Last updated on 7 December (Latest decisions; Events)
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.
This decision is based on the interpretation of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, according to which public examinations are public events. Consequently, they are subject to the restrictions on public events set by the Regional State Administrative Agencies. As an alternative to those restrictions, all participants over the age of 16 can be required to present their Covid-19 passports. In the case of public examinations, the restriction on the number of audience members permitted on site and, therefore, the requirement for Covid-19 passports, applies specifically to external audience members present on site.
Updated on 24 November
Protective face masks are to be worn on all premises when not alone. Face masks must be worn in teaching and learning situations.
See THL’s recommendation on the use of face masks for citizens.
The University is providing protective face masks needed in professional duties for the staff as well as for students and teachers involved in contact teaching. The masks provided by the University are intended primarily for working and learning situations. The University is unable to provide masks separately for commuting between your home and place of work or study.
The University is procuring both cloth masks and disposable masks. Detailed instructions are available on the Flamma intranet (requires logging in with University credentials).
People with limited means can collect masks from mask distribution points organised by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area municipalities.
The University’s protective face mask recommendation will be updated, when necessary, according to national guidelines.
Updated on 24 November: Face masks must be worn in teaching and learning situations. Student services can be offered remotely.
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, office work and contact instruction are low-risk activities. In the case of activities associated with a higher risk, event organisers or supervisors can provide guidelines that increase occupational safety on the basis of the risk assessments of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (link in Finnish and Swedish only) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Risks must also be assessed when organising teaching (Recommendation by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for universities, universities of applied sciences as well as providers of general upper secondary education, vocational education and training, adult education and basic education for adults during the coronavirus epidemic, pdf).
Teaching is being planned according to the premise that no pandemic-related restrictions will be in effect in the spring. The teaching programmes for the spring term will be published as a rule by the end of November (see the news on Instructions for Students and Flamma).
Compulsory class attendance does not apply to contact teaching, unless the completion method in question requires a physical presence (such as laboratory courses, traineeships, patient encounters, skills courses). Degree programmes will determine substituting procedures for such courses.
Students in at-risk groups who consider it impossible to attend contact instruction must contact the course coordinator as early as possible. Students in at-risk groups can be offered alternatives for independent study if the teacher finds it possible on the basis of the course content and learning outcomes. No verification is required from students for at-risk notifications.
Attendance in contact instruction when ill or in quarantine is not permitted. In such cases, students must contact the teacher, who will determine whether alternatives for independent study can be arranged.
Attendance in remote teaching sessions may be required as specified in the curriculum.
Teachers should contact their faculty’s head of academic affairs for instructions on necessary measures. Further information for teaching staff is available on the Instructions for Teaching website.
The teaching facilities and the Examinarium facilities are in normal use. See information about the self-access facilities.
Compliance with the relevant safety guidelines is required in all University facilities: hand hygiene must be observed and participants must be able to avoid close contact with each other, in addition to which entering the campuses when ill is prohibited. Furthermore, the following instructions pertaining to the coronavirus situation must be taken into consideration:
The impact of the exceptional circumstances will be taken into account when deciding on extensions to the right to study.
Updated on 26 November: People from outside the University community can participate in research on University premises, provided they comply with the relevant health and safety guidelines.
See Telecommuting, working on the University promises, working hours.
When carrying out research-related interviews and research activities that involve individuals from outside the University community on non-University premises, the guidelines issued by the authorities on health and safety must be observed. People from outside the University community can participate in research on University premises, provided they comply with the relevant health and safety guidelines.
When working in laboratory facilities, the University’s general guidelines pertaining to work must be observed. The crisis management team recommends reintroducing a booking system for laboratory facilities. Equipment in shared use must be cleaned before and after use.
Some of the laboratories are also used in teaching, in which case one must also take into account the instructions for use of teaching facilities, which can be found in the Instructions for teaching.
Please see Research funding information on the Flamma intranet (requires login).
Updated on 24 November
University premises are in normal use.
