Guidelines Covid-19 at the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

General
The department is following the guidelines from SLU for staff and students that are updated regularly and can be found here.

Working at office or home?
As a general rule, employees are recommended to work at home, in case their working duties can be carried out effectively. In case of inadequate working environment at home (e.g. due to lacking equipment), employees are encouraged to turn to departmental leadership (head or deputy head of department), to discuss possible improvements.
Work at the office on campus is possible, with due Covid-19 precautions, especially concerning physical distancing in common spaces (kitchens, seminar rooms, fika place in the garden) and avoiding simultaneous work in the same office.
If you feel unwell with cold symptoms, cough or fever, you should stay at home.

Kitchens
Tables in Silvicum and in the big house are separated and the number of chairs reduced to increase distance, and information signs are fastened to walls and on tables to remind people to keep physical distancing. Students are not allowed to use our kitchens during coffee breaks or for preparation of food for lunch. Two hand sanitiser stations (disinfectant and paper towels) are placed in each kitchen. Cleaning services will take care of topping up sanitiser and ordering new when needed. Footprint stickers are placed on floors near fridge, stove and dishwasher where queues often form.

Lecture- and meeting rooms
One hand sanitiser station (disinfectant and paper towels) each are placed in Silvicum and Gäddan to allow wiping of equipment, computers, key-boards etc. Cleaning services will take care of topping up sanitiser and ordering new when needed.

Coffee breaks (fika)
Physical distancing should be practiced also during fika. Due to Covid-19 precautions, we will not have people in charge of brewing coffee weekly. Employees can “self-organise” fika, however, they shall ensure adequate physical distancing.

Taking care and acting responsibly
People are social beings favouring close interaction. The perception of risks including Covid-19 varies greatly,Also, people tend to become increasingly relaxed with time (even if the general Covid-19 trends are worsening). No guideline or regulation can foresee or regulate every possible situation; ultimately, it is up to every employee to take the due responsibility.
Even if you do not feel to be at high risk, you still need to observe the precautions seriously and take every reasonable measure to minimise the risk of spread. Also, consider that your coworkers may belong to a high risk group or be uncomfortable with “too relaxed socialising”.
Departmental leaderships urges everyone to act responsibly.
The course leaders are responsible to inform students about physical distancing and the general guidelines at SLU for reducing the risk of spread of Covid-19. In case students do not follow the precautious, teaching can be switched to distance mode by decision of teacher or the departmental leadership.
Finally, keep an extra eye on your colleagues and friends. Is everyone feeling well in these times of forced physical distancing? In case of doubt, check an extra time with the person in question and do not hesitate to approach the leadership if in doubt.

Symptoms of Covid-19 and testing
General recommendations and information about symptoms of Covid-19 can be found here.

If having symptoms you can find instructions on how to perform a self-test for active Covid-19 here. This test does not cost anything.

If wishing to test for anti-bodies, you can also find information at the 1177 webpage. This test cost 200 SEK, and the department can pay this particular test retroactively (bring the receipt).

This information is also available as a pdf-document: Corona guidelines at SSFRC 2020-08-28.pdf

Vilis Brukas,
Head of Department

Magnus Löf,
Deputy Head of Department