Swansea superspreader blamed for entire Covid outbreak after infecting 32 at uni house party
A CORONAVIRUS superspreader has been blamed for an entire university's outbreak after 32 new infections were linked to a house party in Swansea.
All of the uni's cases have been traced back to a gathering attended by just one infected person, it has been revealed.
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Now students have been warned they'll be kicked off their courses if they're caught flouting Covid-19 rules.
The university's registrar Andrew Rhodes told : “What we have seen on coronavirus is that almost all of the cases stem from before the main arrival of the students.
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“Cases are stemming from the same party.
“One infected person who came from outside the area caused the transmission of the virus.
“In terms of all those who had positive test results, there were 32 - all of those students were from a particular party.”
However, all of those newly-infected with the virus are in private accommodation, with no cases on the campus, he said.
“The vast majority are connected to the same event on September 12 when there was a cluster of parties," Mr Rhodes added.
“There are some students who have enjoyed themselves more than they should have done - but the vast majority have been brilliant."
Swansea University has a 23,000-strong student population.
Of that number, 15,000 students are in private accommodation.
Staying in Wales, a major coronavirus outbreak has erupted at a hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf with cases doubling in a week to 82.
And I'm A Celebrity - due to to start filming at Gwrych Castle in Conwy in the next few weeks - is now under threat after being hit by new lockdown rules.
More than 500,000 people in North Wales have been put in local lockdown with most of the country now banned from visiting family and friends.
Meanwhile, across the country, thousands of students are imprisoned in halls.
More than 500 cases have been reported across 30 sites, forcing students to be isolated in areas rife with the virus.
Manchester's Metropolitan University has been particularly badly hit, with 1,700 students trapped after 127 infections.
In Glasgow, angry students self-isolating inside halls at Murano Street Student Village put messages in their windows.
And this week, hundreds of students were filmed gathering at a late-night party in Coventry.
At least 200 students were videoed climbing on top of ping pong tables and raving at Arundel House, close to Coventry University's main campus.
The University and College Union called the situation “the latest catastrophe in a week where wholly predicted Covid outbreaks have caused havoc on campuses across the UK”.
General secretary Jo Grady said: “We warned of the problems with moving thousands of students across the country.
“The time has come for urgent action to protect staff and students.”
Driving home for Christmas?
Downing Street has vowed to get students home for the festive break.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock had warned youngsters could be forced to stay on campus as virtual prisoners for Christmas.
But the PM’s official spokesman has now promised anxious mums and dads he would not wreck their Christmas plans.
He said: “We would expect all students to be able to go home at Christmas.”
But he dodged growing calls for youngsters to get some of their £9,000-a-year tuition fees refunded amid the chaos.
He said: “Universities are autonomous and they set their own fees.
"What we would expect is that they continue to deliver a high quality curriculum to their students.”
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Mr Rhodes said: “When you think of Manchester Met and Glasgow, that’s not our current experience at all.
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“Our students are not locked in their rooms, they are free to move around.
“All our facilities are still open, our libraries are open, people are in halls and are free to move around the campus."
