Coronavirus: Cases rise at University of Brighton and Sussex

A total of 92 people at the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex have now tested positive for the virus.

This is up from 36, a figure which was given to The Argus on Tuesday.

Both universities previously stated that they had 18 cases.

• READ MORE: University of Brighton records first coronavirus cases

The greatest increase was seen at the University of Sussex, which confirmed yesterday that there were 50 positive cases “within its community” as of Wednesday.

At the University of Brighton there have now been 42 cases, as of yesterday.

This total is made up of 40 students, one staff member and one person from “partner organisations based at the university”.

The universities are taking a “transparent” approach to sharing information on coronavirus figures within their communities.

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

Speaking this week, both universities told The Argus they were “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”.

Students who have contracted the virus are self-isolating, along with their housemates, and will be continuing their studies remotely.

The rise in cases at the universities comes after Brighton and Hove’s Covid alert level was increased to amber.

• READ MORE: Brighton and Hove at risk of local lockdown unless 'extra efforts' are made to stop Covid spread

This is the second highest level on the city council’s traffic-light alert system.

Red is the highest, followed by amber, yellow and green.

Amber is “the last stage before the government will declare the city an area of national concern”, a council spokesman said.

In the week leading up to October 1 there were 115 confirmed new Covid-19 cases in the city, compared to 39 cases the week before.

Director of public health Alistair Hill said: “It’s really concerning that the number of cases has more than doubled over the past week.

“If transmission keeps increasing we risk the Government imposing more restrictions on the city.

“We all now need to make extra efforts or risk a local lockdown.”

• READ MORE: What could a local lockdown mean for Brighton and Hove?

Mr Hill did say the sudden rise in coronavirus cases could be partially explained by an increase in testing in the city, with a new walk-through test centre in East Brighton Park.

But he said this “does not explain all the increase that we have seen”.