Information about the Coronavirus (covid-19) for Staff and Students

[Updated 2020-03-30] Information to Dalarna University staff and students is updated continually as reports come in on the spread of the virus.

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Within Dalarna University

Until further notice, the following will apply:

  • On March 27, 2020, the Government made the decision that public gatherings of more than 50 people must be cancelled.
  • All teaching at Dalarna University will be done by distance
  • No physical teaching will be allowed on Dalarna University premises
  • Dalarna University buildings will remain open so that students have somewhere to work individually in well-ventilated places with Internet connection and access to computers. Staff and students must avoid meeting in groups in Dalarna University buildings.
  • You will continue to receive CSN
  • Forms of examination may change.
  • Resources will be channelled to where they are most needed in accordance with the new recommendations
  • For information on restrictions on travel, see Travel below

University Management is monitoring developments on a daily basis by consulting information provided by the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The health, well-being and safety of staff and students are the University's highest priority.

Travel

  • The Swedish Government has decided to halt all non-essential travel to Sweden temporarily as a measure to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak and to reduce the spread of the disease. This decision will be in effect from March 19 for, at this initial stage, 30 days.
  • Due to new recommendations from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding business trips to other countries, the following rules will apply to staff and students at Dalarna university from March 17, 2020: Dalarna University follows the recommendations of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which means that no official business trips or exchanges with other countries can be made from March 17, 2020 until decided otherwise. This decision applies to both staff and students at Dalarna University. In cases where business trips are still considered necessary, approval must be sought from the Vice-Chancellor at Dalarna University. 
  • National work-related/study-related travel should be avoided where at all possible. At present, no restrictions have been placed on regional travel.

If a trip is approved as stated above, Dalarna University recommends that you strictly follow the recommendations from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Public Health Agency of Sweden. You can book work-related trips with the assistance of the University's procured travel agency Lingmerths to ensure that cancellation policies and travel insurance apply.

If you are a staff member or student who has recently been in an affected area, you should contact your immediate manager or programme coordinator upon your return. The recommendation is to work or study from home for two weeks after returning home. In case of influenza-like symptoms and respiratory problems, contact health services by calling 1177 and follow their instructions.

Personal Hygiene

  • Cough and sneeze into the crook of your arm
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water; hand sanitisers are also effective
  • Avoid touching your face if your hands are not clean

Public toilets are now cleaned twice a day instead of once a day.

Further Information

For further information and advice about the outbreak, we refer you to the following: 

If you have any questions, please contact your immediate manager (staff) or your programme coordinator (students).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get information about taking my course online (web-based learning)?

Answer:You can find this information in your Learn course room(s). 

Will I be able to access university premises and the library?

Answer: Yes, Dalarna University buildings and library will remain open so that students have somewhere to work individually in well-ventilated places with Internet connection and access to computers. No groups may meet in the University’s buildings. Visit https://www.du.se/en/library/ for current information.

Can I get extra help and support from Student Counselling Services in the current situation?

Answer: You can contact Student Counselling Services if you need help and support: https://www.du.se/en/services-and-offices-for-students/student-counselling-services/. Our chaplains are always available to you regardless of what you need to talk about: studies, general worry and concerns, or concerns about the Corona virus. You can meet them on campus or contact them by phone, Skype or Connect. Note that Student Counselling Services cannot test your for coronavirus nor provide any other medical interventions.

I am / will be an exchange student and I am worried. What should I do?

Answer: Contact support@du.se / 023-77 80 00 to discuss the matter, or contact Student Counselling Services https://www.du.se/en/services-and-offices-for-students/student-counselling-services/

What should I do with regards to my placement (VFU)?

Answer: Follow recommendations from Dalarna County Council or the municipality or region where you are to complete your VFU (clinical training/internship). If you have further questions, contact your programme coordinator.

I had planned to take a work experience position in another country. What should I do?

Answer: Dalarna University complies with the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (March 13, 2020) regarding travel abroad and the Swedish Government’s decision to halt all non-essential travel to Sweden (March 17, 2020). Accordingly, Dalarna University has decided that no work-related or study-related trips abroad are to be made. If there are special reasons to make such a trip, then approval must be sought from the Vice-Chancellor. This advice applies to both employees and students.

In the case of private journeys, consult Chapter 2, Section 2 of the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act: https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/smittskyddslag-2004168_sfs-2004-168

 

I have to move my course and/or examination from campus to online: what should I do?

Answer: The Vice-Chancellor has made the decision that changes may be made to forms of education and/or examination formats. The Programme Coordinator (Programansvarig) and the Examiner (Examinator) now have emergency powers to diverge from official programme syllabi and course syllabi and, in consultation with the Head of School (Akademichef), to decide on changed forms of education and examination formats for course(s)/programme(s). You can find information about procedures under Nyheter on Du&ja "Möjlighet att ändra utbildning- och/eller examinationsform". Administrative Assistants (Akademisekreterare) also have this information. Course Coordinators and teachers can contact the Support Café for assistance with the transition: http://samtal.du.se/. Evening hours remain in place: https://du-se.zoom.us/my/supportcafe

Will I be able to access university premises and the library?

Answer: Yes, university premises will remain open as usual to ensure there is access to computers and the internet should they be needed. Visit https://www.du.se/en/library/ for current information.

Can I work from home?

