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UCL's fitness and training facilities are closed indefinitely due to the situation with COVID-19.

Study activities

If you are ill or at a higher risk of becoming ill, or if you live with a person, who is at higher risk or actually is ill with COVID-19, you may have compulsory study activities with physical attendance postponed, until they will take place next time. You must create a case in Study service desk and upload a Doctor´s Note, which contains a specific and individual assessment from your own Doctor.  

Below you will find guidelines explaining what behaviour is expected of you on our campuses in the near future. We appeal to all staff and students at UCL - keeping the following guidelines and those of the Danish Health Authority in mind - to find at the local level responsible practical solutions to the challenges that may arise, so that it becomes clear who is to do what and how.

Everyone on our campuses during the gradual reopening phase is covered by these guidelines.

The guidelines lay down the general principles and apply to all campuses and physical facilities at UCL.

However, it is not possible to describe in detail how students and staff should behave in every conceivable situation. Conditions on the individual campuses differ, and require different practical solutions. For this reason, please be aware that there may be special local guidelines on individual campuses, in relation to specific activities and physical facilities, that students and staff must respect.

General guidelines to be followed in all UCL localities

• Basically, 1 metre physical distance must be observed everywhere on campus.  
• However, a physical distance of at least 2 metres must be observed in situations where there may be an increased risk of droplet infection, or where a precautionary principle requires special measures, such as:  
  • There must be a physical distance of at least 2 metres between the teacher/lecturer and the front row in any classroom or auditorium.
  • If you are in doubt about respiratory symptoms in yourself or another person, e.g. if you feel unwell on the way home from work, or think that someone else may have a cold.
  • When visiting care homes, hospitals, especially vulnerable people, etc., as laid down in the Danish Health Authority recommendations of May 4, 2020.
  • In the case of activities involving physical exertion and heavy exhalation, where droplets are formed and projected further away from the person than in normal speech - for example in singing, shouting, lecturing, acting, physical exertion, etc.
  • When in enclosed rooms with limited space to move in, poor ventilation, etc., such as basement rooms, stairwells, etc. 

Guidelines covering teaching activities on UCL's campuses

• The general recommendation of a physical distance of 1 metre may be deviated from in cases where such a deviation is considered necessary in order to be able to carry out teaching in an appropriate manner. It is however a prerequisite for deviating from the 1 metre requirement that the deviation applies to a particular group of students, and that this group of students only to a limited extent is involved in other classes or groups where the distance requirement is also deviated from. 
• A group may include about 25-30 students, who will form the core group for all activities involving deviation from the minimum physical distance of 1 metre. In exceptional circumstances, a group may comprise up to 50 students, if there are compelling reasons for this. In such a case, teaching should be so organised that students primarily face the same direction and move around amongst each other as little as possible. Deviation from the distance requirement within the above framework may apply to teaching in classrooms, laboratories, workshops, etc., as well as simulation rooms.
• In cases where it is necessary to deviate from the general 1 metre distance recommendation, special attention must be paid to the recommendations for managing people with symptoms, guidelines for close contact, cleaning and hygiene, including hand hygiene and a reduction in the number and duration of face-to-face contacts.
• When students are involved in several subjects or settings with different groups of students, in which it is necessary to deviate from the 1 metre requirement in order to conduct teaching in an appropriate way, especially in laboratories and workshops, the 1 metre requirement may be deviated from if the students wear personal protective equipment, such as face masks or face shields, and pay extra attention to proper hand hygiene in order to limit the risk of infection.
• The general recommendation of 1 metre physical distance (2 metres in special situations) must continue to be observed when students are in the same place as other groups or similar gatherings, for example in communal areas, large auditoria  and the like.
• When singing, shouting, etc., are involved - carrying an increased risk of droplet infection - it is recommended that both teachers and students maintain a physical distance of 2 metres.
• For lectures in large auditoria, where several groups are taught together, the established teaching groups that already deviate from the recommended 1 metre distance should be placed within fixed zones, which in turn must maintain the recommended distance to other zones or groups. In auditoria where many students are gathered together, protective equipment cannot in general replace the distance requirement. 

 
Guidelines when visiting or teaching in laboratories on UCL's campuses

• Gloves are mandatory in all laboratories for as long as necessary, but for as short a time as possible. The 1 metre physical distance recommended by the Danish Health Authority must generally be observed, but can be deviated from if this is a prerequisite for teaching and laboratory work to be carried out at all.
• In situations where there may be an increased risk of droplet infection, or where a precautionary principle requires taking special care, a distance of at least 2 metres must be observed.
• Personal protective equipment must be used if research entails a need for less physical distance than that recommended by the health authorities.
• Laboratory work should be reorganized according to the situation of the individual employee and agreed with their immediate line manager.
• At the end of all work sessions, employees must disinfect all surfaces, including switches, handles, keyboards, equipment, and so on.

