Your DMU Safety daily update: please always wear a face covering

Your DMU Safety daily update: please always wear a face covering

In today’s daily Your DMU Safety update, we’re reminding students (and staff) about the need to always wear a face covering (unless you are unable to) when on campus.  

Face coverings

Face coverings are a key way to help combat the spread of Covid-19 and help protect each other from infection. That’s why we require all students, staff and visitors to wear a face covering at all times in all teaching spaces (including the Library) no matter the layout, unless there is a legitimate medical or personal reason for exemption. We also expect them to be worn when you move around buildings or use common spaces.

It is important that you always bring your face covering when you come to campus as it is your responsibility to protect yourself and others from the further transmission of Covid-19. Over the past few months since the pandemic started, the community spirit and individual acts of kindness DMU staff and students have shown to support and look out for each other have been inspiring. So, we're appealing to everyone to continue to exercise our civic and moral responsibility to make sure our environment is as safe, inclusive and positive as possible by wearing a face covering if you are able. You can find more information on our guidance on the Face coverings webpage on the Your DMU Safety website.

Legitimate exemptions

Some people will also, for legitimate health or personal reasons be unable to wear a face covering. Please be mindful and respectful of these circumstances and that the reasons for this may not be visible to others. Here are examples of exceptions to our guidance and rules on the need to wear a face covering:

• If you have a certain physical or learning disability that impacts on your ability to wear a covering
• If you would feel severe distress putting on, wearing or removing a face covering
• If you are asked to remove your covering to support communication with those that rely on lip reading or facial expressions
• If you have a health problem or condition that could be affected by wearing a face covering, for example, problems with your breathing.

People are not obliged to prove that they do not have to wear a face covering/mask. It is important to note that not wearing a face covering because it is uncomfortable or inconvenient is not a legitimate exception to our guidance and rules. 

DMU staff, whether they are in teaching or support service roles, have been issued with, and asked to wear face shields/visors to enable face-to-face interaction with students who need to lip read and understand in-person communications more easily. 

If you are unable to wear a face covering, a lanyard (and/or a business card) to signify this, is available for any DMU student or staff member. Students will be able to collect a lanyard/business card by making an appointment via MyGateway. With our Shared Commitment in mind, we ask staff and students to wear these lanyards if possible.

Have you picked up your two reusable face coverings?

All students and staff members have access to two reusable face coverings from the university. If you’ve not yet collected your face coverings yet you can still do so from tomorrow 15 October (every weekday) until 22 October from 10am to 2pm from the below locations. You will need to show your student ID: 

• Hugh Aston The Yard breakout space
• Hawthorn lower ground floor student break out area
• Campus Centre Building (near Coffee Hut)
• Vijay Patel The Pod

If you can’t make any of these dates, please visit the Estates Services Building reception with your student ID to collect your face coverings. 

How to Report

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 please report it to the university by completing our dmu.ac.uk/safetracenotify form.

Registering at De Montfort Surgery

If you’ve not done so already, it is recommended that you register at a GP surgery while studying at university. De Montfort Surgery is situated on the DMU campus and is the closest GP surgery for students. From this year, students can now register to be a patient online to avoid queues at the surgery.

All the information and help that you need to enjoy campus life in a safe and secure way is available on the Your DMU Safety website. Please make sure you read and follow all of the guidance and support on this site and check back regularly for updates. We will continue to closely follow and implement UK Government, Public Health England (PHE) and local authority guidelines.