Answer: Dalarna University complies with the recommendations of the Public Health Agency. If you are ill, you should be home. You can work from home if your immediate manager approves this.

What do I need to do to connect to the University’s network from home?

Answer: Our IT department has up-to-date information about this (in Swedish): Tips gällande Virusskydd Forticlient. Tips gällande VPN-Klient.

Will I be paid as usual if I have to work from home?

Answer: Yes, if you follow the University's recommendations regarding work at home and your superior has approved your working from home.

If we find out that a colleague has or may have become infected by coronavirus, how do we deal with that knowledge internally?

Answer: Information about a colleague’s health is confidential. What information can be released about a colleague must be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, the colleague in question may consent to information being shared at their workplace. Read more about personal data on the webpage of The Swedish Data Protection Authority www.datainspektionen.se. (There is a Swedish webpage specifically about coronavirus: https://www.datainspektionen.se/nyheter/coronavirus-och-personuppgifter/.) If you have any questions, you can contact Dalarna University’s Data Protection Officer: dataskydd@du.se.

Should I stay at home if I have symptoms such as sniffing, coughing or fever?

Answer: In accordance with the recommendations of the Public Health Authority, everyone who feels sick must stay at home. We recommend you follow the updated advice provided by the Public Health Agency: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/smittskydd-beredskap/utbrott/aktuella-utbrott/covid-19/fragor-och-svar/

Should I go to work if we have been travelling and my partner or child is showing signs of illness/symptoms?

Answer: If someone in your family is showing symptoms, you should ask your immediate manager if you can work at home or from an appropriate place until there is no longer a risk of infection.

The current situation is worrying me: is there somebody I can talk to who can help me?

Answer: If you are a member of staff, you, like our students, can contact one of our chaplains about the worry the coronavirus situation is causing you, as well as any other issues. https://www.du.se/en/services-and-offices-for-students/student-counselling-services/. You can meet them on campus or contact them by phone, Skype or Connect.

Can I get extra support and help from the occupational health service (företagshälsovården) right now?

Answer: If you are a member of staff and require Previa's services, you should always contact your immediate manager first. Note that Previa does not conduct any sampling or other medical measures in connection with COVID-19.

Can the University stop me from making a work-related trip? Private trip?

Answer: Dalarna University complies with the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (March 13, 2020) regarding travel abroad and the Swedish Government’s decision to halt all non-essential travel to Sweden (March 17, 2020). Accordingly, Dalarna University has decided that no work-related trips abroad are to be made. National work-related travel should be avoided where at all possible. At present, regional travel has no restrictions. If there are special reasons to make a work-related trip, then approval must be sought from the Vice Chancellor. This advice applies to both employees and students.

In the case of private journeys, consult Chapter 2, Section 2 of the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act: https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/smittskyddslag-2004168_sfs-2004-168

What if I want to cancel my flight – will I get my money back?

Answer: Always contact the University´s purchased travel agency Lingmerths for information on what applies in each case and for detailed information on current regulations.

Is there long-term preparedness to secure activities?

Answer: Yes, there is a continuity plan in place. If the plan needs to be implemented, then this will be done with the relevant parts of the organisation.

Should we not adapt our work environments to the risk of infection? For example, is it appropriate to have open-plan office areas? What about departmental meetings? Other measures?

Answer: Dalarna University complies with the recommendations of the Public Health Agency. 

What about the restaurants/cafés on campus?

Answer: Several of the restaurants on campus will be closed from Monday, March 23. Café Duett at Campus Borlänge will remain open until further notice from Monday to Thursday, 9.00 to 15.00 and Friday, 9.00 to 13.30. You can also buy food to take away.

How will Dalarna University deal with upcoming events?

Answer: On March 27, 2020, the Government made the decision that public gatherings of more than 50 people must be cancelled. Furthermore, in accordance with an earlier decision, Dalarna University has chosen to cancel all events (500 people or more) until June 15. For all other events and gatherings, Dalarna University will make risk assessments based on the Risk Assessment Guidelines of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

Who should I contact?

folkhalsomyndigheten.se

1177.se

krisinformation.se

11313.se

If you have general questions.

11313 (National Information Number)

Phone if you have general questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) that are not related to symptoms or health (if you cannot find information on the web yourself).

1177 (Medical Advice)

Phone if you need help assessing symptoms or help with where to seek care. If you need to seek care, it is important to phone first and not go straight to a doctor's office. This is to avoid infecting others if you have been infected with coronavirus (COVID-19). There are special routines for how you will be taken care of.

Programme Coordinator or Course Coordinator

If you have questions about how specific course elements should be implemented, you can contact your programme coordinator or course coordinator.

If you are a student and suspect you might have been infected with coronavirus (COVID-19), you are asked first and foremost to contact the care facility according to the guidelines set by the care facility. If you suspect you are ill and it will affect your studies, you can contact the programme coordinator or course coordinator.

Immediate Manager

If you are concerned about the situation, you can always contact your immediate manager. Contact him/her if you have questions about how activities should be conducted based on prevailing circumstances and recommendations.

If you are an employee and suspect you are carrying coronavirus (COVID-19), you are asked first and foremost to contact the care facility according to the guidelines set by the care facility. Also notify your immediate manager if you will be absent from work for this reason.

Other Questions

Contact support@du.se

 

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