified by the PHA. Therefore, it is not appropriate to challenge someone who is not wearing a face covering. It should be assumed that there is a legitimate reason why they cannot. All students and staff have been made aware of their personal responsibilities to protect themselves and others and we are confident that all members of our community will fulfil these obligations wherever possible without the need for enforcement.
If a student with a hearing impairment is registered with disability services this will be on their Individual Student Support Agreement (ISSA). For all new students being assessed for the first time, Disability Services are putting a specific line in the ISSA to advise on the use of appropriate face coverings, where they are being used in a teaching setting. New ISSAs are completed throughout the first semester and the Disability Services team have been working since A Level results were confirmed to assess incoming students but the volumes of students means this takes time. They are working on it as fast as they can. For returning students who have hearing impairments but with older ISSAs they may take longer to update as we naturally need to focus on new students – but their ISSA will confirm to you that they have a hearing impairment and therefore you can assume the same adjustments are necessary.
We have reached a turning point in our response to the pandemic and are now moving into a new phase which will see the transition back to campus of significant numbers of staff who have been working from home. This is an important step for the University and one which will be carefully managed. Our plans have been developed in accordance with the NI Executive’s ‘Pathway to Recovery’ and with the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and students as our first priority.
To provide reassurance and clarity on our approach, we have produced a Framework to support a safe return to campus. Developed in consultation with representatives from the Faculties and Professional Services, this Framework provides a roadmap to enable staff to return to campus using a phased approach.
The Framework provides an outline of how the University intends to manage the transition back on to campus of significant numbers of staff who have been working from home. Although the majority of decisions are being made at a local level, they should be made with reference to this framework and in conjunction with:
For People and Culture guidance relating to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the People and Culture website. This includes:
We understand you might be worried about Covid-19 and that being asked to stay at home or socially distance from other people can be difficult or stressful.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can contact Inspire, the University’s confidential employee assistance programme, or talk to your line manager.
There are also lots of things you can try that could help your wellbeing. Examples include:
For more information about how you can take care of your mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic, please visit our Staff Wellbeing page.
Inspire can provide you with advice on a range of topics, and, if needed, will also provide counselling support. This service is completely confidential, available 24/7 and is free of charge to all employees.
Staff can call the Freephone number 0800 389 5362 at any time of the day or night, seven days a week.
Some of the areas Inspire can help with are listed below - but this list is not exhaustive so please call no matter what you need advice/support on:
They have also developed an online platform, which provides a wealth of online wellbeing resources for you to access and read at your own pace. Please click here for more information.
For staff wellbeing information and events, please visit the People and Culture website.
The Estates Directorate has produced guidance to assist local areas with planning for their return to work on campus - available on the Estates Directorate website.
The Safety Services Team have conducted a risk assessment of teaching spaces and the necessary safety measures have been/are being applied. These are detailed on the Safety Services website here.
In summary:
It is important to be mindful that face covers can pose a challenge to individuals with Hearing Impairment who rely on lip reading and facial expression to communicate. It is recommended that staff use visors that ensure accessibility and inclusion for individuals with hearing impairment.
Further guidance on the wearing of face coverings with clear panels can be found on the Action On Hearing Loss website in the section “Clear Face Coverings for the General Public”.
All Schools and Directorates are in the process of planning returning to campus. This includes scoping and purchasing equipment needed to carry out core duties. Therefore you need to raise this with your line manager as part of your return to campus discussions.
For guides and resources on ways to deliver your lectures online, including support available from the Queen’s Canvas team, please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/OnlineLearning
Please contact your Director of Education to discuss.
The safety of our staff and students is paramount.
Given the on-going spread of the virus both at home and abroad and the rapidly changing travel restrictions being put in place internationally, the University is now advising staff and students against all but essential travel for business or study outside of Northern Ireland. You are asked to carefully consider your travel plans and cancel or rearrange them unless absolutely essential.
For the avoidance of doubt, activities such as student recruitment trips, visits to partner institutions, conference attendance and field trips are not considered essential.
This advice will remain in place until further notice. Any change to this advice will be published on this page. Your wellbeing is the University’s first priority. Please do not let any concerns about your work or studies stop you taking this advice. The University will ensure that students are not disadvantaged academically by following this advice.
However, if any students wish to return home before teaching finishes on the 27 March as a result of the pandemic, the University will ensure that they suffer no academic disadvantage. This includes contingency measures for assessment. However, you must consider the requirements of you visa, if applicable. If you are an international student from outside the EU and intend to return home early or need additional advice, please contact International Student Support via immigration@qub.ac.uk.
