Universities in Wales are seeing a “steady decline” in cases of coronavirus, Education Minister Kirsty Williams has said.
“Evidence shows transmission is not taking place in the teaching and learning environment. Universities are operating Covid-secure campuses,” Ms Williams said.
“Our universities have also agreed to develop a phased exit from campus and university towns to reduce pressure on public transport and travel infrastructure.”
She described the need to balance people’s rights and support their wellbeing as well as protecting families, friends and communities from risk of infection “remains very challenging”.
Ms Williams urged people to consider what changes they could make to “keep ourselves and our loved ones safe”.
She also urged students to “stay put” and not return to their families until the first week of December.
“We’re asking students to stay put, to continue to engage in their learning but we’ve agreed with the universities that that provision will change in the first week of December, thus allowing students to go home,” she said.
“I would encourage students to stay where they are at the moment, and crucially to follow the Welsh Government guidelines by limiting their contacts, thus keeping themselves and the people that they live with as safe as possible.”
