Environmental guidelines in connection with partial restoration of the university's activity - information from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education

We provide information prepared on the basis of a document  “Environmental guidelines in connection with partial restoration of the university’s activity”, which has been published on the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The guidelines on restoring the activity of a HEI have been developed by representatives of the academic community, consulted with the Conferences of Rectors and representatives of students and PhD students. The whole document you can be found in Polish language here: https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/srodowiskowe-wytyczne-w-zwiazku-z-czesciowym-przywracaniem-dzialalnosci-uczelni

9.3 Rules for the admission of students, PhD students and employees returning from abroad:

Students, doctoral students and employees returning from abroad must undergo a 14-day quarantine, in accordance with the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 16 May 2020.  on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and prohibitions in connection with the occurrence of a state of epidemic, which consists of strict compliance with the instructions of the health services:

• measuring the temperature twice a day
• staying at home and stopping contact with people
• hygiene (frequent hands washing with soap and water for at least 30 seconds or use of alcohol-based skin disinfectants)
• covering the mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing
• quarantine also for all co-inhabitants of one apartment
• IMPORTANT
• If the Student is directed to a 14-day quarantine, the Student Dormitory cannot be the place of the quarantine ! You will be able to return to the student dormitory because of the 14-day quarantine and providing an attestation of completion of the quarantine!
• Since 4 May this year, the quarantine is no longer valid for students, PhD students and employees crossing internal borders, i.e. with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania, as well as with Sweden and Denmark.
• In the case of students, PhD students and employees coming to Poland from countries where the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is active, and the student, PhD student or employee had contact with persons potentially infected with SARS-CoV-2 it is recommended:
• medical examination at the clinic with taking samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing by PCR or determination of the virus antigen
• self-observation and home quarantine for 14 days and a virological re-test after that date 2.
  If an infection of the upper respiratory tract is found in a student, PhD student or employee returning from abroad it is recommended:
• use of a telephone consultation
• in case of deterioration of health, go to the nearest infectious unit to take the material for examination; if necessary, dial 999 or 112
• in the case of confirmation of infection, it is recommended to proceed in accordance with the current guidelines of the Ministry of Health and recommendations of the district sanitary and epidemiological station
  If the infection is not confirmed, outpatient treatment is recommended, and if the typical symptoms of COVID-19 persist for more than 5-7 days, the test for SARS-CoV-2 should be repeated using PCR 3. For students, PhD students and workers coming to Poland from countries with rare infections it is recommended:
• keeping social distance, avoiding crowded places for 14 days after arrival self-observation with body temperature measurement 2 times a day in case of symptoms of infection proceedings as in point 2 consider performing a medical examination in the student’s clinic with taking samples for SARS-CoV-2 tests using PCR method

9.4 Rules applicable to dormitories, staff hotels

In order to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is necessary:

• disinfect hands at the entrance to the building
• observe the principles of social distance and in particular avoid gatherings
• cover mouth and nose (using a mask, visor, etc.) when using the common space (corridors, kitchens)
• introduce restrictions on the maximum number of people who can stay in public places at the same time, such as kitchen, study room, TV room, etc.
• for administrative matters contact by phone or e-mail introduce a ban on outside visitors and gatherings in student housing areas until further notice
• secure a vacant room for isolation purposes
• inform the residents of the student dormitory who notice signs of disease indicating COVID-19 that they are obliged to immediately report this fact by phone to the management of the student dormitories and refrain from moving in the common areas of the building.

The manager of student dormitory or an employee appointed by him contacts the Local Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in order to determine further proceedings
The rules of operation of hotels/conference centres located within a higher education institution should be consistent with the guidelines for the operation of a given type of business activity issued by the Ministry of Health or other ministries and the Chief Sanitary Inspector. https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/informacja-w-sprawie-mozliwosci-przywracaniadzialalnosci-domow-studenckich-i-bibliotek-uczelnianych

11. International mobility

At the moment, it is recommended to maintain the suspension of all foreign business trips of employees, PhD students and students and the arrival of guests from abroad. The resumption of international mobility will be possible only after an official announcement from the government and the university authorities about resuming foreign trips.

In order to complete current student exchanges and their flexible settlement, and to ensure the continuation of cooperation with foreign partners, as well as to secure the possibility of future trips, the following actions are recommended:

• to meet, as far as possible, the obligations arising from agreements with foreign partners and signed curriculum agreements for students participating in mobility
  Settlement of students’ stay in a flexible and most favourable manner in consultation with partner universities, including online education and examination, regardless of where the students/PhD students are staying (e.g. returning home during the mobility due to a pandemic).
• informing the partner universities about a possible lack of possibility of full credit and the scope of achieved learning outcomes, e.g. in case of suspension of classes in direct contact with a patient in medical faculties
• a systemic shift to remote learning, including exchange students
• conducting recruitment for the following year in a remote form
• taking care to maintain current contacts and existing cooperation, and in particular to inform foreign partners about the current legal and epidemiological situation in the country and at universities
• continuous cooperation with key partners such as the MFA, NAWA, embassies
• take action to provide solutions at international level so that national agencies allow universities to account for current student/PhD stays as flexibly as possible, including the settlement of grants and financial losses related to so-called force majeure