During the last month the number of confirmed cases in Sweden has decreased. The Swedish Government has decided that 100 000 tests should be conducted every week. 

You will find all information about the corona outbreak in Sweden and the work to reduce the spread of the infection on https://www.krisinformation.se/en (Emergency information from Swedish authorities). On this website all information is collected from Swedish authorities, it is verified and it is always up to date. On the website you also find information about the corona virus/Covid-19 in 20 other languages besides English.

The Public Swedish Health Agency

Protect yourself and others from spread of infection

Yes, this autumn semester the University will conduct as much teaching on campus as possible. However, there will be som elements of distance education. In cases with large teaching groups lectures can be given remotely to reduce the risk of spread of infection.

Once you as a student have registered, you will see in your schedule which parts of your course are given on campus or with digital support/Canvas. (The parts provided with digital support are marked with Canvas in your schedule).

Previous information about distance education: On May 29th, the Swedish Government announced that higher education institutions can return to more regular activities during the summer and autumn. After that the University of Skövde decided to return to education on campus, with elements of digital support this autumn. Of course, new positions may be taken if the situation changes.

For questions about your courses, contact your course coordinator.

If you have more general questions regarding the studies, contact the university's study and career counselor; studievagledare@his.se

More information about what support you can get from the university's student support.

Who do I contact have questions about student life?

If you have questions about student life, you can always contact the student union at the university.
Simon Wallin, union president,
ordf@studentkaren.se
070-7100 246
or
Sabina Gudomlund Lindberg, Vice President of the student uninon.
vice@studentkaren.se
070-7100 248

Vice-Chancellors decisions, June 18th, regarding outgoing students:
Recommendation regarding exchange studies for outgoing students autumn semester 2020:
1) If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a valid advice not to travel to a country, the University of Skövde recommends students not to carry out exchange studies in that country during the autumn semester 2020.

2) If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdraws the travel advice to a country, after June 18, 2020, the University of Skövde still recommends students not to carry out exchange studies during the autumn semester 2020.

3) However, if a student, despite the University's recommendation, conducts exchange studies in such a country as referred to in paragraph 2 above, the University will give the student support in the implementation of the exchange.
Recommendations regarding incoming students autumn semester 2020
Incoming exchange students are welcome to the University as long as their University allows it. 

Lectures with more than 50 people will be given with digital support. Outside each lecture hall, it is stated how many people can stay in the room at the same time. The University uses half the hall's capacity to reduce the number of people in the hall, and thereby reduce the risk of the spread of infection. 

During exam weeks extra cleaning, earlier admissions and also more halls are used so that students can sit at greater distance from each other. More information about exams can be found in the FAQ about teaching and exams.

The University has taken a number of measures to make the return to education on campus as good and safe as possible for both students and staff.

• The University schedules the teaching in lecture halls with half the capacity so that you can keep your distance in the hall.
• Teaching with groups over 50 people is provided with digital support.
• At hall exams on campus, students are spread out over more halls and fewer students in each hall, previous admission before the start of the exam, extended cleaning, access to hand sanitizer.
• Lecture halls and group rooms that are not booked for teaching can be used by students to avoid congestion at lunchtime, for example. 
• Since last spring, the University has extended cleaning in general on campus.
• There are hygiene stations located in our premises with, among other things, hand sanitizer.
• Floor markings to remind you to keep your distance.
• Information on toilets, entrance doors and other places on how we can reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Information is also available on our digital screens
• We have set up plexiglass at all receptions such as Student Service, IT Helpdesk, the University Library, Repro and the University Store.
• At the Library, it can be crowded in front of the loan desk, so therefore there is also the opportunity to chat with the library staff to get answers to your questions.
• All student support functions have the opportunity to have online meetings via Zoom for those students who do not want or can come to campus.

In some places, where queues can easily arise, there are markings on the floors to remind us all about the importance of keeping our distance from each other.

During exams, a number of different adjustments are made, such as previous admissions and the use of more halls. The teaching is planned so that we use existing halls and lectures with more than 50 people are given at a distance.

Lecture halls and group rooms that are not booked for teaching can be used by students. You must first check in the schedule if the hall or room is booked. Search for the "room" you want to use in the schedule: student.his.se/login

If there is teaching in the hall, you must leave the hall. If the room is vacant but the door is locked, use your access card to enter. If you still can not enter, you do not have access to that particular room. 

All student support functions have the opportunity to offer online meetings via Zoom for those students who do not want or can not come to campus.

