COVID-19/Updates

Upcoming Events and Updates

Covid 19 Updates                                                                                                (updated December 2023)

Staff and students are requested to continue to exercise personal responsibility, to follow the public health guidelines and to respect each other’s needs in this new phase of COVID-19. The following measures will be active on campus throughout the semester.

Awareness

• It is important to note that the pandemic is not over and all staff and students should maintain awareness of public health guidelines.

Symptoms

• Staff and students must not attend campus if they have tested positive for COVID, are displaying any of the common symptoms of COVID or have been advised to self-isolate or restrict their movements by the HSE.

Masks

• There is no longer a requirement to wear a face covering or mask, when indoors in University buildings.
• However, all staff and students are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask when in crowded settings or when moving around inside buildings.
• Face coverings will remain available to those who wish to continue wearing them.
• There will continue to be a small number of persons who are required to wear face masks due to the nature of their work/learning or the environment in which they work or study. This will be communicated locally as necessary.
• There will also be a small number of persons for whom continued mask wearing is recommended and each person is requested to keep up to date with public health guidance in this regard.
• All of members of the university community are reminded to give each other space and to respect each other’s needs and preferences with regard to the wearing of face masks.

Cleaning

• In line with public health recommendations, the University has undertaken measures to prevent the community spread of COVID-19, which include enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedure.
• All surfaces are cleaned and disinfected daily.
• All staff and students should utilise a ‘clean-in’ policy for their workspaces using sanitising wipes provided.

Vaccinations & Testing

• Staff and students are encouraged to avail of primary and booster vaccinations given the critical importance of vaccinations in offering protection against infection and transmission of the virus.
• Free antigen tests are available to students who need them (while stocks last).

Ventilation & Venue Capacity

• The University has developed a Ventilation Strategy and has assessed all venues to ensure there is adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces through a combination of mechanical and natural ventilation.
• The capacity of the Tyndall Theatre is restricted in order to enable the University’s ventilation strategy.
• Where possible, the optimum duration of a teaching session that is timetabled for 1 hour is 45 minutes. This duration allows more time for self-cleaning of surfaces by students between different groups and to enable the University’s ventilation strategy.

Hygiene

• Good hand, respiratory and general hygiene is vital for reducing the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Frequent hand washing is necessary and hand sanitisers are available across the campus.

Additional Measures

• The University will continue to provide access to isolation rooms where required.
• All units must appoint at least one Local COVID Coordinator whose sole role is to be available to staff in the event of COVID related concerns.