Masks in crowded lecture halls, a phased return of students next month and better ventilation across campuses can help avoid a “chaotic” return of universities, academics have said. The academics' “five key considerations” for universities welcoming students back also include good contact tracing alongside effective on-campus testing, isolation, and support, which they said is “key to minimising any impacts of transmission on and beyond campuses”. They warn of the risk to students of getting ill with the virus and developing long Covid, as well as the danger of infected students passing the disease on to vulnerable adults on campus, including teachers and university maintenance and service staff.