Hundreds of Coventry University students cram into illegal late-night party flouting social distance despite Covid spike
HUNDREDS of students have been filmed gathering at a late-night party flouting social distancing rules despite a spike in coronavirus cases.
Footage emerged showing at least 200 students climbing on top of ping pong tables and raving at Arundel House, close to Coventry University’s main campus.
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The clip, published on social media, shows a party with numbers exceeding the Government’s rule of six – which was introduced to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Some revellers can be seen screaming while a group of students climb on top of a ping pong table as they sing along to the music.
Many can be seen filming the party, where most people do not wear face masks and do not adhere to social distancing.
A spokesman said Coventry University was aware of the incident and added any student found to be in breach of regulations could face disciplinary proceedings, Coventry Live reports.
An investigation is now under way to determine if the party had been planned – and, if so, to find the organisers.
‘RULE OF SIX’
Police said some communal areas in the accommodation have been shut down after last night’s gathering.
University Living, a platform which finds student accommodation, including at Arundel House, said of the clip: “We are not quite certain if there is any truth to it [the video footage].
“We are looking into it and are in constant touch with our accommodation partners to get a better understanding of what is happening there.
“We would like to clarify here that we do not in any way condone any such activity which is why we have also reached out to our student community to help clear the air.
“We also want to mention here that our accommodation partners are doing everything they can to ensure a safe environment for their students and staff.”
A spokesman for Coventry University said: “We are deeply concerned by the scenes in the video and strongly condemn the blatant breaches of the rule of six and other guidelines as they risk the health of our students, colleagues and the communities in which we are located.
“We have introduced a code of conduct for students and shared this widely with them ahead of the weekend.”
A spokesman for Coventry Police said: “We attended Arundel House on September 29 following reports of a large gathering of students in the early hours of the morning.
“It’s believed around 200 people may have been present in a common room.
NO SOCIAL DISTANCING
“We will be examining CCTV and will take action if evidence comes to light that this was a planned party.”
A spokesman for NIDO, which runs Arundel House, said: “We were made aware of a large social gathering in our residence in Coventry last night.
“In line with government advice, we are reinforcing our zero tolerance policy to different households mixing and have put in place stringent Covid-19 related measures.
“We have also now restricted all visitors to the building, closed communal areas, and have stepped up security across our residences to oversee these policies. We do not want the actions of a few to affect the experience of many.”
It comes as coronavirus forced thousands of students across Britain to self-isolate after more than 500 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed across at least 32 universities.
About 1,700 students are under lockdown at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) campuses of Birley and Cambridge Halls.
The University of Exeter also introduced a ‘soft lockdown’ on its students yesterday afternoon, asking them not to socialise in other people’s residences and only to mix with people within their household.
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Yesterday the Education Secretary said students may be required to self-isolate at the end of the current university term in order to safely return home to be with their families at Christmas.
Gavin Williamson told MPs it was “essential” that measures were put in place to ensure students could be with their loved ones during the festive period while “minimising the risk of transmission” of Covid-19.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, he said: “Where there are specific circumstances that warrant it, there may be a requirement for some students to self-isolate at the end of term and we will be working with the sector to ensure this will be possible, including ending in-person learning if that is deemed to be necessary.”
