The next info session on the coronavirus situation will be held on Monday, 25 October 2021 from 9.00 to 11.00.
Last updated on 17 September (Latest decisions; Telecommuting, working on the University promises, working hours; Travel and visitors) and 14 September (For researchers; Falling ill, occupational health, quarantine, coronavirus vaccinations; Recovery plan for University operations).
The telecommuting recommendation will end on 30 September. October will serve as a period of transition from telecommuting to hybrid work. In October, supervisors and employees will agree on shared working practices.
There are no restrictions to travel in Finland.
Travel abroad is permitted, but travellers should carefully consider the need for travel. Guidelines 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.
Wearing a protective face mask is required on University premises, unless there are no other people present. The recommendation to wear protective face masks remains valid until further notice. In addition, safe social distancing must be always observed whenever possible to prevent exposure.
The response centres will assist members of the University community and partners in interpreting the recommendation and promoting compliance with it.
The University is unable to provide masks separately for commuting between your home and place of work or study. The masks provided by the University should be used primarily in situations related to work and studying.
The University is procuring both cloth masks and disposable masks.
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.
Further instructions: How to use protective face masks: video by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (in Finnish only)
According to need, University units can order disposable respirators and protective face masks. The University is procuring, in a centralised manner, cloth masks equipped with the University logo. Further information on the procurement of disposable respirators and protective face masks as well as on the distribution of cloth masks is available on Flamma intranet.
Updated on 13 September: teaching and examinations in the autumn term 2021 and in the spring term 2022.
Wearing a protective face mask is required on University premises.
Contact instruction is organised on campuses for groups of a limited size, taking care that participants are able to avoid close contact with each other. Lectures for large student groups are held online.
Teaching and examinations in the first teaching period will be implemented as planned.
When restrictions are lifted on the national level, the amount of contact instruction will be increased, whenever possible.
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.
Teaching and examinations in the spring term 2022
Teaching is being planned according to the premise that no pandemic-related restrictions will be in effect in the spring.
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.
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:
Occupancy limits in observance of avoiding close contact have been determined for teaching facilities. The occupancy limit of individual facilities denotes the number of people allowed in the facility at the same time in addition to the teacher.
The self-access facilities opened in the summer will remain open, and other necessary self-study facilities needed can be opened through joint planning by the relevant response centre, the IT Centre and the Facilities and Properties sector.
Computer rooms will be opened for teaching as requested by the response centres. Examinarium examinations can be organised in accordance with the teaching programme, taking group sizes into consideration. Instructions for accessing Examinarium facilities are provided on the Instructions for Students website. Support for digital teaching is available (Unitube studios).
In the booking of facilities, teaching organised by the University will be given priority.
The impact of the exceptional circumstances will be taken into account when deciding on extensions to the right to study.
Updated on 14 September: Research on University premises, Persons from outside the University participating in research
Telecommuting is recommended for all work where it is feasible. When necessary, response centres can provide instructions on the notification procedure related to working on site.
The recommendation is to conduct research-related interviews over a remote connection whenever possible.
When carrying out 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.
However, if physical examinations or interviews are carried out for reasons of necessity, at-risk groups should be left out when deemed appropriate.
Laboratory work must be planned in observance of safety and security guidelines. Response centres can issue further instructions and provisions pertaining to the safety of laboratory work.
When working in laboratory facilities, the University’s general guidelines pertaining to work in the exceptional circumstances must be observed and participants must be able to avoid close contact with each other. 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.
If you observe activities carried out in contravention of the valid recommendations in any laboratory facilities, please contact the dean of your faculty. You can also contact the University’s Occupational Safety Officer.
Please see Research funding information on the Flamma intranet (requires login).
Updated on 13 September: 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.
The requirement for maintaining a safe distance of two metres between individuals has been lifted. The number of participants in events for more than 10 people held indoors on University premises cannot exceed 50% of the seating or standing room capacity available in normal circumstances. While there are no restrictions on participant numbers outdoors, organisers of events for more than 50 people must ensure that the participants avoid physical contact.
To comply with the above guidelines, customers and participants as well as groups attending events must be able to avoid close contact with each other, while ensuring safety in accordance with the guidelines published on 31 May 2021 by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
The occupancy limits of the teaching facilities are the same as before during the first teaching period for maintaining a safe distance. Further information on teaching in the section For students and teaching personnel.
Wearing a protective face mask is required on University premises, unless there are no other people present.
The electronic access rights of staff remain operational.
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.
Buildings will be opened for studying, teaching, services and cafeteria operations.
