The number of new COVID-19 cases per week at Uppsala University since autumn 2020.

2021-04-23

COVID-19 report, 23 April

In week 15 (12–18 April), for the first time for several weeks, a slightly higher case rate is reported than in the preceding week. However, just as previously, most of the cases of infection are occurring outside Uppsala University’s organisation and activities. In view of the severely strained situation in the health services, the region has extended the validity of existing recommendations until 17 May.

“Given the ongoing pandemic and the cancellation of 30 April (Walpurgis Eve) celebrations, we are aware of considerable interest and a good deal of concern about what we can expect to happen around 30 April. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that the concerns are indeed simply concerns,” says the University’s Chief Security Officer Fredrik Blomqvist.

The recommendation that is generally felt to be most difficult to uphold is the 2-metre distancing rule and this weekly report therefore underlines that recommendation specifically.

“There is a good deal of concern in the county that certain Uppsala residents will ignore the recommendations and gather in groups in town to celebrate. However, the recommendations on maintaining distance remain in effect and the regional authorities draw attention to them once again.”

There has also been talk during the spring about certain groups of students and staff with a clear link to healthcare receiving priority for vaccination. This week the regional authorities announced that this would not be the case and that students and staff will be vaccinated in the order planned in phase 4.

Infection status report

To summarise the infection situation, as of 23 April, there have been 850 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Uppsala University since the start of the 2020 autumn semester.

This figure breaks down as follows:

664 Bachelor’s and Master’s students – an increase of 21 cases
15 doctoral students – no increase
171 members of staff – an increase of 8 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 664 Bachelor’s and Master’s students confirmed infected are distributed across the disciplinary domains as follows (change from previous week in parentheses):

Hum/Sam – 266 (+5) confirmed cases
Med/Farm – 280 (+12) confirmed cases
Tek/Nat – 118 (+4) 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 13 (29 March-4 April) – 1702, week 14 (5-11 April) – 1802 and week 15 (12-18 April) – 1762.
Number of people confirmed infected in Region Gotland: week 13 (29 March-4 April) – 100, week 14 (5-11 April) – 155 and week 15 (12-18 April) – 182.
Source: Public Health Agency of Sweden

Number of people vaccinated in Uppsala County

On 22 April, 69,371 residents (+11,124) had received their first dose of vaccine and 27,695 (+4,080) 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.

Johan Ahlenius

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