Events will be held over remote connections where possible until 16 January 2022.
Necessary events, such as public examinations of doctoral theses, can be arranged on site, while observing health and safety guidelines.
Further information on teaching is available in the section For students and teaching personnel.
The hygiene-related requirements based on the Communicable Diseases Act will remain in force until the end of the year in facilities open to the public:
When organising events on University premises, the organiser is responsible for providing sufficient space, regardless of whether they represent the University or an external party. Correspondingly, the University is responsible for the sufficient cleaning of the facilities and the provision of guidance related to hygiene requirements. Posters, stickers and other instruction material will remain in place on University premises for the time being, as they serve to remind people of relevant health and safety measures.
The Covid-19 passport can be required to avoid enforcing restrictions, as defined by the Communicable Diseases Act. With regard to events, the organiser of each event and the relevant restaurant or cafeteria operator must together agree on requirements concerning the use of the Covid-19 passport on a case-by-case basis. The Covid-19 passport can be required only at events where it would otherwise also be used, such as in restaurant operations, which are subject to restrictions imposed by the authorities. The Covid-19 passport cannot be required of participants at regular University activities and events.
The leasing of University facilities to external parties can be resumed, and visitors can be admitted on the premises in compliance with the valid health and safety guidelines.
Helsinki University Library website
Luomus public attractions, Helsinki Observatory and Helsinki University Museum
See information about the self-access facilities. Examinarium facilities are in normal use.
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.
Events will be held over remote connections where possible until 16 January 2022.
Necessary events, such as public examinations of doctoral theses, can be arranged on site, while observing health and safety guidelines.
Small team get-togethers (max. 20 persons) scheduled to be held before Christmas can be held at the discretion of the supervisor while observing health and safety guidelines, or such meetings can be rescheduled for later.
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, office work and contact instruction are low-risk activities. In the case of activities associated with a higher risk, event organisers or supervisors can provide guidelines that increase occupational safety on the basis of the risk assessments of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (link in Finnish and Swedish only) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Risks must also be assessed when organising teaching (Recommendation by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for universities, universities of applied sciences as well as providers of general upper secondary education, vocational education and training, adult education and basic education for adults during the coronavirus epidemic, pdf).
The hygiene-related requirements based on the Communicable Diseases Act will remain in force until the end of the year in facilities open to the public:
When organising events on University premises, the organiser is responsible for providing sufficient space, regardless of whether they represent the University or an external party. Correspondingly, the University is responsible for the sufficient cleaning of the facilities and the provision of guidance related to hygiene requirements. Posters, stickers and other instruction material will remain in place on University premises for the time being, as they serve to remind people of relevant health and safety measures.
The Covid-19 passport can be required to avoid enforcing restrictions, as defined by the Communicable Diseases Act. With regard to events, the organiser of each event and the relevant restaurant or cafeteria operator must together agree on requirements concerning the use of the Covid-19 passport on a case-by-case basis. The Covid-19 passport can be required only at events where it would otherwise also be used, such as in restaurant operations, which are subject to restrictions imposed by the authorities. The Covid-19 passport cannot be required of participants at regular University activities and events.
Further information and instructions: University of Helsinki conference and events team, helsinkiuniconferences@helsinki.fi, helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi
International conferences will be organised online until 16 January 2022.
The University’s conference and events team has instructed conference organisers in matters related to the cancellation and postponement of events. If an organiser has not received an email or has questions, they should contact helsinkiuniconferences@helsinki.fi.
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.
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.
This decision is based on the interpretation of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, according to which public examinations are public events. Consequently, they are subject to the restrictions on public events set by the Regional State Administrative Agencies. As an alternative to those restrictions, all participants over the age of 16 can be required to present their Covid-19 passports. In the case of public examinations, the restriction on the number of audience members permitted on site and, therefore, the requirement for Covid-19 passports, applies specifically to external audience members present on site.
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.
Instructions on the use of teaching facilities can be found in the Instructions for teaching.
