SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS

COVID-19 is a virus that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.

Based on current evidence, symptoms include fever (high temperature), a continuous cough, chest tightness or shortness of breath.

The HSE advises the following:

Do

• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus
• Work and study from home, if you can
• Stay at home. Only go outside for food or health reasons, and stay 2 metres away from other people
• Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using technology
• Use phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other HSE services

Don’t

• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
• Do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family
• Do not use public transport

Stay at home if you have either:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

Please let a member of the Nido residence know immediately (preferably via phone) if you have symptoms of coronavirus and need to self-isolate. We can provide you with the advice and the support you will require during this time.

How long to stay at home

• If you have symptoms, stay at home for 7 days
• If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms
• If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.

Read the HSE advice about staying at home.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) can make anyone seriously ill. But for some people, the risk is higher.

There are 2 levels of higher risk:

Very high risk (also called extremely vulnerable) group

• are over 70 years of age – even if you’re fit and well
• have had an organ transplant
• are undergoing active chemotherapy for cancer
• are having radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
• have cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
• are having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• are having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• are on dialysis
• have unstable or severe cystic fibrosis. This includes people awaiting a transplant
• severe respiratory conditions including Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and severe COPD
• have a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)
• are taking medicine that makes you much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppression therapies)
• have a serious heart condition and you’re pregnant
• There is different advice to protect people in each group.

High risk group

• • are over 60 years of age
  • have a learning disability
  • have a lung condition that’s not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
  • have heart disease (such as heart failure)
  • have high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • have diabetes
  • have chronic kidney disease
  • have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
  • have a medical condition that can affect your breathing
  • have cancer
  • have clinically stable cystic fibrosis
  • have a weak immune system (immunosuppressed)
  • have cerebrovascular disease
  • have a condition affecting your brain or nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy)
  • have a problem with your spleen or have had your spleen removed
  • have a condition that means you have a high risk of getting infections (such as HIV, lupus or scleroderma)
  • are taking medicine that can affect your immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
  • have obesity
  • are residents of nursing homes and other long-stay settings
  • are in specialist disability care and are over 50 years of age or have an underlying health problem

If you are part of any of the above groups, please visit the HSE site for more information and advice: here

It is perfectly understandable that you might be anxious or worried about coronavirus and the impact it could have on your life, particularly because this might include being asked to stay at home or to avoid other people.

Mind has created a guide here focusing on staying mentally healthy in light of the current situation and we would encourage any students who feel concerned to read the information carefully.

The NHS has also issued the following advice to assist you in looking after your mental health by staying mentally and physically active during this time, such as:

– Look for ideas of exercises you can do at home
– Spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes
– Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs
– Keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden (where possible)

You can also go for a walk or exercise outdoors once a day if you stay more than 2 metres from others.

When we have a case or cases at one of our properties, we will act quickly and decisively to ensure those affected receive the appropriate support, guidance, and treatment and are able to self-isolate. We will also ensure all residents are given the appropriate information and advice to manage the risks. If we or HSE believe you have been in contact with a known case, you will be informed, and offered the appropriate support.

The health safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. An operational and strategic response group convenes daily, headed by our CEO Brian Welsh. We are monitoring the situation closely and proactively following healthcare and government advice from the World Health Organization, HSE, and the Department of Foreign affairs to help ensure we are effectively managing the implications of coronavirus and responding as necessary.

Within our residences:

• We keep a stock of hand sanitiser for you to use in each of our buildings
• The best way to keep hands clean is by using soap and water, which we have available for you to use. We would encourage you to wash your hands frequently
• Cleaning of all common areas is taking place daily, including weekends, at an increased frequency and with a focus on entry and exit buttons, lift buttons, door handles and high football areas
• Posters with up to date advice and guidance are on display
• All staff are wearing PPE
• There are plastic screens in all receptions
• A new visitor questionnaire and sign in will be required to ensure our guests do not have any symptoms which may put our community at risk
• Social gatherings have been suspended, and no visitors will be allowed until further notice.
• We are running all events virtually via our Instagram and Facebook channels
• We are reducing contact with residents and only dealing with essential maintenance items to minimise the risk of spread
• We strongly recommend that all of our students follow the most recent guidance from the HSE and the World Health Organization.

If you are travelling to Ireland, you may have to quarantine on arrival. In some cases, you must pay in advance for mandatory hotel quarantine.

