The missing information is how many of those student hotspots are generating serious illness. The concern, of course, is that the hotspots of cases will spread upwards into the vulnerable. This is where individual responsibility for safeguarding comes into play. If I was over 60 living in a student town, I would consider public venues a deathtrap and isolate myself from them. Far from being unfair, I've had 45 years of fun visiting pubs and eateries etc. Staying away now so that the young can have their fun is not too hard to ask is it?
There are many other issues to consider such as multigenerational living and grandparents looking after grandchildren so the parents can work where the chance of transmission exists. But we are not naive about this now. We've had 6 months to understand how to manage things. It may require adjustment and even short term hardship but those things have to be taken on board if we are to avoid blanket shutdown again.