International mobility with regard to the spread of the COVID-19 virus infection - UPDATED 26/8/2020

https://www.unipo.sk/en/news/outbreak/

International mobility with regard to the spread of the COVID-19 virus infection - UPDATED 26/8/2020

Updated 26/8/2020

GUIDELINES FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF FOREIGN MOBILITIES AT PU IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/21

In accordance with the current recommendations of The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, foreign mobility at PU during the winter term 2020/21 will be organized as follows:

A list of countries which is being continuously updated according to the epidemiological situation is available at:
https://www.mzv.sk/cestovanie/covid19/obmedzenia-na-hraniciach.

A) GUESTS COMING FROM "GREEN COUNTRIES"

Mobility participants coming from the so-called "Green countries" will be allowed a physical mobility in the form of full-time attendance.
All mobility participants will be instructed on the need to comply with anti-epidemic measures (mask-distance-hands, as well as other recommendations of Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic on who will be instructed upon arrival) without any exceptions.
WARNING: In the case that the sending country or region is reassigned to risky "red countries" at any time before the participants' arrival in Slovakia, the participants will be automatically placed in a PU quarantine facility for at least 5 days upon arrival where they will have to undergo PCR testing for COVID-19.
Next steps are described in the "red countries" section below.

B) GUESTS COMING FROM "RED COUNTRIES" AND RISKY REGIONS WITHIN THE "GREEN COUNTRIES"

For those interested in short mobility lasting up to 1 week, we recommend:

to realize virtual mobility
or postpone the realisation of mobility to the summer term in the academic year 2020/21.

Arrival at the PU will only be possible for those candidates who prove a valid negative PCR test for COVID-19, not older than 96 hours.

Upon arrival, they will be placed in the quarantine facility of the university for at least 5 days, during which they are required to undergo re-testing for COVID-19.
Please note (!) that the quarantine facility has a very limited capacity and offers only the possibility of 2 + 2 accommodation (cellular system). It is a closed facility where the guests will be provided with food, internet access, and they will also be provided with water.
The costs of accommodation, meals and PCR testing are paid by the participants individually from the grant funds.
The costs of PCR testing for Erasmus students will be covered from the Erasmus + PU funds.
We recommend due to the need of quarantine, Erasmus + mobility of teachers coming from high-risk areas (also from "green countries"), the duration of which does not allow the realisation of a full-time teaching, postponing their stay at PU to the summer semester.

We recommend the form of so-called blended mobility for those who are interested in mobility on PU from the so-called "Red countries".

In the case that the mobility participant will not be able to arrive before the beginning of the academic year, the PU will allow, in agreement with the relevant department/institute to realize a virtual form of mobility (distance form of study/teaching) before their arrival to Slovakia (from home).
All participants in the exchange programs will realize the so-called virtual mobility after arriving to Prešov - during the isolation in the quarantine facility of the PU.
Subsequently, if PCR testing demonstrates their negativity on COVID-19, the remaining part of the stay will be in the form of a physical mobility. During its entire duration, all participants are obliged to comply with the ordered anti-epidemic measures of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, without any exceptions.
Mobility participants who will show symptoms of COVID-19 during quarantine and the PCR test is positive will not be allowed to move to a normal accommodation facility. They remain in a quarantine, and they will follow the instructions of the responsible staff. If their health condition allows them, they can study/teach in a distance form (virtual mobility).

Updated 22/6/2020

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REALIZATION OF EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PREŠOV FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND STAFF

Studies:

the studies of foreign students as well as teaching and training of employees are intended to be in a face-to-face way (physical classes) in the academic year 2020/2021.
However, if the epidemic situation changes, physical classes can be exchanged by online classes.
All visitors are ordered to do as it is required by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic during their stay in Slovakia

Travelling to Slovakia:

Arrival from countries, which are on the list of “safe countries”, does not require a negative RT-PCR test for the COVID-19 disease.
Upon arrival from destinations other than those listed, it is necessary to present a negative test for COVID-19 that is not older than 96 hours, to a member of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic in the case of Ukraine, and the other countries need to submit a negative test result to the relevant regional Public Health Office. The result of the test must be in English, German, Czech or Slovak language or translated into one of these languages.
These individuals are ordered a home isolation until they receive the negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19. This person is obliged to undergo the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 on the fifth day of home isolation at the earliest. During the period of home isolation, this isolation is also ordered to persons living in a common household with the isolated person. If the result of the tests are negative, the isolation is over.
Anyone who have visited a country not listed as a “safe country” within the period of last 14 days and comes to Slovakia from the 10^th of June at 7:00 a.m., must report to the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and his or her health care provider and he or she will provide a document of sick leave due to the COVID-19 isolation.