Updated on 1 October
Are you a new employee at the University of Helsinki? Ask your supervisor how the exceptional circumstances affect the beginning of your work.
If arriving from abroad, FINENTRY service provides information and instructions on arriving to Finland.
Please also consider the effects of the coronavirus situation on the residence permit application process abroad and the availability of public authority services related to entry to Finland provided in Finland.
Further information on restrictions related to entry to Finland (including quarantine regulations) is available on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.
Updated on 26 November: Working at the workplace part-time or full-time can be agreed with the supervisor if necessary for coping at or concentrating on work.
A recommendation to work remotely until 16 January 2022 applies to all positions and duties where work can be performed remotely.
Working at the workplace part-time or full-time can be agreed with the supervisor if necessary for coping at or concentrating on work.
Health and safety guidelines issued during the coronavirus pandemic are to be observed at workplaces.
Small team get-togethers (max. 20 persons) scheduled to be held before Christmas can be held at the discretion of the supervisor while observing health and safety guidelines, or such meetings can be rescheduled for later.
Research that requires on-site presence can be conducted on the premises. When working in laboratories, special attention must be paid to health and safety. The crisis management team recommends reintroducing a booking system for laboratory facilities.
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, office work and contact instruction are low-risk activities. In the case of activities associated with a higher risk, event organisers or supervisors can provide guidelines that increase occupational safety on the basis of the risk assessments of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (link in Finnish and Swedish only) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Risks must also be assessed when organising teaching (Recommendation by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for universities, universities of applied sciences as well as providers of general upper secondary education, vocational education and training, adult education and basic education for adults during the coronavirus epidemic, pdf).
Meetings are to be held over remote connections, unless face-to-face contact is required.
Tips and instructions for online meetings are available on Flamma (requires logging in with University credentials).
Zoom and Teams are good tools for holding virtual meetings.
The University of Helsinki utilises the Funet Miitti (Zoom) service by CSC, implemented through NORDUnet in cooperation with other Nordic countries. The NORDUnet environment is not associated with the same information security risks as those related to the Zoom service in public use. Read more about the Zoom information security in a Flamma news article (requires login with University credentials) and and more generally about the information security in video conferencing on the Helpdesk instruction website.
Use a VPN connection only when needed, and remember to switch it off when you no longer need it. Due to the exceptional circumstances, there is a shortage of VPN connections at the University. Further information: Instructions for remote working (Helpdesk instructions)
If you need, for example, a camera or microphone while telecommuting, please write to helpdesk@helsinki.fi. With the permission of the relevant supervisor, new equipment can be requested from Helpdesk, which will procure it, but your unit will be responsible for the equipment costs. For this, you need the WBS code of the unit paying for the purchase.
University staff have been provided with adequate tools and ergonomic aids for working at home when this is necessary for the performance of work duties or employee health. Tools needed for work can be borrowed to facilitate telecommuting. This applies to display screens and small ergonomics aids, but not furniture. Detailed instructions on ergonomics are available on the Flamma intranet (requires logging in with University credentials).
When returning to work at the University premises, any ergonomics-related equipment must be returned to the University. Supervisors must ensure that any work equipment taken home is returned to the workstations they were borrowed from. When continuing part-time telecommuting after the exceptional circumstances, employees must independently acquire any work equipment needed for telecommuting, while the employer is responsible for equipment needed at the workplace.
LähiTapiola’s supplementary insurance for telecommuting applies to work carried out remotely indoors as well as outdoors in the immediate vicinity of the telecommuting location when going on and returning from a break. The insurance also covers lunch and coffee breaks. The insurance does not cover breaks during which the employee leaves the telecommuting location, for example, to go buy groceries or to take a walk.
The supplementary insurance is valid until further notice and regardless of the country from which employees are telecommuting. The insurance covers harm caused by an accident, death and a per-diem allowance after an accident. The insurance does not cover equipment.
Specialist and support services staff can work more flexibly.
