As announced officially by the Spanish Governance, prorroga the decree of state of alarm at all the country until the day 7 of June included, because of the risk of contagions for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This extension affects, logically, the university system of all the State and, therefore, also our university.
The rectors of all of the Catalan universities, including our own, met with the President of the Government of Catalonia, the Minister for Business and Knowledge and the Secretariat for Universities and Research. It has been decided that all teaching activities will be carried out online throughout April and May. This decision may change depending on how the pandemic develops and the measures that have to be taken to control it, which will be dictated by the authorities.
Over the course of the session, each university was given permission to carry out on-site activities during June and July, if they are considered appropriate. These activities may include evaluations, work placements, presentation of papers, refresher seminars or some complementary face-to-face classes, among others.
As we mentioned before, this decision will be made by each university independently, as some rectors have expressed a desire to not organise any on-site events. At UIC Barcelona, we think it would be a wise decision to offer such access to our students, and may prove to be very helpful. You will receive more information from the Office of the Vice-Rector for Planning and Quality in the coming days. But ultimately, this decision will be dictated by the advice provided by the public health authorities.
At the same time, the University has also created a specific protocol which is constantly being updated and revised based on the evolution of the coronavirus situation and any new information that becomes available.
At the University we exhaustively follow the information received from all official sources every day. We have also opened a new email account:
infocovid19@uic.es for anyone who wants to ask any questions about COVID-19. Also, review all relevant information published by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Follow university's main channels
Through the university’s main channels, we will keep you updated about any new developments related to this issue, as well as any measures or recommendations to be taken or made in this situation. On our intranet, under Occupational Risks, you will be able to read an additional document with more information on coronavirus.
Basic precautionary measures that are recommended
- It is important to wash your hand frequently, especially after being in direct contact with an ill person or anyone who shows signs of a respiratory problem, such as coughing or sneezing.
- Try to maintain a distance of one or two metres from people showing these symptoms.
- However, the use of masks is not necessary, unless recommended by a healthcare provider.
- We also recommend not sharing food, utensils (cutlery, glasses, napkins, etc.) and other objects unless they have been properly washed.
Finally, we would like to point out that anyone with symptoms or who has travelled to any of the affected areas who wants to ask any questions can call 061.
