Practical instructions for the exceptional situation at the Faculty of Medicine

An exceptional situation has been declared at the University of Helsinki in the evening of 12 March 2020. This news contains information on the special measures taken into use at the Faculty of Medicine.

The latest information about the coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki is always updated here: Coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki.

This page will only contain specified further instructions concerning students, staff and visitors at the Faculty of Medicine. Last updated on May 3 (Protective masks)

General instructions by the Faculty of Medicine response centre:

  • The Faculty of Medicine, according to the University of Helsinki’s guidelines, continues to recommend the use of protective face masks at your own discretion and in situations where several people are present in facilities and social distancing is impossible. By wearing a mask in congested situations, you protect yourself and others. Consider wearing a mask for your personal health and safety, especially if you are in a high-risk group.  

  • Stay home when ex­per­i­en­cing symp­toms of a cold or the flu (Read more: the coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki -page, section: Falling ill, occupational health, quarantine)
  • No information about incidents of exposure at the Faculty will be disclosed.

The latest guidelines and information about the coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki is always updated here: Coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki.

The Faculty of Medicine, according to the University of Helsinki’s guidelines, continues to recommend the use of protective face masks at your own discretion and in situations where several people are present in facilities and social distancing is impossible. By wearing a mask in congested situations, you protect yourself and others. Consider wearing a mask for your personal health and safety, especially if you are in a high-risk group.  

Read more: The protective face mask recommendation of the University of Helsinki.

The Faculty of Medicine has purchased disposable protective masks for teachers, researchers and students. The Faculty has also purchased cloth masks. The protective masks distributed by the Faculty of Medicine are to be used in accordance with the protective mask recommendation of the University of Helsinki.

How are masks distributed?

Masks for teaching
  • Masks are distributed by course coordinators.
Masks for work duties
  • Masks will be distributed to the departments/research programmes, to be used in situations to which the relevant recommendations apply. The departments/research programmes will provide further instructions on mask distribution. The purpose of use and quantity of masks must be recorded when picking them up. Mask use will be monitored to assess the need for additional purchases.
Clinical hospital training
  • In the case of traineeships, the safety and security guidelines of the traineeship organisation (e.g., hospitals) are observed, and their equipment is used. Therefore, the hospital is responsible for providing the protective masks needed in all clinical instruction.

The latest, up-to-date University-level guidelines for teaching arrangements in the spring term are available on the University’s coronavirus situation page.  

Information pertaining to the coronavirus situation relevant to students is available on the Instructions for Students website. The site is updated whenever new information becomes available. 

Teaching arrangements at the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine wants to offer the most comprehensive on-campus contact teaching this spring. After distance learning and zooming, it's important to be able to meet student colleagues and teachers face-to-face, chat and return to contact lessons together. From the fourth period (14.3.), there will be a transition to contact teaching without the limitations caused by the pandemic. Contact teaching, meetings, and interaction are an important part for students pursuing a professional degree in healthcare. 

Face masks are always used on university premises and health safe behavior is considered. 

Adhering to common rules remains the most important measure in preventing the spread of corona virus  

Please follow the updated information and instructions on teaching and common rules.   

Need help with planning your studies?  

You can receive support, advice, and guidance for planning studies from responsible teachers and student services in your education program.

Students practical training in HUS: action in the event of a student becoming ill and exposed and instructions regarding Covid-19 vaccines for students coming to HUS for practical training (pdf-files at the page)

Dis­ser­ta­tions

Please follow the university-level student guidelines.

Latest: Researchers

While the monitoring of staff numbers on site and facility use (using the Excel sheets for that purpose) is not required by the response centre, their use is recommended.

In the future, new research projects are not required to apply for permission to initiate research from the response centre. However, research projects are responsible for following the University’s general instructions.

The latest information on tele­com­mut­ing and work­ing on the University premises can be found on the UH Coronavirus situation page, see the section Telecommuting, working on the University premises, working hours.

Impact of the coronavirus on research funding

  • Negotiations can be conducted on an individual basis to extend the research funding granted by the Faculty of Medicine.
  • In externally funded projects, the external funding is used to pay salaries, regardless of whether staff can be assigned tasks suitable for remote work.
  • The University has gathered information on the impact of the coronavirus on the practices of research funders. This information and links are in Flamma

Latest information can be found on the UH Coronavirus situation page.

Updated on 17 January:

The national criteria for voluntary quarantine have changed, making it possible for asymptomatic exposed individuals to visit the University if it is impossible to work or study remotely.

Home testing

If you get a positive result from a coronavirus test or if you have symptoms, do not visit the University.
 
Guidelines by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare on 13 January 2021: If you live in the same household with a person who has received a positive result from a home test or if you live or have otherwise been in close contact with a person who has received a positive result from a test carried out by healthcare services:

  • Whenever possible, you should avoid contact with people outside your home until five days have passed since the infected person started having symptoms. If several family members become ill, this five-day period should be calculated from the most recent time a family member started showing symptoms.
  • Wear a face mask outside your home.
  • Work or study from home whenever possible. If you have no symptoms whatsoever, you can visit the University as long as you wear a face mask and avoid contact with others.
     

University of Helsinki coronavirus guidelines

Updated on 3 December: Due to stricter guidelines by the Regional State Administrative Agency entering into force on 4 December 2021, the audience of public examinations of doctoral theses on site will be limited to 20 individuals. Public examinations to be held in January 2022 should be planned to be held either over a remote connection or with a limited number of individuals attending on site.

Updated on 7 December: At public examinations of doctoral theses, a Covid-19 passport is required of anyone over the age of 16 who is not attending the event due to duties associated with work or another formal role connected to the public examination.

Latest information on events can be found on the UH Coronavirus situation page, section Events. 

Latest information updated here: University of Helsinki Coronavirus situation -page, section University buildings. 

The latest information can be found here, on the UH Coronavirus situation page

Ques­tions?

If you have any questions about measures to be taken at the University as a result of the coronavirus, please send an email to coronavirus@helsinki.fi.

The most up-to-date information on the coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki is updated here: Coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki

Only additional information meant specifically for students, personnel and visitors of the Faculty of Medicine is updated in this news. 

Faculty of Medicine's Response Centre:

The most up-to-date information on the coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki is updated here: Coronavirus situation at the University of Helsinki