“As stated, we are seeing a continuation of the downward trend for confirmed cases of COVID-19 in University activities, despite the alarming signals from other parts of the county and region, with our hospitals struggling with heavy caseloads day by day,” says the University’s chief security officer and coronavirus coordinator Fredrik Blomqvist.

Meanwhile, Uppsala University is again approaching Valborg (30 April), normally a great day at the University with many different items on the programme. However, just like last year, the traditional celebrations are cancelled.

“We will have to console ourselves with the fact that it will soon be just a year until our next opportunity to welcome spring in accordance with our time-honoured traditions. Having said that, we now urge all our staff and students to respect the cancellation of the traditional 30 April celebrations and to continue to follow the general recommendations. We don’t want to have to wake up to headlines about partying and crowding caused by individuals connected with Uppsala University.”

Last but not least, Fredrik Blomqvist pays tribute to all the hard-working security staff and social distancing wardens at the different campus areas.

“They are providing vital support to individuals who for one reason or another need to be on site physically at our premises while still staying two metres apart,” says Blomqvist.

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.

Infection status report

To summarise the infection situation, as of 9 April, there have been 788 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Uppsala University since the start of the 2020 autumn semester.

This figure breaks down as follows:

  • 626 Bachelor’s and Master’s students – an increase of 38 cases (including 1 at Campus Gotland).
  • 14 doctoral students – no increase.
  • 158 members of staff – an increase of 27 cases (including 2 at Campus Gotland).

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 626 Bachelor’s and Master’s students confirmed infected are distributed across the disciplinary domains as follows (change from previous week in parentheses):

  • Hum/Sam – 254 (+14) confirmed cases
  • Med/Farm – 260 (+8) confirmed cases
  • Tek/Nat – 112 (+16) 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.

Number of cases in Region Uppsala and Region Gotland

Number of people confirmed infected in Region Uppsala: week 11 (15-21 March) - 1248, week 12 (22-28 March) - 1429 and week 13 (29 March-4 April) - 1702.
Number of people confirmed infected in Region Gotland: week 11 (15-21 March) - 69, week 12 (22-28 March) - 107 and week 13 (29 March-4 April) - 100.
Source: Public Health Agency of Sweden

Number of people vaccinated in Uppsala County

On 8 April, 44,286 residents (8,661) had received their first dose of vaccine and 21,192 (+2,206) 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.