Strict restrictions for the whole of spring term

(Edited 1 June 2021) 

The general guidelines published by the Public Health Agency of Sweden relating to distance teaching for institutions of higher education will be withdrawn on 1 June. This means that more teaching and exams can gradually take place on campus. The restrictions imposed by LiU to reduce congestion and in this way reduce the risk of the spread of infection will remain in force until 31 July.

Linköping University has decided that activity can gradually return to campus, starting on 1 August. The details of the decision are described in the article: “Gradual easing of restrictions during the autumn term”.

 

The following applies at Linköping University:

Apply to all

• It is only permitted to be physically present on university premises if this is necessary. The libraries at Campus Valla, University Hospital Campus and Campus Norrköping are closed for independent study until 24 January. However, it will still be possible to borrow and return books. The Info Centre will continue with its limited opening hours.

• Meetings (including meetings with overnight accommodation), conferences, seminars, visits, etc., are to be carried out using remote methods, postponed or cancelled.

   

• Access to the LiU premises has been restricted, which applies also to libraries, Info Centres and the registrar’s office. The opening times of these facilities have been published.

• When it is necessary to be present on university premises, physical distancing must be observed. In such cases, no more than half of the capacity of the premises may be used. When sitting, a separation of an arm’s length must be kept. Otherwise, the minimum separation is two meters. Following consultation with the infectious diseases unit at Region Östergötland, the following group sizes apply to necessary physical presence on LiU premises.

– A maximum of 50 people may be present during compulsory components such as lectures and exams.

– At all other times, groups should not be larger than 5-10 people.

• A preparedness is to be held in case the Swedish government or Public Health Agency of Sweden recommend or stipulate that all on-campus operations must be reconfigured to distance mode.

 

For students and teaching personnel

• All students are to study at home. An exception can be made for certain timetabled components and exams that must be carried out on campus.

• Teaching methods are digital. Students who are to be given priority for on-campus teaching when premises are insufficient are: 1) those who are taking a concluding component of their studies, 2) those for whom on-campus teaching is important for their continued studies, and 3) those for whom it is impossible or inappropriate to conduct a teaching component using remote methods.

• Exams are to be held digitally and will be carried out following instructions from the examiner. Exceptions are allowed,  written exams in an exam hall (“salstentor” in Swedish) will be permitted when this is necessary to ensure quality and legal certainty. The order of priority for access to premises is the same as that given above, namely: 1) those who are taking a concluding component of their studies, 2) those for whom an on-campus exam is important for their continued studies, and 3) those for whom it is impossible or inappropriate to conduct an exam using remote methods.

• Students who are to carry out external placements, teaching, degree projects, education in the workplace and similar components are to follow guidelines and recommendations from the host organisation.

• Activities linked to the reception of new students for the start of the spring term will be digital and remote, and will take place at the end of January.

Apply to co-workers

• All co-workers are to work from home. Only those who must be on site at the university may be there.

• Service-related travel must be cancelled.

Decision to activate pandemic-based levels in preparation for spring 2021, as a consequence of the coronavirus disease, Covid-19 (in Swedish)

 

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Keep it up, keep your distance and act responsibly

During the pandemic: stay at home if you have any symptoms, be meticulous about hand hygiene, and avoid large gatherings.

 

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Latest updates

Gradual easing of restrictions during the autumn term

LiU decided on 1 June that pandemic level 2 will be in force at the start of the autumn term 2021. This means that somewhat larger groups can meet physically, and that more teaching and exams can be carried out on campus. It also means, however, that we must continue to keep our distance.

LiU preparing for gradual opening

The general guidelines published by the Public Health Agency of Sweden relating to distance teaching for institutions of higher education will be withdrawn on 1 June. This means that gradually increasing amounts of teaching and exams can take place on campus, while the restrictions to reduce congestion and the risk of spreading infection will remain in force until the autumn.

Making Covid-19 vaccination easier

“When your turn to be vaccinated comes, I hope that you take the opportunity as soon as possible”, says Pia Rundgren, director of human resources at LiU. The university is taking initiatives that will make it easier for co-workers to get vaccinated.

The pandemic – not over yet

As increasing numbers are vaccinated against Covid-19, expectations are increasing for a rapid return to “normal”. At the same time, pressure on the healthcare services remains extremely high. In the current situation, our conclusion is that we must keep it up and keep our distance for the foreseeable future.

Preparations for the autumn term

LiU is planning to increase the degree of physical presence on campus for the autumn term, but restrictions will remain concerning such matters as the size of groups. Everything depends on how the infection of covid-19 continues to spread, and the effects of mass vaccination.

Working from home – the complete spring term

The government has today extended the period during which government employees are to work from home. The crisis management team at LiU would therefore like to remind all co-workers that the current decision that we work from home will remain in force until further notice.

LiU to continue working from home until 28 March

In accordance with the extended national restrictions that the government presented on 21 January, LiU continues to encourage its students and co-workers to work from home. The decision from the government is initially valid until 7 February, but LiU has previous made a decision that all unnecessary presence on LiU premises is to be avoided. This decision is now valid until 28 March.

LiU and the new pandemic legislation

New legislation came into force on 10 January, which regulates, among other things, how many people may be present on premises at the same time. Operations at LiU come under the new law only to a small degree: we have concluded that the measures previously introduced are still valid and are not affected by the new law.

LiU tightens Corona restrictions

Under LIU’s new restrictions, the university’s libraries will be closed for independent study. Co-workers are to continue to work from home. Exams will be digital, except when it is absolutely necessary that they are held in an examination hall.

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Background

Linköping University has a central crisis management group, which has been in action since 10 March 2020. This group manages and takes decisions relating to how the corona pandemic affects operations. It has the safety of our co-workers and students as its highest priority. Further, the crisis management group aims to secure the various operations at the university in the short and long terms.

In Sweden, the Public Health Agency of Sweden issues recommendations, while the government takes decisions about measures to take to reduce the spread of infection. Linköping University follows these recommendations and decisions.

Towards the end of 2019, it was confirmed that a novel coronavirus that infected humans had been identified in China. The disease caused by this virus, COVID-19, has become a pandemic from which many have died. The infection has now spread all over the world, and has affected many societal functions. Many countries have decided to take extensive measures, such as to close borders and introduce strict social distancing, in order to reduce the spread of infection.