Staff and COVID-19

If you suspect, you have become infected with COVID-19 (the symptoms are very similar to a common flu) you should immediately contact the next healthcare clinic and ask for advice. Anyone experiencing symptoms must remain at home and under no circumstances come to the campus while for test results, and notify  their superior or their colleagues.
 
The Civil Protection Tracing Team will take control and contact you and trace the infection.  It is very important to keep calm and follow the advice of tracing team.  Only the Tracing team sends people into quarantine.
 
Further information.

If infection is confirmed, infection tracking begins under the direction of the Civil Protection Infection Tracking Team. The tracking team will contact the infected person and after
that colleagues if necessary.

• Employees should notify their supervisor or colleagues if they receive confirmation of infection and students should notify their department or school office.
• Supervisors or offices that receive a notification:
  •  Notify the Emergency Response Board by email: neydarstjorn@hi.is
  • Notify employees in the building where the infected person works.
  • Note. The name of the infected person may not be disclosed without their informed consent.
• Measures will be taken to disinfect the infected person’s work area and common contact areas in the building.    

• Staff in quarantine are kindly asked to report the situation to their supervisor. Students are also kindly asked to report their situation to their Faculty. The School will then inform the Emergency Response Board by e-mail to neydarstjorn@hi.is. 
• It is crucial that anyone experiencing symptoms of illness or who has potentially been exposed to infection, e.g. due to travel, calls 1700 for guidance. Those experiencing symptoms must remain at home and under no circumstances attend University.
• Managers are asked to be flexible regarding submission of doctor's certificates if staff or students feel they have cause to stay away from their workplaces or are unable to fulfil responsibilities.
• People at greater risk, e.g. older people and those with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung diseases or immunosuppression, should work from home, avoid unnecessary gatherings of people and practise good hygiene.
• Look out for one another, encourage people to go home if they appear to be ill, and take particular care to look out for people who don´t have a strong support network in Iceland.

• The absolute best defence against the spead of disease is hand washing, cf. guidelines from the Directorate of Health and the University of Iceland Web of Science. 
• Hand sanitising stations have been set up in University buildings and students and staff are encouraged to use them. Teaching staff are reminded to wash their hands before and after classes. 
• Extra emphasis has also been placed on cleaning the buildings. 

The organisation of teaching in the spring semester 2021 will be determined first and foremost by the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist and other authorities. The goal is to plan the semester so that operations continue uninterrupted despite the potential for sudden changes and so that everything is as close to normal as possible. 

Online teaching will form the foundation of the 2021 spring semester, but the University is also focusing on options for on-campus learning, on the condition that it complies with the current instructions of the Chief Epidemiologist and the authorities. 

Priority for on-campus learning will be given to discussion periods, tutorials and similar classes, teaching in artistic subjects, practical teaching and clinical training. 

Yes, University buildings are currently open. University staff is encouraged to follow without exception the regulations of the Chief Epidemiologist and other authorities. Staff in central administration working in open spaces will be divided into groups to reduce the risk of infection. The same applies to PhD students who work in open spaces and staff that share offices. This also applies to those who share offices.

General infection prevention and physical distancing

The University of Iceland primarily emphasises that individuals should take steps to prevent infection, e.g. physical distancing, hand washing and disinfection. Everyone, students, teachers and other staff members, must use protective masks in university buildings in all University buildings.  

Students, teaching staff and other staff should not enter any part of the University campus if they: 

-    Are in quarantine. 

-    Are in isolation (also while waiting for COVID-19 test results) 

-    Are experiencing symptoms typical of COVID-19 (cold symptoms, cough, fever, headache, bone or muscle aches, fatigue).

Physical distancing in all University of Iceland buildings means keeping at least 2 metres away from other people, in all spaces. Students, teaching staff and other staff must also keep 2 metres apart in all their work at the University. Everyone, students, teachers and other staff members, must use protective masks in university buildings in all University buildings.  

Further information on work during COVID-19 can be found on the University intraweb, Ugla.

• Where it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2 metres, facemasks must be worn, e.g. when there is a risk of people bumping into each other.
• It is not strictly necessary for teaching staff to wear masks while giving a lecture/presentation if they are a considerable distance from the audience/students (particularly if the teacher would find it hard to communicate effectively with a mask on).
• Of course, it is not possible to wear a mask when eating or drinking, but people must absolutely avoid gathering and eating at the same time in small spaces. It may be necessary to divide people into groups and take turns to use break rooms etc. in order to avoid this situation.
• It is not essential to use a mask when people are sitting at least two metres away from one another in a well ventilated space. This applies, for example, if staff working in an open-plan office with at least two metres between work stations experience significant discomfort when working with a mask on – in such cases, it is not strictly necessary to wear a mask at your work station.

The University of Iceland is responsible for ensuring that current public health restrictions are enforced, with the safety and wellbeing of students, teaching staff and other staff in mind. 

• In accordance with the official government notice  on restrictions in schools and universities, students, teaching staff and other staff are required to use protective masks inside University buildings and in all their work. This covers both teaching and meetings. Masks will be distributed free of charge in all buildings on the University campus. Here you can find instructions on how to use a mask correctly. 
• Hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance to and inside each classroom (there may be more than one classroom in each section).
• Common equipment and surfaces shall be disinfected at least once a day and emphasis placed on individuals taking steps to prevent infection. Common surfaces (door handles etc.) in classrooms shall be disinfected between classes. Each student must disinfect their desk – ideally students should come with a small spray bottle of disinfectant in their bag. It is recommended that the teacher wipe down the door handle after class.  
• Posters to remind everyone of the situation will be put up in University buildings. (See: https://www.covid.is/media).
• The number of visitors to the University of Iceland shall be limited as far as possible (e.g. no large meetings, open events etc.). Any visitors must be reminded to be careful and always follow infection prevention rules. 
• All events in University buildings are prohibited, except those that involve teaching or learning.
• Instructions on how to respond to an infection can be found here.

