COVID-19: information on epidemiological measures and education

A student who tests positive for Covid-19 with the PCR or antigen (Ag) test at an official antigen testing site remains in quarantine - the quarantine lasts 10 days if no symptoms persist in the last days of quarantine. If the symptoms persist, the student consults the situation with his/her general practitioner. After receiving a positive test result, the student immediately informs his close contacts about the test positivity and at the same time informs the clinic/department, where he/she should have teaching sessions at that time, about his/her quarantine – he/she provides the proof of a positive test result. 

A student who comes into close contact with a Covid-19 positive person (within a maximum of two days before or after his/her Covid-19 test) and is not vaccinated against Covid-19 must be tested through www.korona.gov.sk and must stay in quarantine which may end with a negative Covid-19 test, performed no earlier than on the 5th day after the last contact with a positive person. The student informs about the quarantine the clinic/department, where he/she should have teaching sessions at that time.

Close contact is a direct physical contact at fewer than 2 meters without covering the upper airways.

After the close contact with a Covid-19 positive person the fully vaccinated student* continues attending the in-person teaching sessions.

In case of compulsory quarantine of a student according to the Decree of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (in case of a positive Covid-19 test or quarantine due to close contact with such a person), his/her non-participation is excused, the head of the institute/department decides on compensation of missed teaching sessions.

A student with clinical signs of Covid-19 must present the negative Covid -19 test result not older than 72 hours before the beginning of the in-person teaching sessions.

In-person teaching at the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava is carried out according to the ‘OTP’ scheme (person vaccinated/tested/ or overcome Covid-19):

• Fully vaccinated students and students with past COVID-19 disease within the last 180 days are not tested and can attend teaching.
• Unvaccinated students or students who are not fully vaccinated must provide a negative result of the Covid-19 test, not older than 72 hours, before the beginning of the in-person teaching sessions.   

*A fully vaccinated student is a person:

• at least 14 days and a maximum of 12 months after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine
• at least 14 days and a maximum of 12 months after a dose of a single-dose vaccine
• not less than 14 days and not more than 12 months after the first dose of a two-dose vaccine, if given within 180 days since being infected by Covid-19. “

Practical teaching at the institutes and clinics of the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava is carried out according to the following rules:

1. Fully vaccinated students and students with past COVID-19 disease in the last 180 days who do not have a positive epidemiological history and have no clinical symptoms of COVID-19 disease do not need to be tested and may attend the practical in-person teaching sessions.

2. Fully vaccinated students who have a positive epidemiological history and are not subject to a quarantine measure or those that have clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and therefore meet the classification of a possible or probable infected case are required to present a negative RT-PCR test not older than 72 hours before the beginning of the practical in-person teaching sessions.

3. Unvaccinated students or students who are not fully vaccinated are required to present a negative result of the RT-PCR/Ag test not older than 72 hours before the beginning of the practical in-person teaching sessions

In case the student is not able to prove the fulfilment of at least one of the conditions of being  vaccinated/tested/recovered from the disease, he/she cannot participate in the practical in-person teaching sessions and is considered absent.

The head of the institute/clinic decides on the method of compensation for absence.

In case of compulsory quarantine of a student according to the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic decree, non-participation will be justified, the head of the institute/clinic decides on the method of compensation for missed teaching.

Notes:

The student arranges the RT-PCR/Ag test him/herself and at his/her own expense. Places for testing: https://korona.zzz.sk/

Definition of the fully vaccinated person:

• at least 14 days and maximum 12 months after the second dose of the two-dose vaccine

• at least 14 days and maximum 12 months after a dose of a single dose of vaccine

• not less than 14 days and not more than 12 months after the first dose of a two-dose vaccine, if given within 180 days since being recovered from Covid-19

Based on the decision of the Dean's board (August 26, 2021), the teaching will be organized as follows:

• lectures will be on-line,
• practical teaching (exercises, seminars, internships) will be carried out in full-time mode. It is necessary to keep the maximum filling of the room to 50% of the capacity and the presence of a maximum of 50 people,
• With the consent of the Rector of the UK, from the online meeting of the UK Crisis Committee, the theoretical introduction to the practical training can be conducted online, the recording of the introduction must be available for the students at least one day in advance.

