Pollock Halls staff claim security ‘taunted’ by Covid infected students as caterers drafted in to deliver parcels
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A University of Edinburgh employee working there told the Evening News they received confirmation last week that every accommodation block had positive cases and that hall wardens and security staff have been refusing to go into buildings because of the infection risk.
On one occasion, they said a member of security staff thought they might have to give first aid to an intoxicated student inside the halls - in breach of social distancing rules - and that an ambulance had to be called.
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Hide AdA Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said ambulances have been called out eight times to the student halls around Holyrood Park Road in the past four weeks but was unable to specify the nature of these incidents.
The Pollock Halls worker, who did not want to be named, is also concerned about students still arriving at the halls while coronavirus is rife.
And they said catering staff working there have, as of Monday, been redeployed to help distribute parcels - including food and external deliveries - as most of the wardens and security staff refuse to go inside the buildings because they “don’t feel safe.”
They said: “Catering staff are doing it because they have not got any work to do and they are taking the parcels in but I am not sure they realise all the buildings have positive cases. They are delivering parcels to doors.
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Hide Ad“Security had to disperse a group of seven just the other night but they (students) just found it funny as they were saying, ‘we have all tested positive anyway so what can you do?.’ They were taunting them.
“They are all rebelling about being told to stay in and I just think they should never have come back. It’s absolutely manic. Of course, they party every year, but they are like feral animals.”
The employee said four of the tower blocks had shared bathrooms and showers and that this would heighten transmission risk.
Last Friday, students at the university were asked to help distribute food to isolating students at the 1,900-bed Pollock Halls after a company that was due to distribute food pulled out.
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Hide AdThe call went out to students to help deliver 900 meals to all students who were isolating.
A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of our staff is of absolute importance. In preparing for the start of the new academic year, we have worked with staff and union representatives and are continually ensuring Scottish Government guidelines are followed.
“We have risk assessments and procedures in place to provide staff the opportunity to report to managers where they feel that safety measures could be improved, and we have adapted a number of staff processes in light of this feedback.
“While the vast majority of our students are observing the rules, if a student is found to be intentionally or repeatedly failing to comply with safety measures, they have faced appropriate action. If a staff member was to feel that intervening in any situation was unsafe, they are advised not to and to call the appropriate emergency services.”