Telecommuting will continue to be clocked in as telecommuting (remote work) in the system for monitoring working hours.
Detailed instructions are available on the Flamma intranet (requires logging in with University credentials).
Coronavirus vaccination appointments are not included in working hours, but those working under the annual workload or the flexible working hours scheme can book an appointment at a suitable time. Those working according to fixed hours must notify their supervisor of their vaccination appointment time to make the necessary work-related arrangements.
Instructions for supervisors: Recruitment during the current exceptional circumstances at the University (on the Flamma intranet, requires login with University credentials)
You can be absent from work for five days of illness without a medical certificate. The five-day rule for absences due to illness also applies to caring for a sick child at home (in such cases, salary is paid for the first four days of absence). After that a doctor’s certificate is required.
We urge members of the University community to get vaccinated against coronavirus, since extensive general vaccination coverage in the population enables in-person encounters and normal University operations (read THL’s webpage Vaccines and coronavirus).
As of Wednesday, 8 September 2021, the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine is available at vaccination sites and pop-up sites without an appointment.
Information about vaccinations is considered personal health information, which supervisors or teachers cannot require employees or students to share. Neither can such information be collected. Naturally, voluntary discussion about vaccinations is permitted.
Coronavirus vaccination appointments are not included in working hours, but those working under the annual workload or the flexible working hours scheme can book an appointment at a suitable time. Those working according to fixed hours must notify their supervisor of their vaccination appointment time to make the necessary work-related arrangements.
If you suspect that you may have contracted coronavirus, complete a symptom assessment on the omaolo.fi website and follow the instructions to get tested by public healthcare. Further information on public coronavirus testing and services is available on the website of your municipality.
The coronavirus testing services offered by the University's occupational health provider can be used in exceptional cases only, see Travel and visitors.
In accordance with the instructions of the Regional State Administrative Agency (in Finnish), the employer is obliged to keep a list of employees exposed to coronavirus at work. The data will be listed retrospectively as of 15 November 2020 with the accuracy possible.
Instructions for supervisors: Notification of those exposed to THE COVID-19 virus (on the Flamma intranet, requires login with a university user name)
If you experience any symptoms of a cold or the flu, you must stay at home until you have not experienced these symptoms for at least 24 hours. For those working in healthcare, this limit is 48 hours.
Persons without a municipality of residence in Finland are entitled to COVID-19 testing, vaccination and treatment, usually also without charge. You can find more information on this KELA website.
Quarantine and isolation instructions of the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare
Those in quarantine can also be provided dialogue-based support by occupational healthcare. Contact the OmaTyöterveys service either by calling 010 414 0777 or using the OmaMehiläinen app.
Kela will pay a sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease for the period of the employee’s absence from their work due to a quarantine. This allowance compensates for the loss of income incurred to the employee for the absence without pay. Further information on the Kela website
Whenever possible, an agreement on telecommuting should be made with the supervisor. If telecommuting is possible only partially, the employee may apply for a part-time leave of absence in the SAP HR system and, to compensate for the loss of income, independently apply for a sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease from Kela. Read more about telecommuting in the section Telecommuting, working on the University premises, working hours, leave.
Persons who record their working hours for externally funded projects must check whether their tasks in the project can be completed by telecommuting. Other tasks must be agreed on separately with the relevant unit director.
Notify your supervisor immediately of the quarantine and its estimated duration. Agree on any potential absences, telecommuting and/or holiday arrangements.
If you agree on an absence, apply for a leave of absence in the SAP HR system.
Kela will pay a sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease to the parent of a child under 16 years of age who has been ordered to stay home to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, causing loss of earnings. Apply for the sickness allowance from Kela.
In conjunction with telecommuting, persons who record their working hours for externally funded projects must check whether the assigned project-related tasks can be completed by telecommuting.
Read more from THL's website what you should do if a family member is quarantined.
