Send beer! Self-isolating students are given free booze in Manchester as three more universities impose coronavirus curbs amid outbreaks at 45 campuses

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Self-isolating students were treated to 1,000 free beers in Manchester as three more universities impose coronavirus curbs.   

Some students at the accommodation at Manchester Metropolitan University have been forced into isolation and are only able to receive food and drink through delivery services. 

Other grocery deliveries were allowed into the Needham Court halls of residence alongside free beer from Magic Rock Brewing. 

It comes as three other universities in the UK have imposed curbs on freedoms and thousands of students across the country remain in self-isolation after spikes in Covid-19 cases were reported. 

And beleaguered Gavin Williamson broke cover today to confirm that some university students will have to cut short their term and self-isolate for a fortnight in order to be allowed home for Christmas.

The Education Secretary said students in 'specific circumstances' would have to quarantine before the festive period amid growing anger at the handling of campus lockdowns. 

University of Exeter yesterday asked students not to socialise in other people’s residences and only to mix with people within their household following reports that more than half of the cases confirmed in Exeter over the last week can be traced back to the university.

Manchester Metropolitan University turned away a truck full of free beer (pictured) for self-isolating students because security thought 'it wasn't in the best interest during the current lockdown'

Some students at the accommodation have been forced into self-isolation and are only able to receive food and drink through delivery services

While other grocery deliveries were allowed into the Needham Court halls of residence, free beer from Magic Rock Brewing was turned away

The University of Aberystwyth put a stop to all in-person teaching after multiple students tested positive amid 'uncertainty' about how far the recent spike has spread.

A 'small number' of positive tests were reported in Queen's University Belfast, forcing all students living in university accommodation into self isolation.  

Some 40 students and staff at the University of Sunderland have tested positive for coronavirus.  

It comes after Newcastle University and Northumbria University confirmed 62 students had tested positive on September 25, with all students self-isolating.

Two colleges in County Durham have confirmed cases of coronavirus as students are told to self-isolate for two weeks.

Bishop Auckland College confirmed they had two confirmed cases while New College Durham said they had a confirmed case within a learning bubble impacting a 'small number of students'.

The Education Secretary said students in 'specific circumstances' would have to quarantine before the festive period amid growing anger at the handling of campus lockdowns

University students (pictured left and right: University students who are self-isolating in Manchester) face two weeks in isolation at the end of term so they can return home for Christmas

It comes as students were warned they could need to isolate in their university accommodation for two weeks before going home to be with their families over Christmas.  

Mr Williamson told MPs today was is 'essential' that measures were put in place to ensure that students can return home for Christmas 'while minimising the risk of transmission'.

'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,' he said.

'My department will publish this guidance shortly so that every student will be able to spend Christmas with their family.'

Manchester Metropolitan University was forced to apologise after it demanded students take down posters in their windows 

Mr Williamson's disappearance during the crisis so far is likely to raise further questions over his future, after he faces the wrath of parents, teachers and MPs over the return of pupils to schools and the A-Level and GCSE results fiasco last month. 

The Huddersfield brewery tweeted last night to say they would be arriving at Needham Court halls to deliver free beer to 'make lockdown a little less rubbish for students stuck in'.

Magic Rock Brewing wrote: 'STUDENTS OF MCR. We'll be rocking up with the Magic UTE to MMU Needham Court Halls with FREE BEER tomorrow at 10am. 

'In a different hall? Let us know.'

But when the brewery's truck turned up this morning, a witness overheard MMU security blocking its delivery because 'it wasn't in the best interest during the current lockdown'.

According to a university spokesman, the delivery was eventually accepted but to the chagrin of faculty members. 

The spokesman added: 'While we are grateful for support we would ask that organisations contact us first to discuss how they may be able to help. 

'Our staff accepted this unannounced delivery, but it is disappointing that some organisations would choose to treat this situation as a PR opportunity.

'Putting additional pressure on our staff who are working 24 hours a day to deliver care and support to our students.'

