It is expected that all eligible adults aged 18 years and over will be offered the vaccine in due course. 

Information on the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is available on the Public Health Agency website.

If you are eligible (for example, if vaccination has been offered to your age group), book your appointment at: https://vaccinations.covid-19.hscni.net/

You can also book your vaccination via telephone on 0300 200 7813 Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8.00pm.

It is expected that all eligible adults aged 18 years and over will be offered the vaccine in due course. You do not have to be registered with a GP.

Information on the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is available on the Public Health Agency website. 

If you are eligible (for example, if vaccination has been offered to your age group), book your appointment at: https://vaccinations.covid-19.hscni.net/

You can also book your vaccination via telephone on 0300 200 7813 Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8.00pm.

Registering with a GP

We also recommend that, if you have not done so already, that you register with a GP.

For information on how to register with a GP please have visit the MyQueen’s site.

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:

• the University's FAQs page for students and staff
• the Public Health Agency website
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website
• GOV.UK website
• The World Health Organization

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:

1. Download the app
2. Immediately self-isolate if you develop symptoms / test positive
3. Inform the University if you receive a positive test, have developed symptoms or are self-isolating via our dedicated online platform.

There are other steps we should all be taking on a daily basis. Please continue to:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Practice social distancing
• Wear a face covering if 2 metres social distancing cannot be maintained
• Follow the latest public health agency advice
• Review Queen's FAQs for staff and students

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.

VIDEO: Dr. Conor Bamford reminds us how the virus spreads and the key things we should all remember.

VIDEO: Dr Lindsay Broadbent explains more about social distancing, why it is so important and how it should be applied on campus with the help of some of the Students’ Union Officers.

VIDEO: Dr. Dan Corbett outlines why hand washing is one of the most important things we can do and how to do it right.

VIDEO: Keith Halliday, Estates Manager summarises the cleaning protocols we have in place and with the help of the SU President, what we can all do to play our part.

VIDEO: Dr Lindsay Broadbent summarises why face coverings are so important to reduce the spread and clarifies the University policy.

VIDEO:  Prof. David Jones summarises how face to face teaching will be delivered in safe, socially distanced way and what everyone can do to ensure public health guidelines are adhered to.

VIDEO: Prof. Stuart Elborn provides clear guidance for staff and students to explain what you should do if you develop symptoms, receive a positive test or are contact traced.

Are the University’s campus and facilities still open?

On 14 October the NI Executive advised Northern Ireland Universities and further education institutions to deliver online learning as much as possible. In line with this announcement, we will now maximise digital delivery for the rest of the semester, with face to face learning only taking place where it is an essential and unavoidable element of the course.

The University will, however,  continue to offer many services and the following facilities will remain open, with strict social distancing and safety measures being applied.

• Queen’s Accommodation
• Physical Education Centre for individual exercise
• McClay Library
• Graduate School
• Student Guidance Centre
• Students’ Union (inc. Advice SU, Student Representation, Clubs & Societies and other services)
• The Welcome Centre

The University will keep the availability of all of these services and facilities under constant review.  Other services and activities such as cafes and restaurants (other than for take-away) and team sports will not be possible for the next four weeks. All students living in University accommodation will continue to be fully supported and we would encourage students to remain in their accommodation if they wish to do so.

• Return to Campus Guidance produced by Safety Services
• Public Health Agency guidance
• The NI Executive’s ‘Pathway to Recovery’
• The University's COVID-19 FAQs

A risk assessment has been completed for each teaching space and the necessary safety measures have been applied. These are detailed on the Safety Services website here.

In summary:

• Students are required to wear face coverings during teaching.
• Students are expected to maintain a minimum of 1m physical distance between each other. Furniture has been reconfigured to support this.
• Students are expected to maintain a minimum of 2m physical distance between themselves and the member of staff. Teaching rooms have been reconfigured to support this, including the use of floor markings.
• Staff are advised to wear a face visor when providing face to face teaching as face coverings can pose a challenge to individuals with hearing impairment who rely on lip reading and facial expression to communicate.
• Enhanced daily cleaning of teaching spaces.
• Timetabling adjusted to allow for 20 min changeover time between classes to allow safe transition.
• Provision of sanitising wipes to encourage wiping down of surfaces and frequent touch points.
• Provision of hand sanitiser at points of entry/exit from teaching areas.

VIDEO:  Prof. David Jones summarises how face to face teaching will be delivered in safe, socially distanced way and what everyone can do to ensure public health guidelines are adhered to.

It is important to be mindful that face coverings 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 face 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 scoping and purchasing equipment needed to carry out core duties. Therefore you need to raise this with your line manager as part of any 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.

We intend to continue with research on campus that cannot be done remotely. Other research that can be done from home should continue on that basis.

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: 

• Google Play Store 

• Apple App Store 

Text alert service

If you feel unwell with any of these symptoms, you should follow these important steps: 

• Self-isolate immediately. If you are on campus when symptoms begin to develop, please put on a face covering straight away and return to your home or accommodation, avoiding public transport if you can. Where required the university can assist you in booking a special COVID secure taxi to transport you home, please call extension 3550.

• Arrange a test. You can do this online via this link or by calling 119. The advice from the Public Health Agency is that you should get tested in the first three days of coronavirus symptoms appearing. If you have no access to transport to access a drive through test, the University can help you arrange a special COVID secure taxi, please call 028 9097 3550 for further assistance. Please note that there is a cost for the taxi.