At the University library, it can get crowded in front of the loan desk, so there is also the opportunity to chat with the library staff if you have questions.

Student service and student support offer certain times for drop-in online. This to make it possible to receive help without having to come to the reception.

We know that some group rooms may be too small, when you need to sit at greater distance from each other. Therefore it is possible for students to use classrooms and larger group rooms that are not booked for lessons. However, you need to check in the schedule if the room is free. Search for the "room" you want to use: student.his.se/login

If the room is booked for teaching, you must leave it. If the room is vacant, but the door is locked, use your access card to enter. If you can not open the door, it's probably a room you do not have access to.

When should I stay at home?
The Public Health Agency assesses the risk of transmission as high. It is therefore important that if you feel ill with symptoms including a runny or blocked nose, cough, or fever you should avoid contact with other people and stay at home. This also applies if you only feel a little bit unwell. Do not go to the University. It is very important not to risk transmitting the illness to anyone else.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends everyone with symptoms of Covid-19 to take a test in order to find out if they have a current Covid-19 infection. You can call any local health center (vårdcentral) in Skövde to book an appointment for testing. The test is free.

How long should I stay at home?
Recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Sweden:
If you have a confirmed Covid-19 infection you should stay at home for at least seven days after falling ill. You should be free from fever for two days and clearly feel well before returning to work or school. If you have been ill, but not with Covid-19: stay at home for as long as you are ill. You should clearly feel better and be free from fever for two days before coming back to work or school. You should be free from fever for two days and clearly feel well before returning to work or school. 

More information about Covid-19 and the situation in Sweden: The Public Health Agency of Sweden

There are hygiene stations with, among other things, hand sanitizer. You can take care of your hand hygiene at the stations. Washing yuor hands with soap and water is also as good as unsing hand sanitizer. You can also use napkins to wipe the keyboard after you.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Always wash your hands before meals, cooking and after being to the toilet.
• Cough and sneeze in the bend of your arm or in a paper handkerchief.
• Be careful not to touch the face with your hands.
• Maintain physical distance.
• Stay at home if you are ill och go home if you start feeling ill during the day at campus.

What can I do to protect myself and others?
Information from the Public Health Agency of Sweden

If you are not feeling well, stay at home. If you begin to feel sick during the day at campus, you should go home. As a student you can contact a any local health center in Skövde and book an appointment for sampling. The test is free. 

Recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Sweden: If you have a confirmed covid-19 infection you should stay at home for at least seven days after falling ill. You should be free from fever for at least 48 hours and feel well before returning to campus. If you have been tested without symptoms and received a positive test result, you must stay home for at least seven days after the sampling. 

The same applies if you have been ill, but not with covid-19: stay at home for as long as you are ill. You should clearly feel better and be free from fever for 48 hours before returning to the University.

If you are in need of medical care, call 1177.

Information about covid-19 from the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

Stay home if you feel a little sick. According to the infection doctor at the hospital in Skövde, it is now a legal requirement to get a test if you suspect you have covid-19. If you have had symptoms of illness for at least 24 hours, which may be due to covid-19, you can book an appointment for a test via a web link on the health center's website. Symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, stomach upset with diarrhea and loss of sense of smell and taste.

It is good if you have tested yourself before returning to school. Sampling is free in Sweden.

If you as a student have been diagnosed with covid-19, you will receive instructions from your doctor/the health center about what you need to do. The instructions state what applies and how many days you should be at home, infection tracking and information to others. 

It is a good idea to inform your course coordinator or program coordinator that you are ill or that you have tested positive for covid-19. Then the University can get an overall picture of the situation covid-19 among the students.

Someone close to me or my family has tested positive covid-19, what should I do?
If you feel completely healthy, you can continue to come to campus. However,  you must stay home if you begin to feel symptoms of illness that may be covid-19.

If the University becomes aware that several students in the same group are ill with covid-19, the University will contact the infection doctor at the Hospital in Skövde. It is then the infection doctor who makes an assessment of what measures are required.

Contact your course teacher or the study and career counselor to discuss a possible individual solution. If an adaptation would not be possible, then you can apply for a study break with a place guarantee.

The University follows the Swedish Public Health Agency's recommendations on protective masks, so it is up to you as a student if you want to use it.

There are plenty of updated information in English and 20 other languages on the Swedish authorites websites: the Public Health Agency of Sweden and Krisinformation.se