COVID-19: Continued stricter regulations at University of Gothenburg

The government announced yesterday, Thursday, further extensions of a number of national restrictions and recommendations to stop the spread of infection. Among other things, the recommendation on working from home at all government agencies is extended until 7 February.

Vice-chancellor Eva Wiberg has therefore decided to extend the stricter restrictions that came into force on 22 December. The extensions apply until further notice and thus mean that employees must work from home, with the exception of those with, for the organization, critical tasks that require a physical presence at the workplace.

In addition, all teaching and examination must be conducted digitally and remotely. Decisions on exemptions from this for individual teaching elements, compulsory elements or examinations may be granted by the Head of department after consultation with the Dean/equivalent if there are exceptional circumstances. 

Today's decision by the Vice-chancellor is an extension of instructions on stricter enforcement of the current policy decision for the spring term (GU 2020/2832).

The stricter instructions apply until the government and authorities come up with new or changed recommendations.

The following instructions apply until further notice:

• All teaching and examination must be conducted digitally and remotely. Decisions on exemptions from this for individual teaching elements, compulsory elements or examinations may be granted by the Head of department after consultation with the Dean/ equivalent if there are special reasons.
• The study places that were previously generally available at the Wallenberg Conference Center will be closed. Students are encouraged to pursue self-study at home. Faculty- and department-specific study places remain in accordance with previously made decisions.
  Those students who for special reasons need a study and/or examination place on campus and whose needs cannot be met through the faculty- and department-specific places are referred to those responsible for education at their home institution who must try to meet their needs as much as possible. Coordination at faculty level is encouraged.
• Work must be performed from home unless the tasks are business-critical and require a physical presence at the workplace, or that the immediate supervisor allows work to take place at the workplace for other special reasons.
• The University Library has adjusted services during the period. The library is primarily open to researchers, teachers and students.

BY: Thomas Melin