Students in university halls are up to 19 times more likely to have Covid-19 right now than other young people as the academic year starts in earnest
One in every 26 students in University of Auckland accommodation has Covid-19 right now, according to figures supplied to Newsroom by the university.
That's the worst outbreak of the four universities that responded to Newsroom's questions, but all of them are seeing above average infection numbers.
Nationwide, just 0.2 percent of young people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past week and reported their infection to the Ministry of Health. That's one in every 500.
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The lowest rate reported at a university is nearly twice that, with 0.5 percent of students in AUT accommodation isolating with the virus. That's just seven out of 1100 people, but still above average.
At the University of Waikato, just under 1.4 percent of students in school accommodation have tested positive for Covid-19 over the past two weeks. Four students left halls to isolate with their families instead.
A spokesperson for the school said staff can provide RATs for free if students have symptoms. Mask-wearing in halls is voluntary.
At the University of Otago, a spokesperson said 89 of 3500 students in residential colleges are active cases, which works out to 2.5 percent.
"Currently, we do have a few cases of Covid-19 in our colleges. However, the situation is quite manageable with less than 3 percent of residents affected and we are in a general monitoring state," the spokesperson said.
"If a resident develops symptoms they are asked to isolate in their rooms until they either return a negative test, or 7 days pass. Staff are encouraged to wear PPE and test regularly."
A University of Auckland spokesperson said 152 of 4000 students in school accommodation were isolating as of Monday, or 3.8 percent. RATs are provided for those who need them and meals are delivered to isolating students. On each floor, bathrooms are designated for Covid-19 cases and cleaned twice daily.
The spokesperson said "there is no way to determine where these students are contracting it from" as there are private O Week events in addition to uni-sponsored ones.
Greg Scott, the University of Canterbury's director of accommodation services, said there are about 3000 students in school accommodation and there are currently 21 active cases. That comes to 0.7 percent of the body.
"As with the wider community, some students within our affiliated halls of residence are experiencing Covid infection, as well as other illness, such as colds and ‘fresher flu’ that increase at the start of the academic year in student living communities," he said.
"All UC Halls of Residence have thorough health and safety plans and processes in place, including hygiene and isolation measures as recommended by the Ministry of Health."
A spokesperson for Victoria University of Wellington said 44 of 2541 students in its halls had reported a positive Covid-19 test result, or 1.7 percent.
"In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, our halls residents are strongly recommended to stay up to date with vaccinations for COVID-19 and the flu, given advice on hand washing, cleaning of surfaces and other hygiene measures, and required to isolate if they are sick," the spokesperson said.
"For those isolating, N95 or surgical masks are required to be worn when they open their doors and any time they leave their rooms. Meal delivery, an isolation bathroom, masks, sanitiser, and other safety equipment are provided. Residents who are ill are asked to open their windows as much as possible and to socialise only with others who are isolating. Those students at higher risk of COVID-19 have been placed in rooms away from main walkways in order to reduce their exposure to infection from fellow residents."
Massey University did not answer Newsroom's questions about how many of its 1400 students in halls had Covid-19, saying only the number was "very low".
Universities saw massive outbreaks at the peak of the first Omicron wave, which coincided with the start of the school year last year. At Victoria, a quarter of students in halls were positive for the virus in late February. The then Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, called the start of university "a nationwide super-spreader event" at the time.
The current numbers are below that, but come in between waves and are still many times higher than the general community.