• Notify. Please inform the University that you are self-isolating via this online portal: http://go.qub.ac.uk/covidupdate. This is essential to ensure that the University can maintain a record of the staff and students who develop symptoms and apply precautionary measures as quickly as possible. If you live in University Accommodation, other members of your apartment will be contacted and you will be provided with the necessary support. This link is also available on the University homepage and you may wish to bookmark the link so you can find it easily. If you do not live in University Accommodation, you should also inform other members of your household so they can follow the official public health agency advice to self-isolate. Members of staff should also inform their line manager or school manager separately.

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.

VIDEO: Prof. Stuart Elborn provides clear guidance for staff and students to explain what you should do if you develop symptoms, receive a positive test or are contact traced.

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 through the online portal: http://go.qub.ac.uk/covidupdate. If you have already notified us that you are isolating, updating the portal to let us know that you now have received a positive test is really important.

If you are not able to access the portal you can call the Covid Response Team on 028 9097 3550. 

Letting us know 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.

For further information please contact the University Covid Response Team:

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm

Email: covidresponseteam@qub.ac.uk 
Tel: 028 9097 3550

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.

The PHA guidance states that close contacts have to isolate for 10 days from date of last exposure with contact. This is because of the length of the incubation period and the risk of transmission.

The PHA guidance is that those with a positive test have to isolate for 10 days and can complete their period of isolation after this time if they have been free of fever for 2 days. If they have not, they need to continue until it is 2 days since they experienced a fever.

Yes – that is the current advice of the PHA.

PHA guidance states that if you have been identified as a close contact you must isolate for 10 days irrespective if, during this time, you take a test that is negative.

If, however, you have symptoms and take a test that is negative, then the guidance states that you can return to normal activity if you test negative and have not had a fever for 48 hours. However, if there are members of your household who have had a positive Covid-19 test result, then you must continue to isolate even if you are negative. This is because of the risk of going on to test positive. For specific advice on how long you should isolate please contact the PHA or call 111.

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.

If you are a student or member of staff and are either self-isolating or have developed symptoms or have received a positive test, please inform the university here.

Guidance for staff and managers regarding self-isolation is available on the People and Culture website.

All students and staff are strongly encouraged to get tested before coming on to campus for any reason and then to arrange regular testing twice a week for as long as you are on campus. 

Find out more and book a test.

Asymptomatic testing is suitable only for those who are not displaying symptoms. If you develop symptoms at any time, it is essential that you self-isolate immediately and book a test here.

It is essential that we all continue to follow the public health guidelines regardless of whether or not we have received a negative asymptomatic test. All members of the Queen’s community are expected to maintain social distance from others, wear a face covering indoors and regularly wash or sanitise their hands.

The testing is not mandatory; however, we are encouraging as many staff and students as possible to get tested as an additional mitigation measure to help reduce transmission.

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 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:

• connecting with people digitally;
• trying to keep active;
• finding ways to relax and keep your mind challenged (which can be work or study related or otherwise).

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:

• addiction
• anxiety or depression
• bereavement
• bullying and harassment
• debt problems
• employment concerns
• experience of a traumatic event
• family worries
• personal relationship problems
• stress

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.

Once you have been granted permission to travel, you can arrange a test with Kingsbridge Private Hospital. Book your appointment by:

• telephoning the dedicated booking number:  028 9077 6777.  The booking lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 7.30pm, and Saturday, 9.00am -3.00pm. Inform the booking agent that you are a Queen's staff member and provide your staff number and the name of your School / Department;
  
  
• emailing info@kingsbridgehealthcaregroup.com providing your name, contact number, staff number, name of your School / Department, and your travel dates (service available Monday to Friday, 9.00am-4.30pm)
  
  
• texting "book now" to 66777 followed by Queen’s staff member and a Kingsbridge team member will call you back. (service available Monday to Friday, 9.00am-4.30pm)

Bring your staff card to your appointment.

Please note that for your return journey PCR test you are responsible for making your own arrangements and processing payment through staff expenses.

All business travellers are responsible for reviewing official guidance (FCDO, PHA) and University guidance regularly and must ensure that travel arrangements are made with their safety and wellbeing as the ultimate priority.

Please contact the University’s travel provider, Selective Travel on +44 (0)28 9044 2073 or qub@selective-travel.co.uk.

In the case of staff or students needing emergency medical treatment while on University approved essential travel, advice and support is available through UMAL on a 24 hour basis:

• Tel: +44 (0)2920 662425
• Email@ UMAL@global-response.co.uk 
• Please quote the Queen’s University Belfast reference: UMAL170

Over the last few months some Field trips / Field work have recommenced in Northern Ireland, following appropriate Safety Services advice and risk assessment.

For Fieldwork outside of Northern Ireland and the Common Travel Area, the University will continue to follow FCDO guidance on advising against all but essential international travel except to the countries currently exempt. Any requests to recommence field work must follow the Field Work Approval Guideline and ensure that an appropriate risk assessment has been submitted to Safety Services by email to safety@qub.ac.uk, taking into account the risks arising from Covid-19 and identifying the appropriate mitigation measures.

Please be aware that in order for University travel cover to apply, the travel must be approved in line with University procedures (see FAQs), which includes a suitable risk assessment being carried out. Travel cover will provide for Emergency Medical Treatment, including Covid-related treatment while overseas. However, there is no cover for any costs incurred in respect of Covid related issues; for example, cancellation, curtailment, isolation etc, and any such costs will be borne by the home School/Directorate.

If travel is authorised by any School or Directorate, staff should notify the University Insurance Section, of the relevant details for the journey, by completing an online travel notification form.

Details can be found on the Queen’s Travel Insurance page.

If you have any queries, please contact insurance@qub.ac.uk.

We have established an email 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. Please refer to this FAQs page in the first instance before getting in contact.

Please email your query to covid19callcentre@qub.ac.uk.

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.

If the information you are looking for is not addressed in the University's Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs, there are a range of contact points for staff and students: