In conjunction with the persisting presence of Covid-19, in the following text we summarise the currently valid measures which apply to the regime at Palacký University, including
additional recommendations and decrees of UP Rector Martin Procházka, emphasised below.
We will update the wording of these measures and recommendations on an ongoing basis as the situation develops.
Respiratory protection
In conjunction with the emergency measure of the Czech Ministry of Health of 27 October 2021 (in Czech), as of 1 November 2021 until further notice, respirators are mandatory on university premises including accommodation. Respirators or similar protection (without exhalation valves) must satisfy the minimum technical requirements (for manufacture) including a filtration efficiency of at least 94% according to standard norms (e.g. FFP2, KN95) for all persons inside university buildings, including dining services, during participation in congresses, educational activities, and tests conducted in person.
Respiratory protection can be removed when for example:
Changes to the existing regime regard mainly lecturers at teaching activities whose character does not allow for wearing respiratory protection, where respiratory protection must again be worn by lecturers who are situated less than 1.5 metres’ distance from students, and for lecturers who have not been vaccinated, who must wear respiratory protection. Details are listed below and the Ministry of Health emergency measures themselves (in Czech).
- students attend educational activities whose character does not allow for respiratory protection (i.e. physical education, singing, playing wind instruments);
- educational and academic workers attend educational activities whose character does not allow for respiratory protection (i.e. physical education, singing, playing wind instruments), if said workers keep at least 1.5 metres’ distance from others;
- students are seated at desks or otherwise seated during lessons;
however in order to eliminate the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus at UP, the UP rector advises students to use the defined respiratory protection during educational activities (unless the given specifics of the subject do not allow for it);
- educational and academic workers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 for at least 14 days are at lessons;
(Clarification: This requirement has been established for a group of people, not upon employers. Only a public official can monitor compliance with this order.)however in order to eliminate the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus at UP, the UP rector advises teachers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 for at least 14 days to consider the use of the defined respiratory protection during educational activities and maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 metres away from students;
- students and examiners are at exams, if all persons maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other;
however in order to eliminate the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus at UP, the UP rector strongly advises students and teachers to use the defined respiratory protection during educational activities even during exams, tests, and colloquia;
- students are staying in their dormitory rooms (i.e. outside of shared spaces);
- persons are involved in performing (e.g. theatrical, dance, or musical performances), persons are lecturing, or when persons are taking place in the creation and production of audiovisual works or programmes;
however in order to eliminate the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus at UP, the UP rector advises lecturers, if they are UP employees, to use the defined respiratory protection during lectures;
- persons are performing in radio, television, or other programmes;
- customers at dining services premises are consuming food and drink, with the condition that the customer is seated at a table;
- persons outside dining services are consuming food and drink, and only for the time when it is absolutely necessary;
- persons are posing for photographic portraits, and only for the time when it is absolutely necessary.
Group academic ceremonies, cultural activities and social events (matriculations, graduations, social and sporting events)
At group academic ceremonies (matriculations and graduations), and at cultural, social, and sporting events (further, as “events”) it is necessary to ensure the following:
- if the activity takes place indoors in university spaces, the persons taking part must use respiratory protection;
- if there are more than twenty persons taking part at any one time, it is necessary to satisfy the conditions of the emergency measure of the Czech Ministry of Health of 27 September 2021 (in Czech), i.e. in effect it is necessary to check that each participant is virus-free (the “O-N-T” system of proof of Vaccination-Prior Infection-Test).
At cultural, social, and sporting events which take place outdoors, it is necessary to ensure the following:
- if the event is taking place outdoors and if at any time there are 30 or more participants who are not maintaining at least 1.5 metres’ distance from each other, the participants may attend only if they are using respiratory protection;
- if at any time there are more than twenty people taking part in the event, then it necessary to satisfy the conditions of the emergency measure of the Czech Ministry of Health of 27 September 2021 (in Czech), i.e. in effect it is necessary to check that each participant is virus-free (the “O-N-T” system of proof of Vaccination-Prior Infection-Test).
If necessary, public testing places can be used.
The above measures (in Czech) however do not apply to lessons taught at universities, according to Law No. 111/1998, Czech Law Coll., the Universities Statute. When taking part in lessons, according to the Universities Statute, one does not have to prove one is virus-free, with the exception in the situation listed below when arriving from abroad.
NB: Students are however required to provide proof of being virus-free at dormitories, by providing a recognised certificate of vaccination against Covid-19, or a laboratory test proving that they have undergone the illness, or a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours-old, or a negative antigen test no more than 24 hours-old. Students are required to present such proof upon registration at the dormitory; if giving test results, then every 7 days afterwards.
NB: Students who are carrying out work, doing their teaching requirements, or practical preparations at workplaces of legal or physical persons, fall under the regulations of their employers at that workplace, including for example students of the UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry when carrying out said work or internships at University Hospital Olomouc.
The UP Rector advises that teachers instruct students of the importance of being virus-free before the start of teaching activities and exams.
Accommodation at dormitories
For those residing at dormitories, these conditions (in Czech) are in effect according to the Czech Ministry of Health edict of 27 October 2021 (in Czech), with these further conditions (in Czech) regarding respiratory protection.
Arrivals from abroad
Here are the rules for students and employees arriving from abroad.