UK govt plans 'student travel window' before Christmas

LONDON, Nov 11 (AFP): University students in England will be allowed to travel home in early December after a four-week lockdown is eased to spend Christmas with their families, under government plans unveiled Wednesday.

Universities will switch to online tuition by December 9 while students will be encouraged to return home during a "travel window" through the preceding week.

Health officials and university staff will work with transport operators to ensure there are staggered departure times during the seven-day window, according to the guidance.

A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the government to impose a four-week national shutdown this month, ordering people to stay at home and most businesses to close.

It is due to end in England on December 2.

The government has said it will help universities test as many students as possible before the travel window, with institutions in areas of high coronavirus prevalence prioritised.

Those testing positive must self-isolate for 10 days, but then should still have enough time to travel home under the plans.

"You can never eliminate the risk - we're amidst a pandemic," Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told Sky News.