Manchester Metropolitan University was forced to apologise just two days ago after demanding that students take down posters they put up in windows in their accommodation. 

The university initially sent an email to students demanding that posters 'needed to be removed asap'. 

But when students defied them, they were forced to issue an apology for disrespecting students' rights to express themselves. 

They wrote: 'We apologise for the message sent to our students last night about posters in windows, it didn't reflect the University's view. 

'We respect the rights of students to express themselves, but as requested by police, the posters must not break the law or they'll have to be removed.' 

So far there has been no report of a poster which breaks the law.   

Thousands of students across Britain are now self-isolating for a fortnight after more than 500 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed across at least 32 universities. 

Muslim students have slammed the University of Edinburgh after they were given ham sandwiches in their 'primary school packed lunch' food while in self-isolation.

Students who are in catered accommodation but are self-isolating have been told to stay in their rooms at the halls, which cost around £7,000-a-year, with food being delivered to them on behalf of the university.

But some said they have been forced to 'go hungry' or miss meals because the food delivered doesn't meet their religious or dietary requirements.

And worried parents have slammed uni bosses over the 'appalling' treatment - saying students are being treated like pariahs.

Leila Peacock, 19, is a Muslim student staying at Pollock Halls - catered accommodation which costs around £7,500. 

She said she was forced to go hungry when the university delivered a ham sandwich and bacon flavoured crisps to her room.

Leila slammed the 'school child's packed lunches' and said she thinks she has lost weight because the food is not filling.

Leila said: 'I'm in my fourth day of isolation, and on two out of the four days I've had either a ham sandwich or bacon crisps delivered to my room.

'The first day it happened I told my floor supervisor, because he's Muslim as well, and he had told them to make sure I get Halal food.

'But they made the same mistake the next day.

'Today [Monday] I've been given vegetarian food, but it's mostly salad, it's not very substantial, there's not any carbohydrate and it's not very nutritious. 

The university initially sent an email to students demanding that posters 'needed to be removed asap'

But when students defied them, they were forced to issue an apology for disrespecting students' rights to express themselves

They wrote: 'We apologise for the message sent to our students last night about posters in windows, it didn't reflect the University's view

They added: 'We respect the rights of students to express themselves, but as requested by police, the posters must not break the law or they'll have to be removed'

So far there has been no report of a poster which breaks the law

One poster in a student's window reads: '9k 4 what?' In reference to the £9,000 fees students are paying to be stuck indoors

'I don't think it should be that difficult to provide food, but it's been so disappointing so far.

'The food in the canteen is really nice, and they've got lots of different options, but the food I've been given now is like for a primary school child's packed lunch, it's not really enough to keep someone going.

'I think I've lost weight since I've been here, the food is not filling enough.

'We're paying so much money for the accommodation and that includes the catering, and it just doesn't seem like the money is being spent in the right places.'  

The National Union of Students has received reports of security guards outside blocks, universities telling students they will deliver food and then it not arriving and others left 'wondering where the next roll of toilet roll is coming from'.

And lawyers have encouraged students in isolation to seek their help for free, with Levins Solicitors of Liverpool tweeting: 'To the MMU students at Birley campus and Cambridge halls: get in touch and we will do our best to help, pro bono.'

But amid fears over what will happen by December, a Downing Street spokesman said today: 'We would expect all students to be able to go home at Christmas.' 

The University and College Union has urged the Prime Minister to force all university teaching online and to allow students to go back home without the threat of fines, the Financial Times reports.

Leila Peacock, 19, is a Muslim student staying at Pollock Halls at Edinburgh university - catered accommodation which costs around £7,500

The union's general secretary Jo Grady wrote: 'We cannot have students forced to quarantine in halls of residence with no familiar support network, or staff forced to carry out work on site that could be conducted more safely from home.

The Russell Group - an association of 24 UK public research universities - is working on a 'pragmatic' approach with the government which aims to allow students to experience 'a blended programme of in-person and online teaching'.

Some 1,700 students are already under lockdown at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) campuses of Birley and Cambridge Halls.

