Northern Ireland

'Chain reaction' of infections in Glasgow student accommodation leaves Belfast fresher self-isolating

Students have been hit by coronavirus outbreaks as they return to university
Students have been hit by coronavirus outbreaks as they return to university Students have been hit by coronavirus outbreaks as they return to university

A YOUNG Belfast woman who moved to Scotland to begin her university life is among an entire apartment of students who tested positive for coronavirus.

Ellen McDonald (19) is self-isolating after what she described as a "chain reaction" of infections among her flatmates in Halls of Residence accommodation.

The first-year Spanish and politics student enjoyed freshers week at Glasgow University after travelling to the city just over a fortnight ago.

However, 10 days after her arrival, one of her flatmates began displaying symptoms.

"He got tested and came back positive. A few other others got tested and also had it. I was probably one of the last to get the test, I was positive but asymptomatic. It was like some sort of chain reaction, it just spread," she said.

"In my building every single flat is self-isolating, there are four flats of 12 people. There's only six of us here now in our flat and we all have it. Only one person has symptoms, she said it was like a bad flu, with the loss of taste and smell being the worst.

"There wasn't much help from the university initially. But now they have offered to get food packages and pizza takeaway was given to us. A lot of people have been getting Tescos deliveries and some of my flatmates had already stocked up.

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"The health authorities were very good. I had a phone call from track and trace to ask who I had been in contact with over the past few weeks - but the only people I was with are all positive. Everyone I know has had that phone call, the restaurants are also very good at making contact."

After 10 days in quarantine, Ms McDonald said she has suffered from bouts of home sickness.

"My first week here was really interesting, meeting new people during freshers. But the past few days haven't been great, they're slow to get in and over the past few days the home sickness has really crept in," she added.

"When you are left on your own everything is heightened, I know I wouldn't be so bad if I was with my friends at home. It's not been easy but it's not been the worst. It's really not too bad."