Scotland's Education Secretary has warned University students may not be allowed to return home over Christmas if coronavirus is not under control
Phased returns home and back to university are being considered by the UK's governments as part of an attempt to limit further infections by the movement of "substantial" numbers of people around the country.Speaking on the BBC Good Morning Scotland radio programme, the Deputy First Minister said the return of students at Christmas "without a doubt" depends on the coronavirus infection rate being reduced.Asked if that meant students could be forced to remain in halls of residence, he said: "We want to avoid that at all possible cost because we want students to return home."But I have to be realistic that, if we have a situation where the virus has not been controlled, then we will have to look at other scenarios and other plans."Mr Swinney added: "There is a lot of thinking and work going on within the Scottish Government, with Universities Scotland, the institutions, with the National Union of Students, and also with the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to try to make sure this can be undertaken as safely as possible."But there obviously is a risk that if the virus is not contained, then we may not be able to support the return of students to their homes."We want to avoid that but it is a realistic possibility."Discussing the guidance to avoid door-to-door guising this Halloween, Mr Swinney urged families not to leave sweets outside their homes as they could enable the transmission of Covid-19."The interaction of humans is how the virus is spread and that can also be spread by the touching of items like bags of sweeties," he said.
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