Those Queen’s students currently on placement outside of Northern Ireland are advised to check the latest advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office which has recently changed. In line with this advice, we strongly encourage students currently studying or working outside of the UK to return home. You should not allow any concerns about your studies stop you from following this advice. If you need assistance, please email coronavirus-guidance@qub.ac.uk so we can help. Hardship funds are available should you wish to return but financial barriers are preventing this. If you return home early from placement anywhere (including within the UK) the University will ensure you suffer no academic disadvantage. If you need additional advice, please contact your School Office in the first instance.
You should make an informed decision and consider that the global situation is changing rapidly including border restrictions.
In line with FCO advice, we, as a University, are suspending travel where the FCO is advising against all travel or all but essential travel. Please continue to refer to the FCO website for the most up-to-date advice. The University continues to monitor and review the situation.
To help keep our people safe, all future business travel must now be booked through the University's Travel Management Company, Selective. Selective is a local company which provides 24/7 emergency assistance to all University staff who experience flight or accommodation changes or cancellations, and provides vital management information to the Serious Incident Group when there is a significant event that could impact travellers, such as COVID-19.
As always, it is of the utmost importance that University staff remain safe and healthy during any trips in connection with University business. All business travellers are responsible for reviewing official guidance (FCO, PHA) and University guidance regularly and must ensure that travel arrangements are made with their safety and wellbeing as the ultimate priority.
Read the latest official travel advice on the (FCO) website.
Given the on-going spread of the virus both at home and abroad and the rapidly changing travel restrictions being put in place internationally, the University is now advising staff and students against all but essential travel for business or study outside of Northern Ireland. Your wellbeing is the University’s first priority. Please do not let any concerns about your work or studies stop you taking this advice.
Given the on-going spread of the virus both at home and abroad and the rapidly changing travel restrictions being put in place internationally, the University is now advising staff and students against all but essential travel for business or study outside of Northern Ireland. You are asked to carefully consider your travel plans and cancel or rearrange them unless absolutely essential.
For the avoidance of doubt, activities such as student recruitment trips, visits to partner institutions, conference attendance and field trips are not considered essential.
This advice will remain in place until further notice. Any change to this advice will be published on this page.
Your wellbeing is the University’s first priority. Please do not let any concerns about your work or studies stop you taking this advice. The University will ensure that students are not disadvantaged academically by following this advice.
In line with FCO advice, we, as a University, are suspending travel where the FCO is advising against all travel or all but essential travel. Please continue to refer to the FCO website for the most up-to-date advice. The University continues to monitor and review the situation.
To help keep our people safe, all future business travel must now be booked through the University's Travel Management Company, Selective. Selective is a local company which provides 24/7 emergency assistance to all University staff who experience flight or accommodation changes or cancellations, and provides vital management information to the Serious Incident Group when there is a significant event that could impact travellers, such as COVID-19.
As always, it is of the utmost importance that University staff remain safe and healthy during any trips in connection with University business. All business travellers are responsible for reviewing official guidance (FCO, PHA) and University guidance regularly and must ensure that travel arrangements are made with their safety and wellbeing as the ultimate priority.
Your health and wellbeing is our first priority. We would strongly encourage those staff or students who are currently studying or working outside of the UK, to follow the recent FCO guidance and return home – please email coronavirus-guidance@qub.ac.uk so we can assist. Hardship funds are available for students that wish to return but financial barriers are preventing this.
Please contact the University’s travel provider, Selective Travel, on +44 (0)28 9044 2073 or qub@selective-travel.co.uk, to change your travel arrangements.
Staff or students should contact Queen’s University Belfast’s Insurance Section for advice on making a cancellation or curtailment claim. Please ensure that you have saved all relevant documentation – receipts and booking confirmations.
Insurance staff will provide the most appropriate claims form and then advise and manage the claims process with UMAL.
For further advice, please contact the Insurance section on 02890 971484 or email insurance@qub.ac.uk.
In the case of staff or students needing emergency medical treatment while on university approved travel, advice and support is available through UMAL on a 24hr basis:
Tel: +44 (0)2920 662425
E-mail: UMAL@global-response.co.uk
Please quote the Queen’s University Belfast reference: UMAL170
All field trips, including those in Northern Ireland, should now be cancelled or postponed until further notice.
We have established an email and call back service for staff and students to try and answer and address any additional questions or concerns. Opening hours are Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, and weekends, 9.00am - 3.00pm. Please refer to this FAQs page in the first instance before getting in contact.
Please email your query to covid19callcentre@qub.ac.uk and be sure to include your telephone number.
If you need personal health advice specifically in relation to COVID-19 (coronavirus), you should call the NHS 111 service or your GP. Please do not attend your GP or emergency department without phoning in advance.
Queen's University Belfast is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
For more information please read our Equality and Diversity Policy.
Queen's University Belfast is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC101788
VAT registration number: GB 254 7995 11
