Updated 3. March
USN has actavated it's crisis management team to ensure that students and staff quickly get answers to their questions about teaching, study abroad and other aspects of the university's operations.
«We are following the Directorate of Health's guidelines for preventing infection, as the Ministry of Education and Research is requesting,» says Director of Communications Reidun Mangrud.
The most important measures to prevent the spread of the disease are good hand hygiene and good routines to avoid coughing or sneezing directly on others.
Routines after a stay abroad
USN has staff and students on exchange abroad. In addition, many travel on private trips abroad. USN has an overview of students who are abroad on work or study trips. We will contact those who are in areas with persistent outbreaks to assess measures.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends quarantine for people who have been directly exposed to the virus, or who feel ill after being in an area of persistent spread of infection. The Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health also ask all employees in the health and care services who have been in areas with a persistent spread of coronavirus to stay home from work for 14 days after returning home.
Students in practice
USN has also introduced a precautionary measure for students who are in practice.
For many of our students, internships in schools, kindergartens and health institutions are part of the education. USN has decided that students who have been in areas where there is a known coronary infection should not be sent out in such practice immediately after returning home. USN will provide an alternative plan that ensures that these students are not delayed in their study progression.
Planning for sick leave
The flu epidemic can lead to many becoming ill. USN is now reviewing our contingency plans i order to maintain continuity of operations, in a situation with a high sickness absence rate.
UNS encourages staff and students to follow the advice given by the health authorities: