Corona: “Continue to take responsibility”

The minister stated that in some parts of the country, students have gone back to “normal”, and it has been established that students’ parties have increased the spread of the virus.

“Take full responsibility. You are grown-ups. You are exposing other people to risks,” the minister said.

Matilda Ernkrans praised and thanked Swedish higher education institutions and the students for having made the transition to adapted teaching and examination with such proficiency. However, she stressed that we can’t relax when it comes to taking responsibility for our behaviour and that is true for our free time as well.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden connects an increase in virus transmission to students in several regions, but this is not true in the region Gävleborg. Mainly, virus transmission can be connected to students’ parties and other events and not to teaching situations.

“Do have a party but socialize with the same people whom you meet every day and keep it small. Stay at home even if you only have very mild symptoms,” the authorities recommend.

Swedish higher education institutions are encouraged to keep organizing teaching as safely as possible to limit the spread the virus and to keep reminding students and staff about taking reponsibility for limiting the spread of the virus.

New guidelines for the spring semester

At the University of Gävle, preparations for a decision regarding guidelines for teaching and examination in the spring semester are underway. Our goal is to have a decision as soon as possible in October.

Reminder about the recommendations for the autumn semester

• What happens if several students fall ill?
  If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual will be given medical advice by the health care center. If the University learns that several students in the same group have contracted COVID-19, the University will contact the county medical officer at Region Gävleborg who will decide what measures that need to be taken.

• Stay at home if you are ill, even if you only have mild sympomts of a cold.
  Stay at home for two days after that you have recovered fully. If you fall ill on campus, please go home immediately.
• Follow recommendations
  On campus, there are signs, hand sanitisers and markings. Mind floor markings and physical barriers in common areas and in lecture halls. Seating in lecture halls and seminar rooms, dining halls and cafes and in other spaces should be organised in such a way to enable everyone to maintain a safe distance. It is important that we all do our part in keeping a safe distance.
  
• Be considerate—keep your distance.

• Avoid crowds in halls and around all entrances.
• Follow the recommendation for maximal number of students in the student dining areas. If the room is full, find another place to sit after you have heated your own food in the microwave oven.
• Wash your hands often and carefully. There are hand sanitisers in many locations around campus. Please don’t move the bottles. Your friends would like to use them, too.
• Cough and sneeze into the into your elbow.