Pandemics are a natural phenomenon and are the result of new pathogens emerging and spreading around the world. Pandemics have occurred at infrequent and unpredictable intervals throughout human history, for example; COVID-19, HIV, Ebola, and avian influenza. A new pandemic wave could develop that could potentially infect large numbers of staff and students with the risk of serious illness.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) continually monitors for developing pandemic risks, with daily updates provided on their website for the latest identified outbreaks
The University has collated its response to the COVID-19 pandemic into the Pandemic Preparedness Plan, the objective of this document is to ensure the organisation and arrangements implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic are recorded and available for consultation should the requirement to respond to a pandemic be required at any point in the future.
Further guidance is available on the UK Government website on arrangements and guidance on pandemic risk and the national strategy for managing and responding to pandemic risk.
There is also a homepage that lists the range of Health and Safety risks identified as relevant to the University's activities and facilities, together with information on the University's policies and arrangements on how these risks are to be managed and controlled.