All arrivals must complete a Passenger Locator Form before boarding a flight or sailing to Ireland.

Arrivals from the EU and EEA who have an EU Digital COVID Certificate do not have to quarantine, unless the Certificate is based on an antigen test. Different rules apply for arrivals from outside the EEA.

For more information on travelling to Ireland, go to gov.ie or citizeninformation.ie.

Of course. As you will have seen, our residence remains open and operating safely according to the latest HSE, World Health Organization and government advice. Nido continues to be your home, and our dedicated residence team are available to help support you and all our residents who continue to live with us.

The communal spaces remain open in line with government restrictions. Extra cleaning of the common rooms is done to ensure the safety of the residents. A limited amount of people can access the common rooms at the same time. The communal spaces will close if there are multiple infections at the residence, to ensure everyone’s safety.

We would ask that students who show cold or flu-like symptoms as described on these pages self- isolate and follow the government’s stay at home advice.

The Laundry room is still available for use, however, to protect your health and safety and ensure we adhere to the latest government social distancing measures, we advise the following:

• Use Laundry View to book machines and check the status of your washing/ drying before going to the Laundry room
• Only go to the Laundry room if you can see there are machines available and/ or your laundry is done
• Only 2 people should be in the Laundry room at any one time, and where possible they should maintain a suitable distance from each other

You may still receive parcels, however, please note reception will be closed at times and we will not be collecting parcels on your behalf. Please ensure you are available to receive parcels directly from delivery drivers. Following government guidance, we also advise you to do online food shopping, to ensure you can stay at home and keep safe.

As a precaution and in accordance with the government guidance, we have cancelled our physical events. You will be notified when they recommence. In the meantime, we have a number of virtual events that have proven very popular. Join our virtual events via our Instagram IGTV (@nidostudent_ie).

In accordance with government guidance, we advise against having visitors at the residence.

Please ask them to read the information on these pages so they are familiar with the steps Nido Student is taking to limit the risk of coronavirus infection at our residences.

Please keep in touch with them regularly to let them know you are OK.

We encourage you to draw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks during this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone or online. Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.

Remember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so you may end up providing support to them too.

We understand that this is a worrying time and you may be feeling anxious about the safety of your child. Rest assured, the health, safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. We are continuing to update our protocol as the situation evolves and have put robust measures in place to minimise the risk of contracting coronavirus in our residences.

The mental wellbeing of our students is just as important to us as their physical wellbeing. We recognise that during this uncertain and challenging time, our students may be feeling anxious and stressed. We are supporting them with professional resources on wellbeing in addition to sharing our own content and ideas on how they can stay positive, active and connected.

Please stay in close touch with your child. Encourage them to familiarise themselves with the information and advice available on these pages. Also, ask them to check their email accounts regularly for any updates.
We will continue to ensure they have the information and support they need and would appreciate your support in also encouraging them to follow the latest advice and guidance.

Please consult and observe the latest advice from the Government on travelling. Countries around the globe have imposed heightened health screenings on entry or exit at their borders and many have taken the decision to suspend travel or entry to foreign nationals.

We strongly advise travellers to confirm their flight status in advance of travel, to allow additional time for immigration and health screenings at airports and check the latest requirements and updates for your destination.

Yes, we will continue to be open to all applications and our residence has been reconfigurated to welcome all students.

As the situations continues to change, please note that only viewings by appointment are allowed. Contact us at curraheenpoint@nidostudent.com to make your appointment.

Across the Nido portfolio there have been some cancellations from international students as a result of Covid-19 which is to be expected. However, bookings overall are in line with 2019. Our stringent measures together with flexible booking policies for both overseas and domestic students have both reassured and provided confidence in Nido as the accommodation of choice, particularly in the current environment.

Our response would be to isolate the cluster and attempt to contact all those they may have come into contact with. We also carry out extra deep cleaning of the residence and common areas and close communal space until this has happened. We then carefully manage spaces once they reopen.

We are engaging with the students, have employed a zero-tolerance stance on any breaking of curfews or government rules and have implemented an increased security presence across all residences.

• World Health Organization (WHO).
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)
• Health Service Executive (HSE)
• Department of Foreign Affairs: Travel advice
• Department of Education: Back to school, Health advice for parents and children
• Department of Transport: Travel and transport advice
• Health and Safety Authority