Elsewhere, the University of Aberdeen has asked private landlords to report students caught breaching coronavirus restrictions and warned students caught breaking the rules would face 'robust' disciplinary action.

Glasgow and Abertay universities have put 600 and 500 students into isolation. 

Darcy Culverhouse, 18, who is staying in Pollock Halls at Edinburgh University, said she was worried about the lack of food being delivered to students - despite paying for catered accommodation.

Leila slammed the 'school child's packed lunches' and said she thinks she has lost weight because the food is not filling

Darcy said: 'Meals have been very inconsistent from the university.

'People in our house have been missing dinners and breakfasts, they haven't been delivered the meals that they are supposed to be getting in isolation.

'And they're going hungry because they haven't been fed.

'It's a bit difficult at the moment, and as a result of this a lot of people have been leaving, firstly because they don't feel comfortable in this environment, or secondly because they're scared of another local lockdown.

'Not even being brought food is a pretty basic worry, especially when we're paying so much - we're paying about £7,500 for this accommodation, which is catered.

'It's the principle as well, we're paying them a lot of money.

Students in self-isolation in non-catered accommodation are also being delivered food, but have complained of similar issues.

Isobelle Robinson-Gordon, 19, who is living in Salisbury Court said: 'Food often isn't being delivered until 1pm, 2pm, or 3pm, it is poor quality, cold and there is certainly a pattern of students with dietary requirements not being met.'

One mother said her 18-year-old daughter is not being delivered food regularly and said students are being treated 'appallingly'.

The worried mum, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: 'I spoke to her at one o'clock [on Sunday] and they hadn't delivered breakfast.

'They're not being fed properly.

'They are not looking after the students, either physically or mentally.

'They put them into isolation on Friday, and then nobody was available because they only operate during office hours.

'My daughter wasn't given food on Friday night.

'So even though we paid £7,000 for catered accommodation, no food was delivered on Friday.'

'My husband spoke to the university before we went up there to ask for assurances about what would happen if there was an outbreak, because you don't have to be a scientist to guess it's going to happen.

'And we were assured that if somebody had tested positive they would be removed to self catered accommodation so that they could look after themselves.

'I just think they're being treated appallingly, they're being treated like pariahs.

'It's very disheartening.

'We knew it would be different but what surprised me is the way the university is treating them.

'It's all very negative, there's no care at all.

'As parents that's how we feel.

'We're quite worried, she's only eighteen.'

A spokesman for the University of Edinburgh said: 'University staff are working hard to provide care and support for all students who are required to self-isolate by the Scottish Government and who are resident in University-provided accommodation.

'Initial teething problems are now being addressed and catering staff will provide three meals a day for all students living in University-provided accommodation.

'These meals are all available in vegan and gluten-free options to ensure that all dietary requirements are met.'  

NUS president Larissa Kennedy told ITV's Good Morning Britain today: 'I'm hearing from some students across the country where there are security guards outside of these blocks where students are being kept, stopping people from leaving, coming and going, where students are being discouraged from getting deliveries and told by the university that they'll deliver food and that delivery has not arrived and so they've gone for the day without food.

'I've heard from other students who, they've turned up with an amount of toilet roll, told with no notice that they're going to be locked down and wondering where the next roll of toilet roll is coming from.

'It just feels like these are disgusting conditions for students to have been trapped in.' 

The number of students trying to get a shopping delivery means some say they are starting to run out of food, with parents turning up to halls with bags of shopping. 

Recruitment worker Tina McKenzie, whose daughter is currently isolating in Edinburgh tweeted: 'My daughter is in quarantine in her halls in Edinburgh. 

'They said they would deliver food - she advised she is vegan. The University of Edinburgh sent a Mars bar and croissant.'

MMU student Phoebe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I've had a test back and I'm actually positive, which is quite scary. I wouldn't be surprised if I've got corona from this place. Before the isolation would be the period when I would have got it.

'There's just been non-stop parties, no social distancing, no wearing masks in the corridors, which would all contribute to the spread.'