Latest travel instructions of the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare
Kela will pay a per diem allowance to persons in isolation or quarantine within the EU. A certificate of quarantine or isolation from a doctor authorised to order such restrictions in the country in question is required. Employees quarantined outside the EU are in a more complicated situation, for evidently Kela will not pay a per diem allowance for them.
Employees quarantined during a work-related trip will receive their normal salary during the quarantine (doctor’s certificates must be submitted to Payroll Services), in addition to which the employer will compensate any necessary costs incurred by the prolongation of the trip.
Whenever possible, an agreement on telecommuting should be made with the supervisor. Read more about telecommuting in the section Telecommuting, working on the University premises, working hours, leave.
In the case of employees quarantined during a holiday trip, the absence will be considered an absence without pay, unless otherwise agreed. At the moment, in cases of employees quarantined abroad, agreements on part-time telecommuting or holidays can be made.
Persons who record their working hours for externally funded projects must check whether their tasks in the project can be completed by telecommuting. Other tasks must be agreed on separately with the relevant unit director.
If you are anxious and worried about the situation, support is available from occupational healthcare. The Huolikulma chat service offers easy-to-access support for staff. Early chat-based support may prevent concerns from developing into a major problem. The chat can be accessed in the Digital Clinic of the OmaMehiläinen application.
Occupational healthcare also offers dialogue-based support organised through remote services. Further information is available from Mehiläinen’s OmaTyöterveys service, contactable by phone at 010 414 0777 or via the OmaMehiläinen application.
A national coronavirus helpline has been established and can be contacted free of charge by calling 02 9553 5535. The helpline is open on weekdays from 8.00 to 21.00 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 15.00. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English. The helpline provides general information about the coronavirus, not advice pertaining to health in general.
Mielenterveystalo’s digital support material relating to concerns and uncertainty due to the coronavirus epidemic (in Finnish only)
Further information on the latest developments as well as on the symptoms associated with the coronavirus and relevant protective measures is available on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare website.
Instructions have also been published by Mehiläinen, the University’s occupational health provider.
You can book an appointment with an occupational health nurse through the online booking system. In this system, all bookings can be made for a phone consultation. In the field Additional information specify that you wish to book a phone consultation, and the occupational health nurse will call you.
You can also send a message to your designated occupational health nurse or doctor through the occupational healthcare tab in the OmaMehiläinen app.
To book an appointment for any other health specialist, you must call the OmaTyöterveys number 010 414 0777. Mehiläinen prefers remote consultation whenever possible.
We recommend that all members of the University community download and install the Koronavilkku app. Please follow the instructions provided by the app.
Instructions for supervisors for exceptional circumstances (on the Flamma intranet, requires login with a university user name)
Updated on 2 December: Guidelines and travel restrictions set by authorities must be observed when travelling.
There are no restrictions to travel in Finland.
Travelling abroad is recommended only when absolutely necessary. Guidelines and travel restrictions set by authorities must be observed when travelling. Travellers must independently determine the pandemic-related requirements and situation in the destination country. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the University recommend obtaining full vaccination protection against coronavirus before travelling abroad.
The University’s travel guidelines and the restrictions set by the Finnish government must be followed when making travel arrangements. Always check the current situation of the regions where travel restrictions apply and instructions of the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare before booking a trip and travelling. When travelling, the general travel recommendations issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland must also be taken into account.
If you need a negative test result for a work-related trip, the coronavirus testing services offered by the University's occupational health provider can be used. You must have a valid travel plan approved by your supervisor.
A referral to a coronavirus test can be obtained from the occupational health nurse assigned to your unit via the Digital Clinic.
Employees must book trips through the CWT travel agency, making sure that the trip can be cancelled. Further travel information is available on Flamma.
If you need to travel on a personal matter to a destination to which travel restrictions apply, agree in advance with your supervisor on telecommuting, a holiday or an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of your quarantine.
