Palacký University, after consultations with experts in the field who consider the epidemiological situation in the Olomouc region to be stable, is at present not planning to make any across-the-board tightening of universally valid measures on its premises. However, it is still valid that individual faculties may (just as during the spring wave of the Covid-19 pandemic) issue their own supplemental measures with respect to the specifics of their organisation. Therefore, you should regularly check for information from your faculty (the link page for individual faculties is at www.upol.cz/en/covid-19). Information on the developing situation can change, so please check these pages repeatedly. Also, as of Thursday, 10 September, students and employees can’t enter Palacký University buildings without a mask or other respiratory protection.
Consideration, responsibility, collegiality. If you don’t feel well, stay home!
After a debate with consulting specialists (including: MUDr. Růžena Haliřová, M.D., Director of the Regional Health Authority epidemic department; Prof Roman Havlík, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Olomouc University Hospital; Jarmila Kohoutová, M.D. Director of the crisis staff at Olomouc University Hospital; Prof Milan Kolář, M.D., Ph.D., Vice-Dean of the UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; Doc. Eva Klásková, M.D., Ph.D., Vice-Dean of the UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry) Palacký University at present is not introducing across-the-board restrictions on physical instruction. At present we are also not requiring a statement from students that they are disease-free before arriving at the university. However, you are required to follow the instructions of specific faculties, according to your affiliation.
Nevertheless, according to the experts, it is crucial that all students and employees act responsibly, and in a situation when you feel any kind of symptoms of illness, that you remain away from the collective; and in the case of persisting symptoms, you contact your doctor or – if you are new exchange or English degree student – the emergency room of the Olomouc Military Hospital (Vojenská nemocnice Olomouc).
We would like to remind international students that you still are required to announce your arrival to the Czech Republic/Olomouc in the appropriate places (details).
Based on the information given above, UP management is advising faculties to consider increasing the number of allowed student absences, without students having to state a reason.
UP management is asking all in the coming weeks to respect risk groups of our colleagues and students – whether they be colleagues advanced in age, pregnant women, or employees or students suffering from chronic illnesses.
In case the number of students/attendees at a seminar/lecture/course nears one hundred, we recommend considering splitting the group, or as a last resort, moving the teaching to an on-line environment.
UP preparedness and the procedure in the case of individuals who test positive
If a UP employee or student tests positive for Covid-19, the Regional Health Authority will be informed and will be in close contact with the university, and together they will take further measures such as preventive quarantine for selected individuals (on the basis of contact tracing).
Dormitories are also prepared for the above situation, as regards preventive quarantine and/or isolation (of those who have tested positive), with special, separated rooms at the Envelopa and Neředín campuses. International students will also be housed there until they show negative test results (details).
UP is understandably prepared to immediately and flexibly react to any changes or escalations in the situation. The Czech Ministry of Health advisory for the Olomouc district regarding Covid-19 will be the determining factor in the situation.
At the same time, experts agree that the best natural protection against Covid-19 (and not only against Covid-19) is a healthy immune system, a healthy body, and a “good mood”. So don’t forget to exercise in your spare time, play sports, or do other activities to keep you in good physical and psychological shape.
A more detailed, itemized list of recommendations for students and employees can be found below.
Contact, updates
If UP students and employees have any questions, ideas, or comments connected with Covid-19 and the measures at the university, you can e-mail us at faq@upol.cz.
All up-to-date information is continually updated and published as soon as possible on the web pages at www.upol.cz/en/covid-19. In the days to come, it will serve as a link page for specific information at individual faculties.
Recommendations for students, if:
- you have symptoms of a general viral infection.
- Contact your doctor by phone/e-mail, or the emergency room of the Olomouc Military Hospital (Vojenská nemocnice Olomouc), or the medical emergency number, and follow their instructions,
- even without a doctor’s advice, stay home, and ask your teachers for an absence from required attendance in their course,
- maintain hygienic measures and the rules of the quarantine.
- limit your presence at group events.
- you test positive for Covid-19.
- Maintain the rules of isolation and follow your doctor’s orders,
- follow the instructions of your doctor, of the Olomouc Regional Health Authority, or the Regional Health Authority in the county of your residence,
- observe hygienic measures,
- contact your teacher, so she/he can excuse your absence.
- you come into contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid-19.
- Contact your doctor by phone/e-mail, or the emergency room of the Olomouc Military Hospital (Vojenská nemocnice Olomouc), or the medical emergency number, and follow their instructions,
- wait for and follow the instructions of the Olomouc Regional Health Authority, or the Regional Health Authority in the county of your residence in the case of contact tracing,
- observe hygienic measures,
- preventively use personal protective equipment of respiratory passages even beyond the limits specified by the Czech Ministry of Health (i.e. when meeting students, colleagues, friends, teachers),
- limit your presence at group events.
Recommendations for teachers, if:
- the Head of the Rector’s Office contacts you, or a student directly who has symptoms of a general viral illness and did not attend classes.
- If the student asks, we recommend excusing their absence from required classes.
- a student contacts you who has symptoms of a viral nature and who attended classes.
- Maintain hygienic measures (ventilate rooms frequently, wash hands, etc.),
- preventively use personal protective equipment of respiratory passages even beyond the limits specified by the Czech Ministry of Health (i.e. when meeting students, colleagues, friends),
- in case of the onset of symptoms of a viral nature, immediately contact your general practitioner by telephone or e-mail,
- if the examining physician did not indicate you as unfit for work and issue a home rest order, it is possible for preventive reasons after consulting your superior to stay at home and especially work outside the workplace (transfer teaching to on-line platforms), or agree to use holiday days, or take time off without wages or pay.
- If you are contacted by the Head of the Rector’s Office, acting on behalf of UP in collaboration by the Olomouc Regional Public Health Authority or the Public Health Authority of the student’s county of residence, with the information that a UP student has tested positive for Covid-19 and has not yet attended classes.
- Maintain hygienic measures (ventilate rooms frequently, wash hands, etc.),
- preventively use personal protective equipment of respiratory passages even beyond the limits specified by the Czech Ministry of Health (i.e. when meeting students, colleagues, friends),
- limit your attendance at group events.
- If Head of the Rector’s Office contacts you on behalf of UP, in collaboration with the Olomouc Regional Public Health Authority or the Public Health Authority of the student’s county of residence, with the information that a UP student has tested positive for Covid-19 and has attended classes.
- Maintain hygienic measures (ventilate rooms frequently, wash hands, etc.),
- preventively use personal protective equipment of respiratory passages even beyond the limits specified by the Czech Ministry of Health (i.e. when meeting students, colleagues, friends),
- follow the instructions of the Olomouc Regional Public Health Authority, or the Regional Public Health Authority in the county of the student’s residence in the case of contact tracing,
- in case of the onset of symptoms of a viral nature, immediately contact your general practitioner by telephone or e-mail, or wait for and follow the instructions of the Olomouc Regional Public Health Authority, or the Regional Public Health Authority in the county of your residence in the case of contact tracing,
- if your examining physician did not indicate you as unfit for work and issue a home rest order, it is possible for preventive reasons after consulting your superior to stay at home and especially work outside the workplace (transfer teaching to on-line platforms), or agree to use holiday days, or take time off without wages or pay.