Milkround gifts hundreds of care packages to University of Liverpool students

THIS week, leading graduate careers website Milkround is delivering nearly 3,000 care packages to University students in 6 Cities across the UK, targeting Cities which have been most affected by ongoing lockdown measures over the last few months. Milkround is working in partnership with BAM, an experiential and digital youth marketing agency to deliver approximately 800 care packages to approximately 500 care packages to iQ Great Newton House, The Arch and The Electra halls of residence at University of Liverpool. The care packages include a canvas bag, mug, mobile holder, pen and chocolate, as well as a range of delicious fresh fruit and vegetables to help boost the body and mind, as many students continue their studies and learning remotely. Additionally, students who scan the QR code on their boxes and sign up to Milkround, will also be in with the chance to win a year's supply of fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries. Taking place between Monday, 23 November and Tuesday 1 December 2020, Milkround will also be making its way to Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, and Sheffield delivering approximately 500 care packages to 1st year University students in each City. The Cities chosen include large Universities whose students have been confined to halls of residence or told to self isolate in a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Georgina Brazier, Graduate Jobs Expert at Milkround, comments:- "Students across the country are facing high restrictions on their freedom, with many confined or experiencing the second national lockdown in their University halls. With many fresher events cancelled or moved online this term, as well as remote learning and studies now taking place virtually online, we want to let University students know that Milkround are thinking of them, and would like to recognise their resilience during this challenging time. We're hoping the care packages will support students through the current national lockdown and spread some cheer ahead of the Christmas holidays."

Tim Bodenham, CEO at BAM, comments:- "We have worked with Milkround for some time now, and we just knew that this concept would be perfect from them. They really care about the welfare of students and to provide them with a little bit of support through this care package, says a lot. It's been really exciting working on this campaign, it's one of those fun campaigns that just have that complete feel good factor ingrained throughout."

PASSENGERS arriving into England will be able to reduce mandatory self isolation by up to a week or more, as the Government launches its new strategy for testing international arrivals. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that from 15 December 2020, passengers arriving into England from countries not featured on the Government's travel corridor list will have the option to take a test after 5 days of self isolation, with a negative result releasing them from the need to isolate.

The move will give passengers the confidence to book international trips in the knowledge that they can return home and isolate for a shorter period if they have received a negative test. With those opting in to the scheme having to book and pay for a Covid19 test from a private provider on the Gov.UK list, we are ensuring the NHS Test and Trace testing capacity is protected.

Under the:- 'Test to release for international travel' strategy, passengers arriving into England by plane, ferry or train should book their test before they travel; must complete a passenger locator form; and will still need to self isolate for five days before taking a test; rather than taking it at their port of arrival.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said:- "We have a plan in place to ensure that our route out of this Pandemic is careful and balanced, allowing us to focus on what we can now do to bolster international travel while keeping the public safe. Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business. By giving people the choice to test on day 5, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the Pandemic."

The 'Test to Release' scheme is announced as the Government introduces new financial support for English airports and ground handlers serving them. This support, which will shore up jobs and reinforce local economies, will be available to commercial airports in England. The support will address fixed costs and be equivalent to the business rates liabilities of each business, capped at up to ₤8 million per site, and subject to certain conditions. This scheme will open in the New Year.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said:- "The aviation industry is vital to our economy; creating jobs and driving growth; which is why we have supported them throughout this crisis through the job retention scheme, loans and Tax deferrals. This new package of support for airports, alongside a new testing regime for international arrivals, will help the sector take off once again as we build back better from the Pandemic."

The Government has considered the evidence which demonstrates that a test after 5 days of self isolation provides materially better results than just having a test on arrival, as it allows time for the virus, should it be present, to incubate helping reduce the risk of a false negative result.

Many countries have not implemented testing regimes at the border. Of those that have, we have seen a wide range in approaches, some of which have evolved over time. Both Germany and Iceland initially rolled out schemes involving a single test on arrival and no self isolation; both countries have subsequently revised their approaches due to testing capacity and levels of imported cases, and now require tests to be taken after 5 or 6 days of isolation.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said:- "Ensuring that safe travel is possible has been a priority for the Global Travel Taskforce. This test on day five of the 14 day self isolation period will identify positive Coronavirus cases and allow those who test negative to return to work and see their loved ones while abiding by domestic Coronavirus restrictions. This will be done at the cost of the traveller to protect the capacity of NHS Test and Trace and ensure that any UK resident who has symptoms is able to get a test."

Passengers will be able to book a test from a provider on a Gov.UK list before arriving in England. If they choose to book a test, they will need to state this on their passenger locator form prior to arriving and then go straight into self isolation at home as usual. If they choose to opt in after arrival, they will need to resubmit their passenger locator form.

They can then take a test on or after day 5 of the isolation period either at home or at a private provider's testing site, and on receipt of a negative result, can immediately finish self isolating and return to following domestic rules.

Those choosing not to take a test when arriving from a non-exempt country must continue to follow the current self isolation requirements (2 weeks).

The testing strategy is one outcome of the Government's Global Travel Taskforce report recently presented to the Prime Minister, which also sets out a pathway to restarting the cruise sector.

The recommendations are based on advice from a consortium of expert representatives from the:- aviation, maritime, international rail, tourism and hospitality industries to boost international travel for all modes, whilst safeguarding public health in the UK.

The Government will also continue to work with international partners and representatives across the transport industries to further build on the recommendations in the report, including:- exploring pre-departure testing pilots with partner countries on a bilateral basis.

COVID-19 has profoundly changed the nature of international travel. Travellers should always check the latest advice from the FCDO.