• Yes, Háma in Háskólatorg will be open on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. but for take-away only. Háma in Tæknigarður, Læknagarður and Eirberg are also open. The Bookstore Café is open 9-18 on weekdays and the Student Cellar from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 4 - 10 p.m. on weekdays. If the restaurant is at full capacity according to current public health restrictions, take-away is always an option. It is also possible to call ahead, 570-0890, order and pick-up.
• A new cafeteria has opened on the ground floor of Veröld - House of Vigdís, Café Cuckoo (Kaffi Gaukur) and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. 
• Please note that the maximum number of guests in each cafeteria or restaurant is 20 or as many as or as many as  adistance of 2 metres allows.

No the University Gym is closed according to the new restrictions on gatherings.

Note that separate rules apply to student trips using e.g. buses.

Despite the current precautions implemented in response to COVID-19, people are still permitted to take field trips or work trips if they are considered essential. We reiterate that people must comply with the current rules on disease prevention as closely as possible. In this context, the guidelines from the University of Iceland are as follows:

1. The general rule for work trips / field trips within Iceland is that a maximum of two people may travel in the same car.  
2. If three people, e.g. people just out of quarantine or people who belong to the same working group, wish to travel together in the same car, this is permitted provided that ALL three confirm by e-mail to fieldwork@hi.is  that they wish to do so.
3. People must stay one metre apart from one another to the extent that this is possible.
4. Participants in work /field trips use masks as required in accordance with general guidelines.
5. When travelling by car for work trips / field trips within Iceland, people must take supplies for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces (e.g. antibacterial wipes, sanitiser and gloves). Follow more detailed instructions regarding which surfaces to clean after travelling by car.
6. People who are more at risk should evaluate whether it is strictly necessary for them to take part in work trips / field trips within Iceland and may of course abandon their plans.
7. General rules regarding work trips / field trips within Iceland and health and safety on trips apply. Staff should review the rules that apply to their own unit.
8. All work trips / field trips within Iceland shall be registered in the system used by the relevant unit (e.g. there is an online system for this at the Institute of Earth Sciences http://jardvis.hi.is/fieldwork_registration).
9. If a situation arises (e.g. a natural disaster) that demands a serious response, people must judge whether some deviation from the rules is necessary.

• Staff are asked to stay up to date with the latest information about areas that have been defined as high risk. People should not travel to these areas but if it is unavoidable, they must quarantine themselves in accordance with instructions from the Chief Epidemiologist and the Directorate of Health.
• If staff are in doubt about whether to go ahead with a trip, even if the destination is not a high-risk area, they are free to cancel the trip. If the expenses can not be refunded (e.g. from the airline, the conference organiser, insurance company or trade union), all effort will be made to prevent staff suffering a financial loss.

Guidelines for those who come from abroad to study or work at the University of Iceland while COVID-19 restrictions apply. Students and staff are asked to stay up to date with the latest information about areas that have been defined as high risk. People should not travel to these areas but if it is unavoidable, they must quarantine themselves in accordance with instructions from the Chief Epidemiologist and the Directorate of Health.

Trip leaders

1. The trip leader is responsible for staying vigilant and guiding students on how to follow these rules.

Symptoms and screening

1. People with even the mildest symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 must not go on field trips under any circumstances.
2. People in isolation or quarantining after coming from abroad must not go on field trips.  People waiting for coronavirus test results must not go on field trips.
3. People who have recently entered Iceland from abroad must have received the results of the second test before going on a field trip.

Coach trips

1. Have hand sanitiser at the entrance to the coach and encourage people to use it both on entering and leaving the vehicle.
2. Ask passengers to move calmly through the vehicle and use the same seat for the duration of the trip.
3. Maintain at least a one-seat gap between passengers.  
4. All passengers should wear a face mask while the vehicle is moving.

Please find further information on the Icelandic Tourist Board website.

Work and education at stops

1.    Students and teaching staff should follow the two-metre physical distancing rule.
2.    If students are required to handle any equipment, they must use disposable gloves.

Accommodation

1. Students should not be staying overnight in shared spaces where it is not possible to follow infection prevention rules.
2. Trips must therefore be day-trips, unless it is possible to stay in accommodation with single-occupancy rooms, e.g. at Laugarvatn.  

Please find further information on the Icelandic Tourist Board website

Guidelines for accommodation with shared private facilities
 

On 12 June 2020, the Rector announced that doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers receiving wages (paid from the University of Iceland's doctoral or postdoctoral funds) could apply for support from the Division of Human Resources if they had lost work time due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. The reasoning behind this offer of support was that University buildings were temporarily closed and the operations of preschools and elementary schools limited, which increased pressure on staff with young children. All applications submitted to the Division of Human Resources for support due to loss of work time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 have been processed.

The decision has been taken not to repeat the invitation for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers to apply for financial support if their research has been delayed due to the pandemic. However, cases in which doctoral students have lost access to labs on the University campus will be reviewed individually and students in this position are asked to contact the coordinator for doctoral studies at their school.

School coordinators for doctoral studies will monitor the progress of doctoral students to see whether they experience difficulties completing their degrees due to the situation. University authorities will closely monitor the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and look for ways to continue to support doctoral studies at the University.

Please contact the Division of Science and Innovation if you require further information.