Preventive measures for reducing the risk of occurrence and spread of COVID-19

Considering the deterioration of the epidemiologic situation and with a view to reducing the risk of spreading the infection, I am hereby issuing an ordinance for Faculties and organisational sections of AMU to observe the measures described below, with effect from 2 September of this year:

General rules; moving about and staying in shared internal areas of AMU facilities

• It is mandatory to use equipment protecting one’s airways (nose, mouth) – i.e., face mask, respirator, mouthpiece, handkerchief or scarf in all shared internal areas of AMU facilities
• External visitors and their telephone numbers at shall be registered at the reception desks of the individual facilities for the purposes of tracing
• Persons displaying serious symptoms of respiratory diseases, in particular loss of the sense of taste and smell and higher body temperature, are prohibited from entering any AMU facilities; increased body temperature in itself is not reason enough to quarantine a working team with which the person stayed during previous days; the relevant sanitary authority decides on imposing a quarantine
• Students and employees are obligated to submit to body temperature metering if this measure is adopted
• Stricter sanitary measures: it is mandatory to sanitise hands upon entry, frequently sanitise working surfaces, doors and door handles, and wash one’s hands frequently
• It is necessary to provide a special regime for groups of people at risk (age over 70, overweight, other health problems) as agreed with the line manager
• Meetings of collective bodies are to be held while wearing face masks and in rooms where distances of 1.5 can be maintained
• Meetings/deliberations: the person convening a meeting shall prepare a list of all participants in the meeting, which shall be archived for one month; telephone numbers shall be provided for participants who are not AMU employees or students
• The election of the Rector/Dean and the nomination of Rector/Dean candidates by collective bodies should not take place in a distance manner (the distance mode only applies to senators who are quarantined or belong to a risk group)
• It is imperative to working in rooms with windows open as much as weather permits
• A manager may define an ad-hoc regime (e.g. home office) for selected areas (offices, technical workstations, etc.) with space constraints or involving persons who belong to risk groups in order to avoid disturbing the fluid operation of the workplace
• Card payments are to be preferred (accommodation facilities, dormitories, NAMU, etc.)
• Special recommendation regarding students’ extracurricular activities: for the sake of their studies, students should completely refrain from staying in areas with increased risk of infection during the night (night bars, clubs, etc.)

Public theatre and dance performances, concerts, film screenings

• It is imperative to observe the current measures of the Ministry of Health for mass events and of the Deans’ ordinances

Teaching; registration for higher years of study

• Whenever possible, minimise the risk of transfer between various study groups by organising shared lectures in a distance mode
• Hands-on teaching of art subjects: proceed in accordance with the requirements of the programme accreditations while observing the basic sanitary precautions
• Conduct seminars in both presence and distance modes, depending on risk assessment
• Study groups should stay separated as much as possible and should not mix
• Observe the requirements identical to the ordinances for public events as specified above during student presentations as part of examination
• Students registering for higher years of study/academic years should use the option of electronic registration via KOS as much as possible in order to minimise personal contact at faculties’ departments of student affairs

Dormitories

• Student gatherings in shared areas of the dormitories shall be restricted by an ordinance of the dormitory management
• Visitors shall register on a mandatory basis including their telephone numbers for the purposes of tracing

Dining facilities

• When receiving/purchasing meals, observe distances of at least 1.5 m
• If possible, adapt the positions of tables and chairs in the dining rooms to observe sufficient distances between diners

International business trips and holidays; Erasmus stays

• International business trips to any countries other than low-risk countries are forbidden
• It is recommended to visit low-risk countries only for holidays
• It is forbidden to send students/employees for study/business trips to any countries other than low-risk countries

Admitting foreigners for economic or educational activities

• The issuing of the “Certificate of an entity on Czech territory admitting third-country nationals for the purposes of economic or educational activities” as required by the consular departments abroad for the purpose of issuing visas shall be administered in line with the instructions of Vice-Rector Radok Žádná provided via e-mail on 6 August 2020.
• The website of AMU’s International Department includes a Solemn Declaration form in English; upon arriving in the Czech Republic, the foreign teachers, experts and students shall complete the form, sign it and submit it to the relevant international office of the Faculty or AMU section where they are supposed to work.

Procedure to follow in the event of developing virus disease symptoms

Any employees or students who develop (even mild) symptoms corresponding to the COVID-19 disease, including but not limited to body temperature of 37 °C or higher, coughing, breathing difficulties, digestive difficulties, loss of the sense of taste or smell and overall weakness, shall report this to their general practitioner using means of remote communication and to AMU using an e-mail message sent to the Dean’s secretariat and the Rector’s secretariat, or to the head of their workplace if a workplace serving the entire university are involved; this obligation stems from Section 106(3) and (4) of the Labour Code for employees and, in conjunction with Section 391(4) of the Labour code, for students as well; in the event of suspicion of the disease, an unscheduled (labour) medical examination may be ordered under Section of Regulation No. 79/2013.

Persons displaying symptoms of an infectious virus disease shall seek medical help and shall not enter AMU premises. Unless they are medically recognised as temporarily incapable of work, they shall deliver on their working or study obligations from home (home office, e-learning, self-study).

The above preventive measures are effective from 2 September 2020 until revoked.

I thank everyone for their cooperation, observance of all rules and responsible conduct.

Associate Professor Jan Hančil, M.P.
Rector