 
Access to UCL only on the following terms:

• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed at the entrances on all campuses. These dispensers must not be removed. 
• Spray diffusers and wet wipes are available for disinfecting workstations in all offices.
• Wash your hands before and after eating, after blowing your nose and after coughing or sneezing into a disposable handkerchief.
• Wash your hands at regular intervals, e.g., after each lesson (at least every two hours).
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when moving from one teaching group to another.
• Use only disposable materials such as paper towels.
• Students are asked to limit their time on campus to what is absolutely necessary.
• Students should leave campus immediately upon completion of their activity. You may not visit or stay in areas of the campus that have not been reopened.

If you are ill

Absolutely no access to campus if you are ill. You must be healthy and have no symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

If you are ill or have symptoms indicating illness, stay home until you are completely recovered. Even with mild symptoms, like colds, stay at home. Remain at home for 48 hours after the last symptoms have disappeared.

Read more under the tab 'Illness and sick leave'.

Staff and students who are particularly vulnerable

There are special precautions to be taken for staff and students who are particularly vulnerable, live with a person who is particularly vulnerable, or have a child who is particularly vulnerable.

Read more under the tab 'Illness and sick leave'.

Responsibility for students and students' responsibilities

Management and staff are responsible for guidance to students concerning proper behaviour, ensuring that all students have been informed of the guidelines, including rules concerning conduct and hygiene, to ensure that we reduce the risk of spreading infection. It is also the students' own responsibility to ensure that they do not get too close to each other in the room they are working in.

Communal areas

Communal areas must not be used.

Lifts should preferably only be used by disabled people or those with mobility problems.

Toilets

In general, please use the toilets on the floor that you are on.

Other toilets are cleaned twice a day.

Smoking

Smoking only in designated places. Students must be readmitted to the building after smoking. Remember to use hand sanitizer when accessing the building.

Water dispensers

Water dispensers must NOT be used.

Cleaning tasks for which the cleaning staff are responsible

• Tables and points of contact in rooms that are in use are cleaned twice daily,  e.g., taps, toilet flush buttons, toilet seats, table surfaces, door handles, refrigerator doors and handles, handrails, armrests, light switches, etc.
• Toilets must be cleaned at least twice a day.
• Garbage cans in hallways and toilets must be emptied before they are completely full, and at least once a day.
• Offices and lounges connected with the study programmes that have been approved for reopening will be cleaned once a day.
  
  

Cleaning, for which staff and students are responsible

• Hand sanitizers, disinfectants and disposable wipes are available to clean tables and contact points in the rooms approved for use. Wipe tables and contact points over when leaving the offices, meeting rooms and classrooms, etc., you have used.
• Keyboards, computer mouses and phones are to be cleaned daily using detergent and disposable serviettes. You must wash your hands before and after using the equipment.
• Do not share equipment, only use your own.
• Students are not allowed to remain in rooms during the breaks, as the rooms must be aired.
  
  

Assembly Ban

The assembly ban does not apply to teaching activities at higher education institutions in respect of activities that are already - or have been - allowed to reopen gradually.

Guidelines regarding larger gatherings, including parties, cafés or the like, must comply with the relevant health authority legislation.

Further information

You can find further information:

About COVID-19 at https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-denmark - where the Danish authorities have gathered all information concerning the virus.  

The Ministry of Higher Education and Science: Q/A at ufm.dk 

The Danish Health Authority recommendations and FAQ.   

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It is the responsibility of management to assess these general guidelines in relation to the specific activities and physical environments that fall within their remit, and to ensure in dialogue with staff and students that they are applied and carried out within each department and course of study.

The local task force leaders must ensure that students have been clearly informed about what precautions especially vulnerable people should take, including who such students can contact within the institution in order to discuss their particular case.

Questions concerning the guidelines

If you have questions concerning the guidelines, you can contact corona@ucl.dk, your teacher, line manager, or the local task force leader. 

Here is a list of local task force leaders:

• Niels Bohrs Alle, Odense: Lenna Vogn Pedersen
• Seebladsgade, Odense: Gorm Max Guldmann
• Vestre Engvej, Vejle: Britta Bang Larsen
• Boulevarden, Vejle: Leif Bojesen
• Klostervænget, Svendborg: Janne Bryde Laugesen
• Stationsvej, Jelling: Annette Falk