This is to refer to the information sent out from the University Director and the Faculty of Medicine February 28 on handling the coronavirus at UiB (https://www.uib.no/en/corona).

Since we work in a health institution, we must also follow the guidelines of Helse Bergen, which in turn follows the advice of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. We therefore ask all employees who have been in areas with a persistent spread of coronavirus to stay home from work for 14 days after returning home. The purpose is to reduce the risk of infection to patients and employees in the health and care service. The health and care service is particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of infection that can affect vulnerable patient groups. This council has retroactive effect for travelers returning home after February 17.

Travelers who develop respiratory symptoms during the first 14 days after returning home should isolate themselves at home and contact their GP on the phone. If you do not get in touch with your GP, call an emergency room on telephone 116117.

Symptoms of corona virus infection are fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other respiratory symptoms.

Sustainable sites include mainland China, Iran, South Korea, Italy (all regions of Italy north of Rome – Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Tuscany), Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The University management wants to be constantly updated on which employees we have at all times. Employees may have stayed in risk areas even in their spare time, but it is still important that this information is shared.

We hence ask you to register your own travel activities in the following form whether you have stayed, are staying or will be staying in areas with the spread of the coronavirus in the form that you find here: https://skjemaker.app.uib.no/view. php? id = 8138964

We do not yet know the extent of the epidemic and whether it will be a pandemic. If there are many who have to stay home without being particularly ill, I urge you to be inventive in meeting the most important university assignments. Mail is probably handled 24/7 for most of you anyway, but it is also possible to hold lectures or group lessons via Skype or similar platforms so that students get the education they need. Lectures and meetings that were scheduled in or outside Bergen can be conducted with video or telephone conferences if planned. As mentioned, it´s just to be innovative 

Have a nice (corona free) weekend!

Pål Rasmus Njølstad