THE University of Brighton has seen its first coronavirus cases since students returned to the city last month.

The university confirmed that 18 students had tested positive for Covid-19.

No University of Brighton staff members have tested positive.

This comes after the University of Sussex confirmed that a "small number" of students had tested positive last week.

This figure has since increased.

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A University of Brighton spokesman said: "We can confirm that 18 of our students have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the academic year.

"They and their housemates are being fully supported to safely self-isolate and to continue with their studies remotely.

"We wish those who have tested positive a speedy recovery.

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"The university has spent many months preparing for the start of term and has put in place a wide range of measures across its campuses to help keep everyone safe.

"The University is working closely with Brighton and Hove City Council, Public Health England and other local partners across the city to co-ordinate our collective efforts to manage the risks.”

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The university, along with the University of Sussex, is taking a transparent approach to sharing information on coronavirus figures within their communities.

They will both be sharing regular updates on the number of cases at each institution online.

The most recent update on the website from the University of Brighton, accurate as of October 2, states that there had been five student cases of coronavirus at the university.

This means the number of cases has risen by 13 in four days.