“We continue to receive reports of overfull hospitals because of the ongoing pandemic,” says the University’s chief security officer Fredrik Blomqvist.
“However, for the first time for several weeks, this week’s CRUSH COVID report allows us to discern a slight break in the trend for transmission and number of new cases per 100,000 people in the county. Let’s hope this change in the trend continues.”
Recently the validity of the University’s current decision on measures in response to the spread of COVID-19 was extended until 30 June. The discussions moving forward now focus on the timing of the next decision, which is a very important factor for planning the summer and the forthcoming autumn semester, as the University Management Team is aware. The aim is to create the best possible conditions for the future.
Two metre rule now in effect
“This week we have received reports from students giving the University top marks for the measures taken at exams in our exam rooms. The students we have heard from say that from an infection transmission perspective, they feel confident about taking the exams concerned in exam rooms and of course we’re pleased about that,” says Blomqvist.
At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was urged to keep a distance of 1.5 metres from one another to prevent the spread of infection. This recommendation has been tightened by the Public Health Agency of Sweden: now the ‘2 metre rule’ is in effect.
“We understand that two metres may feel like a ‘big’ distance for group work, for example, but this is the rule that will apply on our premises as well. The 2 metre rule must be obeyed and our social distancing wardens on campus will point it out to create environments that are as infection-proof as possible.”
Infection status report
To summarise the infection situation, as of 16 April, there have been 821 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Uppsala University since the start of the 2020 autumn semester.
This figure breaks down as follows:
- 643 Bachelor’s and Master’s students – an increase of 17 cases
- 15 doctoral students – an increase of 1 case
- 163 members of staff – an increase of 5 cases
If you are confirmed infected with COVID-19, the Communicable Diseases Act requires you to inform people who have been in your proximity and whom you may have infected.
Uppsala University has created an online procedure to help you do this anonymously.
If you are confirmed infected with COVID-19, it is very important that you make sure to stay at home: Do not go to campus, exam rooms or work. And keep up to date with the current rules of conduct.
Breakdown by disciplinary domain
The 643 Bachelor’s and Master’s students confirmed infected are distributed across the disciplinary domains as follows (change from previous week in parentheses):
- Hum/Sam – 261 (+7) confirmed cases
- Med/Farm – 268 (+8) confirmed cases
- Tek/Nat – 114 (+2) confirmed cases
Managing confirmed infections in education
When an infection is confirmed, the disciplinary domain concerned deals with the question of whether teaching should continue to be conducted on campus (if that is currently being done) or whether there is reason to switch to online education. Region Uppsala carries out contact tracing and contacts the individuals deemed necessary in view of the contacts reported by the infected person. The University has no responsibility for this process.
Information concerning international students and staff
International employees and students who need to have a COVID-19 test cannot make an appointment via 1177.
Anyone in this group should call (Region Uppsala) 018-617 35 64 to make an appointment.
The number in Region Gotland is 0498-26 89 31.
Number of cases in Region Uppsala and Region Gotland
Number of people confirmed infected in Region Uppsala: week 12 (22-28 March) – 1429, week 13 (29 March-4 April) – 1702 and week 14 (5-11 April) – 1802.
Number of people confirmed infected in Region Gotland: week 12 (22-28 March) – 107, week 13 (29 March-4 April) – 100 and week 14 (5-11 Avril) – 155.
Source: Public Health Agency of Sweden
Number of people vaccinated in Uppsala County
On 15 April, 58,247 residents (+13,961) had received their first dose of vaccine and 23,615 (+2,423) of these had also received their second dose.
The Communicable Diseases Act requires:
If you are confirmed infected, the Communicable Diseases Act requires you to inform people whom you suspect you may have infected. As part of Uppsala University’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection, the University has created an online procedure to help you do this anonymously.
To test or not to test
The infection control doctor in Uppsala County requests those who have been confirmed infected not to get tested again after recovering from COVID-19. Doing so has no medical benefits and is an unnecessary drain on testing resources. Resources for PCR testing in Region Uppsala are under great strain.
Read the decision of the Vice-Chancellor on advice for reducing the spread of infection.