At least 18 students and two staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 at the University of Greenwich as students across the country face pockets of infections.

The University of Greenwich has become the latest to experience a small coronavirus outbreak, with 20 people testing positive.

But the outbreak is currently far from the level of other universities across the UK, such as Newcastle University where over 1,000 students have been infected.

Greenwich University confirmed that there have now been 18 student cases and 2 staff cases of Covid-19 within the community, but has assured that they are all being given support during isolation.

Goldsmiths University, based in New Cross, also reported a collection of cases earlier in the week, with 15 people among staff and students testing positive.

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Greenwich, said they were "continuing to monitor the local situation closely and to follow all Government and Public Health England advice.

"18 student cases and 2 staff cases of Covid-19 have now been confirmed among our university community.

"All are receiving support from the university, including daily wellbeing checks and offers of assistance where needed for students in our halls.

"We are also giving students in isolation a discount on hall fees. In addition, we have launched an information line for parents and carers who may have concerns about students on our campuses."

The university had confirmed last week that a small number of students in one of their halls of residence had tested positive, and were self-isolating in line with guidance.

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VC Harrington said she was "pleased to confirm that the students who have tested positive are doing well, and on advice of Public Health England, we are hosting a mobile testing site on our Greenwich campus for one week to enable us to support our students to access testing and receive the relevant information, guidance and support."

The Mobile Testing Site has been set up on the Greenwich campus for pre-booked appointments, part of a UK-wide drive to improve accessibility to testing.

Elsewhere in the UK, universities have been ravaged by the virus as students returned.

In Exeter, students have been sent home after an explosion of cases, whilst in Manchester and Edinburgh some have reportedly been locked in forced quarantines days after returning for the start of the new university year.

Greenwich Univeristy moved to a virtual campus back in March, and were proud of the part their students and staff had played in the national effort to tackle the virus, with many moving to the health front line or as researchers.

In a statement last week, Vice-Chancellor Harrington said they were now "working hard to keep our campuses safe" using a range of measures.

"While I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to keep universities open in his speech to Parliament this week, I also recognise that the return of students to universities across the country has caused understandable concern.

"The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is my top priority and at Greenwich we have taken considerable and wide-ranging steps to ensure our campuses are Covid-safe."