Another MMU student, Tasiana, 18, told the New Statesman: 'No one was in the flat when I arrived. I know a girl that lives in another block that didn't meet her flatmates for days after moving in.

'The majority of everyone's time is spent in their rooms, attending online seminars. It's hard to speak to my flatmates because a lot of them have eight-hour days of classes on Zoom, so people hardly leave their rooms. One of my flatmates still hasn't come out of her room yet. We aren't sure if maybe she is a bit nervous about social distancing.'

As thousands prepared to start the new term, at the University of Aberdeen, sanctions for those breaking the rules include a fine of up to £250 as well as possible suspension or expulsion, with private landlords urged to report 'any incidents of a breach' to the university.  

But third-year student Jack Boag, 20, said students have been 'sold a lie' and 'treated like the problem' - despite being encouraged to come back to university.

Mr Boag said: 'In terms of the lockdown, I live in a private flat quite far away from the Covid hotspots, so it comes across as closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted.

'We were told it would be a blended learning experience, and obviously that hasn't happened. Coming up to Aberdeen from my home in Fife has been completely pointless.

'We've been consistently told to come back to campus, we've been consistently told that it would be a blended learning experience, and now that we're here it feels as if we've been sold a lie and treated as if we are the problem.

'For first years who have just moved into halls with people that they've never met, that's hard. My main concern is that landlords could quite easily take advantage of this.

'The landlord/tenant dynamic is not an equal one, so it could become a tool for blackmail, essentially. I'm a private renter so they've been talking to my landlord, and while I can understand the university isn't taking any chances, it's worrying.

'It seems when other universities are easing back, Aberdeen is doubling down and emphasising the punishments and what will happen if you breach regulations.'

Mr Boag, from Fife, said while he doesn't have plans to move back home, he understands why many other students might feel differently.

He said: 'I would have to go back to my grandparents who are vulnerable or my dad who is a key worker, so for me it's not really an option, although I can see why it would be attractive for others.' 

Ms McKenzie said she 'followed up multiple times and sent a few dead salads', adding: 'I've sent her parcels and she has ordered takeaway. Lucky she has the money unlike less fortunate others.'

Labour even called for a delay to the start of the English term until the chaotic testing system can meet soaring demand. 

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for education, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm extremely worried about these young people.

'Some of them will be vulnerable to mental ill health, and for some of them it's the very first time away from home. 

'So I think that the very first thing that needs to happen is that universities need to be given the support to identify which students may be particularly vulnerable.

'The second thing is there needs to be an assessment of which young people want to stay at university and which ones may not want to stay there.' 

She added: 'If young people want to be returning at some point between now and Christmas, there needs to be a plan that the Government works up with universities so that we have a managed Covid-secure return of those young people to home.

'Because what we can't have is for those young people to be moving in the same numbers at the same time that they were at the start of term, but doing that at Christmas time.'

Health minister Helen Whately told Radio 4 that the Government could not rule out the prospect that university students may be unable to return home at Christmas.

She said: 'We want them to be home for Christmas. Everybody wants to come home and spend Christmas with family. We want that very much to be the case. 

'Christmas is some time off yet and it is down to all of us to get this under control so we can spend Christmas with our families.'

In Manchester, the 1,700 students have been told they cannot leave the campus to visit the local testing centre, leading to fears the outbreak will spread.

Labour education spokesman Kate Green said today that the Government should 'step up' testing capacity to help ensure university students can return home for Christmas, 

Students look down from outside their window at MMU while in lockdown yesterday 

She told Sky News: 'Students will desperately want to be able to go home to be with friends and family at Christmas. And, of course, it's right that we all have a part to play in keeping distance and keeping safe.

'But the real key to this is getting the mass testing rolled out so that students can be tested, we can know if somebody is testing positive and make sure that they are isolated and don't travel.

'But it would mean the other students would be able to get back home for Christmas and that's why the Government needs to step up too and make sure that that testing capacity is available.'