Current precaution of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic from 10^th of April can be found here: http://www.uvzsr.sk/en/index.php/documents/34-public-order-announcing-issuance-of-decision-on-direction-of-the-measure-on-prevention-of-origination-and-spread-of-communicable-disease-covid-19

Current precaution of The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic from 23^rd of June can be found here: https://www.mzv.sk/web/en/news/detail/-/asset_publisher/oLViwP07vPxv/content/cestovne-odporucanie-pre-vsetky-krajiny/10182?p_p_auth=ueElCq65&_101_INSTANCE_oLViwP07vPxv_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fen

For more information see:

► Important and up-to-date information about COVID-19 disease and measures taken by the government of the Slovak Republic to limit the spread of the disease.

► Specific information for international students, researchers and foreign scholarship holders currently staying or planning to come to Slovakia within various academic or research mobility schemes.

► Changes in the Act on the Residence of Foreigners related to the crisis situation caused by the COVID-19 disease

► The most recent news in English about the situation concerning the spread of COVID-19 in Slovakia https://spectator.sme.sk/t/8282/coronavirus

► Slovak Academic Information Agency: COVID-19 - information for scholarship holders

Updated 20/4/2020

Due to the development of the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) in the countries of Europe, the Authorities of the University of Presov have accepted the preventive measures involving
THE CLOSURE OF UNIVERSITY FOR CLASSES (lectures, seminars) from 10/03/2020 until 15/06/2020.

Faculties and departments are closed but other university facilities such as dormitories, libraries, canteens, etc. are still accessible to the students, although some may function in a limited capacity or with some further restrictions. International students are of course allowed to stay in dormitories where increased hygienic measures are adopted. Students are duly informed about necessary steps to take in case of any symptoms of the disease and we are ready to offer all necessary support, should there be any need. Students are encouraged to communicate with our International Relations Office for any possible issue via digital communication.

Should you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact the International Relations Office: jana.gruskova@unipo.sk.

These measures remain valid until further notice.

Updated 6/3/2020

Dear partners, colleagues and students,
With regard to the spread of the COVID-19 virus infection we would like to intorme you, that we monitor the situation closely and assess the risk of its possible spread on daily basis.

University of Presov has issued a list of recommendations to all employees and students with instructions how to protect themselves against the infection.
The basic tool we use as an educational institution in this respect is raising awareness and education.

We regularly inform our students and staff about how to protect themselves against infection and how they should behave so that they do not contribute to the spread of infection.

HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE INFECTION?

Above all, we ask for consistent observance of basic hygiene habits:

Thorough disinfection of hands - wash your hands with soap and water for at least 40-60 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand disinfectant before eating, after use of the toilet and after any contact with animals.
Avoid contact with sick persons, especially those with cough.
Avoid visiting markets and places where live or dead animals are handled.
Avoid contact with animals and their faeces.

For up-to-date information, visit the World Health Organization website.
World news updated daily:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Incoming students and staff are requested to contact the International Relations Office of the University of Presov prior to their mobility. If they have visited any of the high-risk countries, or if they have come into contact with infected persons, we recommend postponing their stay at the University of Presov for the incubation period (at least 14 days after return from the risk country or contact with infected persons).

How to actually wash your hands the right way:

Source: BBC

BASIC INFORMATION ON COVID-19

Incubation period: 2 -14 days

Common symptoms:

The disease most often starts with raised body temperature (89.6% of reported cases) associated with fatigue and muscle pain (69.6% of cases)
followed by a dry cough (59.4% of cases) - often accompanied by a sore throat, sneezing, coughing up mucus (28% of cases), a cold and a blocked nose
shortness of breath

Uncommon symptoms
• headache (8% of cases)
• confusion, haemoptysis (5% of cases), diarrhoea (3% of cases)

Symptoms persistence: 2-8 weeks

If you are experiencing symptoms after returning from a risk country, or have been in contact with an infected person, stay at home and call:
Medical emergency service: 112
Public Health Office: +421 917 222 682

If you have any questions concerning student or staff mobility, please contact:

Incoming students & Staff: jana.gruskova@unipo.sk
Outgoing students & Staff: ema.fricekova@unipo.sk
Outgoing Teachers & Staff: ludmila.adamova@unipo.sk

We would like to kindly ask you to engage in raising awareness and to disseminate only information based on verified facts in order to stabilize the situation.

The latest information can be found at:
www.unipo.sk
www.unipo.sk/en

Galéria

Updated by: Monika Pastirová, 27.08.2020