<p>University students in England will be allowed to travel home in early December after a four-week lockdown is eased to spend Christmas with their families, under government plans unveiled Wednesday.</p>.<p>Universities will switch to online tuition by December 9 while students will be encouraged to return home during a "travel window" through the preceding week.</p>.<p>Health officials and university staff will work with transport operators to ensure there are staggered departure times during the seven-day window, according to the guidance.</p>.<p>A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the government to impose a four-week national shutdown this month, ordering people to stay at home and most businesses to close.</p>.<p>It is due to end in England on December 2.</p>.<p>The government has said it will help universities test as many students as possible before the travel window, with institutions in areas of high coronavirus prevalence prioritised.</p>.<p>Those testing positive must self-isolate for 10 days, but then should still have enough time to travel home under the plans.</p>.<p>"You can never eliminate the risk -- we're amidst a pandemic," Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told Sky News.</p>.<p>"What we're doing, is trying to manage that risk, reduce it and give students the confidence to go home."</p>.<p>England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said the mass movement of students in the run-up to Christmas "presents a really significant challenge within the COVID-19 response".</p>.<p>"It is crucial that students follow the guidance in order to protect their families and the communities they return to," she added in a statement.</p>.<p>Britain has been the worst-hit country in Europe by the pandemic, recording nearly 50,000 deaths from 1.2 million positive cases.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has responsibility for health policy in England only, with devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland coordinating their own responses.</p>
<p>University students in England will be allowed to travel home in early December after a four-week lockdown is eased to spend Christmas with their families, under government plans unveiled Wednesday.</p>.<p>Universities will switch to online tuition by December 9 while students will be encouraged to return home during a "travel window" through the preceding week.</p>.<p>Health officials and university staff will work with transport operators to ensure there are staggered departure times during the seven-day window, according to the guidance.</p>.<p>A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the government to impose a four-week national shutdown this month, ordering people to stay at home and most businesses to close.</p>.<p>It is due to end in England on December 2.</p>.<p>The government has said it will help universities test as many students as possible before the travel window, with institutions in areas of high coronavirus prevalence prioritised.</p>.<p>Those testing positive must self-isolate for 10 days, but then should still have enough time to travel home under the plans.</p>.<p>"You can never eliminate the risk -- we're amidst a pandemic," Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told Sky News.</p>.<p>"What we're doing, is trying to manage that risk, reduce it and give students the confidence to go home."</p>.<p>England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said the mass movement of students in the run-up to Christmas "presents a really significant challenge within the COVID-19 response".</p>.<p>"It is crucial that students follow the guidance in order to protect their families and the communities they return to," she added in a statement.</p>.<p>Britain has been the worst-hit country in Europe by the pandemic, recording nearly 50,000 deaths from 1.2 million positive cases.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has responsibility for health policy in England only, with devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland coordinating their own responses.</p>