Travel insurance coverage in the case of coronavirus infection
The travel insurance provided by IF will cover
The travel insurance provided by IF does not cover extra travel and accommodation costs incurred due to a quarantine. Since the insurance does not cover such quarantine-related travel or accommodation costs, reimbursement for them must be requested, for example, by submitting a travel expense report, which assigns responsibility for these costs to unit/project.
Visiting scholars and teachers as well as visitors required for carrying out University operations can arrive at the University. Essential support services for research and education, such as equipment maintenance and deliveries, are secured.
See THL’s webpage about COVID-19 certificate.
Visitors are sent general safety and security instructions in advance pertaining to the exceptional circumstances at the University and information about the FINENTRY service and guidelines related to entry in Finland set by the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare.
If University operations are carried out in the facilities of other organisations, they may have practices of their own. Particularly in Meilahti, special attention should be paid to the instructions provided by the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.
When cancelling or postponing a trip, you should contact the CWT travel agency, as they have booked the trip. If the time to departure is less than 48 hours, please call CWT customer service at +358 20 5615 635. In other cases, detailed instructions for related communication are available on Flamma (requires login with University credentials).
Primarily, reimbursement of the conference fee for a cancelled conference must be claimed from the conference organiser.
If certain expenses have not been reimbursed after the above claims, any such costs will be covered by the University and allocated to the project which would have covered the trip expenses in the first place.
Practical instructions of the Faculty of Arts for the exceptional situation
Practical instructions of the Faculty of Law for the exceptional circumstances
Practical instructions for the exceptional situation at the Faculty of Medicine
Arrangements in the Faculty of Pharmacy due to coronavirus
Practical instructions of the Faculty of Social Sciences for the exceptional situation
Practical arrangements at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine during the coronavirus outbreak
Helsinki Institute of Life Science: Practical instructions for the exceptional situation at HiLIFE
Latest information for Open University students
Library Services at the Exceptional Situation Caused by Corona Virus
The effects of the coronavirus situation at the Luomus public attractions
The university acts responsibly and helps society in its efforts to battle the Corona COVID 19 epidemic. The University wants to ensure staff and student safety and at the same time enable everybody to continue their studies and research in these exceptional circumstances. Under the authority of the Rector, the Coronavirus Management Team will make necessary decisions required by the situation.
The University follows the recommendations and regulations of the Finnish State, the University Central Hospital (HUS) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
A pandemic planning committee is active at the University. The chair of the committee is Vice-Rector Tom Böhling.
Furthermore, a management group has been established on the University level in accordance with the University's preparedness plan for emergencies, tasked with managing and coordinating practical matters related to preventing the spread of the coronavirus, as well as making decisions pertaining to the issue. This group is chaired by Director of Administration Esa Hämäläinen.
Read latest updates, symptoms caused by the coronavirus and ways to protect against it on the National Institute for Health and Welfare website: How to protect yourself against the Covid-19 -coronavirus.
The website also provides information to those arriving in Finland made by the National Institute for Health and Welfare.
Residents of Helsinki can call the city’s telephone advice service on the telephone number (09) 310 10024 if they experience symptoms or want to ask for advice regarding the coronavirus.
A national coronavirus helpline has been established and can be contacted free of charge by calling 02 9553 5535. The helpline is open on weekdays from 8.00 to 21.00 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 15.00.
Updated on 15 November
Common safety guidelines must be taken into account on all restriction levels. The University complies with policies set by the authorities and regional coronavirus coordination groups. Support activities will be restored in stages according to operational needs. If the situation worsens, recovery will be suspended and the relevant restrictions imposed. The University is currently observing restriction level 1 of its recovery plan.
Decision-making: crisis management team and response centres
Associated with the community transmission phase of the epidemic, taking into account the prevention measures on tiers 1, 2 and 3 set by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Decision-making: crisis management team and response centres
Partial lifting of restrictions to University operations
Decision-making: normal management system. Crisis management team and response centres, as authorised by the rector
Partial restrictions remain in place on University operations
Decision-making: normal management system
University operations in the new status quo