Library, museum and sports and fitness services will continue operating according to the guidelines set for the summer. The museums, libraries and UniSport will comply in their operations with the latest regulations of the Regional State Administrative Agency. Since libraries are an essential part of studying, teaching and research, their service provision will prioritise members of the University community if their visitor numbers have to be limited.
Further information is available on the Helsinki University Library website.
Further information is available on the National Library website.
Further information is available on the museum websites: Luomus public attractions, Helsinki Observatory and Helsinki University Museum.
Further information is available on the UniSport website.
Think Corner is closed from the audience indefinitely.
The self-access facilities opened in the summer will remain open, and other necessary self-study facilities needed can be opened through joint planning by the relevant response centre, the IT Centre and the Facilities and Properties sector. In terms of health and safety, units must comply with the regulations of the Regional State Administrative Agency and the guidelines currently valid in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
Computer rooms will be opened for teaching as requested by the response centres. Instructions for accessing Examinarium facilities are provided on the Instructions for Students website. Support for digital teaching is available (UniTube studios).
Updated on 7 September
The requirement for maintaining a safe distance of two metres between individuals has been lifted. The number of participants in events for more than 10 people held indoors on University premises cannot exceed 50% of the seating or standing room capacity available in normal circumstances. While there are no restrictions on participant numbers outdoors, organisers of events for more than 50 people must ensure that the participants avoid physical contact.
To comply with the above guidelines, customers and participants as well as groups attending events must be able to avoid close contact with each other, while ensuring safety in accordance with the guidelines published on 31 May 2021 by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Further information and instructions: University of Helsinki conference and events team, helsinkiuniconferences@helsinki.fi, helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi
International conferences will continue to be held online until 31 October 2021. It is strongly recommended that international conferences scheduled for the late autumn also be organised online. However, organising them on site is possible if permitted by restrictions on gatherings and if health and safety can be comprehensively ensured during the event.
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.
Public examinations of doctoral theses can be organised and planned to be held on site, but there must be a plan to hold the event over remote connections if needed.
Instructions on the use of teaching facilities can be found in the Instructions for teaching.
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, a 10-day self-quarantine is recommended whenever professional duties allow, regardless of the country of departure.
FINENTRY service provides travellers arriving to Finland with information and instructions on coronavirus testing and self-quarantine.
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. Using public authority services on site is not recommended during quarantine, but in-person appointments should be booked well in advance.
Further information on restrictions related to entry to Finland (including quarantine regulations) is available on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.
Updated on 17 September: The telecommuting recommendation will end on 30 September.
Telecommuting is recommended for all work (including research) where it is feasible. If work requires an on-site presence, the employee can discuss with their supervisor the possibility of part-time telecommuting. The telecommuting recommendation will end on 30 September. October will serve as a period of transition from telecommuting to hybrid work. In October, supervisors and employees will agree on shared working practices.
The requirement for maintaining a safe distance of two metres between individuals has been lifted. The number of participants in events for more than 10 people held indoors on University premises cannot exceed 50% of the seating or standing room capacity available in normal circumstances. While there are no restrictions on participant numbers outdoors, organisers of events for more than 50 people must ensure that the participants avoid physical contact.
To comply with the above guidelines, customers and participants as well as groups attending events must be able to avoid close contact with each other, while ensuring safety in accordance with the guidelines published on 31 May 2021 by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
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. 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.
Until 29 August 2021, specialist and support staff can work more flexibly, on weekdays between 5.00 and 22.00. If necessary, they can also work on Saturdays until 18.00 and take a day off during the week. This makes it possible to rotate working hours in units, when necessary, upon an agreement between the supervisor and employee. Working hours must be clocked in as usual. Remote work must be clocked in as remote work.
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)
Updated on 14 September: Coronavirus vaccinations
During the exceptional circumstances, you can, exceptionally, 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 five days, please call the OmaTyöterveys service or contact the Digital Clinic. A doctor or nurse can provide a medical certificate, primarily via a remote appointment. During the exceptional circumstances, an occupational health nurse can provide a medical certificate up to the 10th day of absence.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 17 September: Travel.
There are no restrictions to travel in Finland.
Travel abroad is permitted, but travellers should carefully consider the need for travel. Guidelines 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.
You can also apply for the occupational health coronavirus test if, due to a work-related reason and as instructed by your supervisor, you must return to your workplace after a work-related trip before the end of the self-isolation period (10 days) following your return.
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.
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 14 September: The University is currently observing restriction level 2 of its recovery plan.
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 2 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