She also said the Government should support universities' efforts to test for coronavirus, adding: 'One thing that I think particularly in relation to students: much more effort could be made to support those universities that are already developing their own testing capacity, like Leicester, for example, or Cambridge.

'And the Government could be really working much more closely alongside them to get that additional capacity that would relieve pressure elsewhere in the NHS and other pillars of testing.

'And it would mean that students could be tested on campus, so could university staff.'

Ms Green argued this would help make universities 'much safer places'.

Last night Ms Green called on ministers to stop students from returning to university for the start of the academic year – affecting 2.3 million in the UK.

She said they should either delay the start of term or 'pause' the return of students to university campuses where courses had not started.

Backing Miss Green, NUS president Larissa Kennedy told The Guardian the union was demanding 'a functional test-and-trace system in place on campuses and adequate funding to tackle the student mental health crisis'.

She added in a tweet: 'Government and universities are gambling with students' lives.' 

Ms Kennedy added on Good Morning Britain today: 'First and foremost, we are of course encouraging people to do the right thing for public health and to follow that guidance. 

'But we are questioning whether this is legal, in terms of making sure that students get that access to the basic amenities that they need - to food, to toiletries and to all the things they need just to survive lockdown - and in cases where that hasn't been the case, whether it has been legal to keep them cooped up in that way without that access to the things that they need.' 

Morrisons cashes in on students trapped in campus lockdowns 

Morrisons has today revealed an SOS 'Serve our Students' food delivery service aimed at those in lockdown on campuses.

The supermarket said students will be able to choose from the food boxes of £35 meat essentials; £35 vegetarian essentials; £30 easy meals for the week; and £25 big night in.

An example of the food packs Morrisons will be delivering to isolating students

Its delivery service will launch at the lockdown-hit Birley and Cambridge Halls at Manchester Metropolitan and will then expand to other universities.

Students can email students-ug@morrisonsplc.co.uk to place their order today and it will be delivered to them tomorrow between 5pm and 7pm.

Morrisons chief executive David Potts said: 'Students have asked for our help and that's why we are making sure they can safely access affordable food at this very difficult time. We're playing our full part in feeding the nation so that no one is left behind.'

The company hopes students will soon be able to place their order by 2pm for delivery that evening. If successful, the service will be rolled out to other universities across the country.

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But outgoing University of Buckingham vice-chancellor Sir Anthony Seldon said: 'We must have a sense of perspective. Universities have gone to huge lengths to plan for this and many are coping.'

And the Department for Education rejected Labour's call, insisting it was 'working closely with universities to support them to keep staff and students as safe as possible'.

Niamh Thripleton, a new zoology student at Reading, told BBC Radio 4's Today: 'We're obviously not allowed to go out. Freshers is all online.

'We're, we think, only meant to socialise with our flat, but they haven't really been enforced or been made clear.

'It's just been a lot quieter, it's been harder making friends. Turning up and realising everything is going to be online is a bit of an anti-climax.

'You'd think it (a zoology degree) would be quite a lot of lab work, and it's quite worrying how I'm going to do that online.

'I just think the way Manchester Met and other places have been locked down, being on your room on your own for two weeks with now freedom there, I don't I'd be able to cope with that, so it's kind of worrying.'

Her stepfather Chris Taplin told the programme: 'I do feel she's certainly been robbed of the experienced I had at university.

'It is also really scary when you read things about the Christmas threat, not coming home, when it is the first time they've moved out and we basically feel we'd be some kind of law breaker if we went there and busted her out. But it's been the first thing for a sort of mental trauma, really. 

'Certainly my wife has been saying, 'don't worry we'll get you out' (if she's locked down in halls at Christmas), but I think that's obviously not a very sensible position to go and do that.

'But I think we're both making sure we get food to her and keep talking to her as much as possible.'

Meanwhile the Prime Minister has been urged to ensure online tuition at universities 'becomes the norm', amid concern over the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on students.

In a letter to Boris Johnson, the University and College Union (UCU), accused some institutions of adopting a 'stubborn position' over requiring in-person teaching because they depended on rent from student accommodation.