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Trinity College has asked all students living on campus to leave their accommodation as the college has at least eight confirmed cases of COVID-19.

In an email issued to students and staff this evening, the college has said that from 8pm tomorrow evening they must return to their home in Ireland.

The college said: "The situation with COVID-19 in Trinity continues to worsen. We are aware of at least eight cases in Trinity who have tested positive for the virus. Many more students and staff are self-isolating."

They also said that it is "one of the most difficult decisions to date".

Students that have a home overseas are being asked to leave by 5pm on Wednesday, March 18.

They are being asked to take all belongings, and if they have already left but do not have their belongings, to remove them by 6pm on Friday, March 20.

Students that are in accommodation owned by Trinity will be given refunds on a pro rata basis, while the college will support those who look for refunds from the privately owned accommodation.

They have also issued guidelines for those who cannot return home. The college is allowing those who fit within specific criteria to stay on campus.

They include those who are facing homelessness, who have family members with the virus or who are self-isolating, who have immigration or travel restrictions, those who have extremely limited internet connectivity at home and PhD students who must carry out research on campus for their thesis.

Trinity College statement in full:

Based on medical advice regarding the health and safety of students, all students must now leave their rooms on campus, in Trinity Hall, the Binary Hub and Kavanagh Court unless they meet specific criteria outlined below.

From 8pm tomorrow (March 17), all students living in Ireland must return home within Ireland and stay at home until notified otherwise. Students with a home overseas should aim to have left their Trinity accommodation by 5pm on Wednesday (March 18).

You must take all your belongings with you. If you have already vacated, on a temporary basis and not removed all your belongings, you will need to organise to collect your belongings by 6pm on Friday (March 20).

You must take all your belongings with you. If you have already vacated, on a temporary basis and not removed all your belongings please contact your residence by email to make arrangements for removal/collection at a later date .

Students in Trinity Hall and on campus will be refunded on a pro rata basis. Trinity will offer full support to students staying at Binary Hub and Kavanagh Court if they seek refunds from the owners.

Guidelines for remaining in accommodation

For a variety of reasons, some students cannot return home. As always, we will work with these students to ensure they can remain on campus with our support.

Unless you meet one of the criteria listed below, you must leave campus and stay home until notified.If you are currently off campus participating in University-sponsored study abroad programmes such as Erasmus, you may not return to campus unless you meet one of these stated criteria.

You are permitted to remain living on campus until the semester ends only if you meet one or more of these criteria. You are:

A student who faces homelessness;

A student who has the virus or is currently self-isolating;

Your family at home has the virus;

Students who have immigration, travel, and/or visa restrictions;

Students whose home is in an area with extremely limited internet connectivity:

A PhD student who must conduct lab or other research on campus that’s required for their thesis.

If you meet one of these criteria, you must register in the following way:

In order to stay on campus you will need to register with the Head of Accommodation in Trinity: residences@tcd.ie

In order to stay at Trinity Hall you will need to register with the Warden of Trinity Hall: trinity.hall@tcd.ie

E-mails should have the subject title “Extenuating Circumstances”. You must not phone or attend either reception or the accommodation office in person.

This is to ensure that we know where you are and that you have the necessary support during this period. If you are not registered, your access will be deactivated by March 19. We’re taking these steps so that we have a clear picture of who remains in campus accommodation.

Staff members who live permanently on campus may remain.

Leaving campus

We realize that for those of you leaving campus, tomorrow will be distressing. As you make your arrangements, try to pack in ways that will allow you to leave campus yourself, rather than requiring family members to assist. As you pack and say goodbye you should also carefully observe the social distancing protocols which have been widely circulated by HSE. Public transport will be based on the Sunday schedule because tomorrow is a bank holiday.