How the new COVID measures affect employees

9 December 2021

The communicable disease control measures that took effect in Sweden on 8 December do not affect teaching at Umeå University, which can still be conducted on site. Managers will assess what work tasks can be carried out from home and the University recommends that large meetings or events are carried out online or postponed.

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Due to increased spread of infection and increased strain on the healthcare system, the Swedish Government has introduced a new action plan of COVID measures that took effect on 8 December. As a response to this, the Vice-Chancellor adopted a revised decision for Umeå University that applies until further notice.

In brief, this applies to all staff

Maintain distance to others and avoid crowding in university premises.
Unvaccinated people must take extra responsibility to maintain distance to others.
Small meetings can be carried out on site if distance can be maintained, but are preferably conducted online.Larger meetings and events should be implemented online or be postponed.
Depending on your work tasks, you may have the opportunity to work from home. Your line manager decides. The gradual return to the workplace is postponed.
Teaching and examination are not affected by the action plan and can therefore be conducted according to plan.

A guideline from the Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at Region Västerbotten is to limit group sizes to 25 people. When it is possible to maintain distance, the formerly used "every other chair" principle can be adopted, but Umeå University will not issue any strict guidelines regarding distances at this point.

For teaching and examination, no limitations to the number of people or distances apply. However, students should maintain distance before and after lectures, exams and similar to avoid crowding. At written hall examinations, there are special guidelines in place regarding distances between students. The Examination Services ensure that these are maintained. In situations in which reasonable distance cannot be maintained, face masks should be used.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends that everyone above the age of 12 gets vaccinated against COVID-19. The Vaccination Centre on Campus Umeå is still open for both drop in and booked vaccinations. Individuals who have not been vaccinated must take extra responsibility to maintain distance to others and avoid places that are crowded.

If the spread of disease continues to increase, the Swedish Government will introduce step 2 of their action plan, which would mean that further measures at Umeå University are necessary. For instance, step 2 means increased online teaching and stricter requirements for work at home.

Questions or comments:

If you have questions or comments about the university's information or handling of COVID-19, please contact the Crisis Management Team on corona@umu.se.