Call for working from home and cancellation of events: New COVID-19 measures at SDU

On Wednesday 8 December, the Danish government unveiled new COVID-19 restrictions. Overall, the universities are not directly affected by the restrictions, as they are aimed at other parts of society where the authorities see a risk of a large spread of infection. SDU and the other universities are open, enabling them to continue with their core tasks of in-person research, education (teaching and exams) and knowledge collaboration.

The health authorities have issued a number of recommendations, which will also affect SDU, between Friday 10 December 2021 at 12:00 AM (midnight) through Friday 7 January 2022.

For employees

Employees are encouraged to work from home to a wide extent, if possible. The individual employee and his/her immediate manager will agree on the details.

Employees are strongly encouraged to cancel or postpone social events. This applies to events planned at SDU’s locations as well as any planned events under the auspices of SDU which, for example, are to be held at a restaurant.

Employees are strongly encouraged to convert meetings and seminars to online format in the coming period.

The faculty deans and the University Director in the Central Administration have the authority to decide on any dispensations.

For students

SDU is fundamentally an open university, and in-person teaching and exams can still be held at SDU’s locations.

As employees are recommended to work from home, there will be more space on campus for students who need to be present in connection with, for example, teaching and exams.

Students will be notified directly by their faculty if teaching and exams are reorganised in the near future.

Students are strongly encouraged to cancel or postpone social events.

The Friday bar will be closed in the period from Friday 10 December.

Continued requirement for corona pass

Access to SDU’s premises will continue to require a valid corona pass from students, staff and visitors. A corona pass is obtained by vaccination, a negative test or if you have been infected within the last 6 months.

In this way, you can safely show up on campus in the knowledge that everyone else has also been vaccinated and/or recently tested. Random checks will still be carried out to ensure that students, staff and visitors have a valid corona pass. The random inspections are carried out by corona guards with clear markings on their clothes.

Please note: A vaccine now lasts seven months after one’s last jab. Previously, it lasted one year. A negative PCR test is valid for 72 hours, while an antigen test (rapid test) is valid for 48 hours.

The situation is being closely monitored

SDU’s management appeals to students and staff to continue to follow the authorities’ recommendations and show consideration by following the University’s principles of caution, inclusiveness and trust.

Any students who become infected with COVID-19 are highly encouraged to register this via the Corona button in SPOC.

Any employees who become infected with COVID-19 are encouraged to follow the normal procedure for notification of illness.

Information about cases of infection at SDU can prove helpful if other students or staff at SDU need to be informed in the event the infected person does not have contact information for any close contacts.

Through the Corona button in SPOC, students can also submit questions that may not have been answered in the FAQ.

In the event of any further measures, the information is announced via SDU’s own channels.

Read more about the coronavirus and the health authorities’ current recommendations at https://coronasmitte.dk/.

Stay informed through our FAQ, which is updated regularly:

For students: https://mitsdu.dk/en/corona
For staff members: https://sdunet.dk/en/corona

Yours sincerely,

Thomas Buchvald Vind
University Director