According to the currently implemented national vaccination strategy all the students who come into contact with patients are eligible for vaccination in the Slovak Republic.

This rule applies to students of 3rd - 6th year of general medicine and dentistry.

The faculty highly recommends that all of these students are vaccinated, so that the presence teaching of clinical subjects can be resumed as soon as possible (at the time and extent that the current regulations will allow).

Those students who need a letter from the study department confirming their student status at CUFM before the vaccination will get it upon request from the Study department.

Crisis Management Commission at CUFM

On November 23, 2020, sixth-year students who started pre-state practice on November 16 and those who start internships 23.11 will have tested for the presence of Covid-19 (antigen tests). Testing will take place at the collection place in front of the main entrance to the Ružinov Hospital, starting at 16:00 and students will receive the exact time of collection at their school email address. Teaching on 23.11. will take place according to the schedule.

Practical training in hospitals will be conditioned by proving the negativity of the antigen test for coronavirus in electronic form.

What should I do if I'm positive?

If the antigen test is positive, the student will need to pass the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in order to confirm the result (it is neccesary to register on the website). If also this test will be positive, all the students from the student group in case of "close contact" with the positive person will stay in home isolation.

What is a "close contact"?

Close contact is defined as:

• personal contact with someone who has COVID-19 within less than 2 metres for longer than 15 minutes;
  
• unprotected direct contact with someone who has COVID-19 in an enclosed space (e.g. household, classroom, hospital waiting room, etc.) for longer than 15 minutes;
• physical contact with someone who has COVID-19; or
• unprotected direct contact with the infectious secretions of a suspected COVID-19 case (eg, coughing).

What is casual contact

Casual contact (you do not need to be tested and to have isolation) is defined as:

• spending less than 15 minutes within 2 metres or less of someone who has COVID-19; or
• spending less than 15 minutes with someone who has COVID-19 in an enclosed space (e.g. household, classroom, meeting room, hospital waiting room, etc.); or
• for healthcare professionals or other persons, caring for COVID-19 patient, and for staff in a laboratory working with COVID-19 samples if they use recommended PPEs.

Dear students,

we apologize for the initial problems in organizing testing for COVID-19. Unfortunately, the implementation of testing in accordance with applicable regulations is complicated (especially time consuming). Therefore, these last weeks you receive information to the end of the week. We believe that a valid and timely published testing schedule will be available starting next week.

We will also re-evaluate the date of testing students (possible redistribution to Sunday and Monday). However, this will be discussed with the guarantors of state exam subjects.

Clinical practical teaching for the 6. year students is permitted by the Chief Hygienist of the Slovak Republic.

Healthcare professionals are part of the critical infrastructure, and therefore it is necessary to enable graduating students to complete practical training in health care facilities, with the proviso that after graduation they will be professionally qualified to provide and perform tasks in the field of health care provision.

In connection with the current epidemiological situation, the practical teaching in medical facilities proceeds as follows:

1. to wear personal protective equipment according currently valid instructions of the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic,
2. when entering clinical workplaces within the framework of practical teaching, the wearing a face mask is obligatory,
3. with regard to the specific practical training in selected clinical workplaces, it is possible to require additional personal protective equipment and this requirement must be respected by students, in contact with the patient is accepted only medical face mask, or FFP 2 or FFP 3,
4. emphasis is placed on increased hand hygiene (frequent washing and disinfection of hands),
5. apply adequate professional behavioral patterns due to the high risk of exposure to SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus,
6. if the student shows symptoms of respiratory infectious disease or comes into contact with a person tested positive for Covid-19, it is necessary to proceed in accordance with the guidelines of the Chief Hygienist of the Slovak Republic.

Usmernenie (Guideline in slovak)

Have you been in contact with anybody who is suspected of having the disease (family, colleagues, friend)?

• Until now you do not need to be isolated, we recommend to limit social contacts and strictly keep wearing a face mask, physical distance from the other people, hand disinfection. If a person, you were in close contact with, has confirmed infection COVID-19, the workers from RPHA should contact you.

Have you been in close contact with anybody who has confirmed COVID-19 disease (family, colleagues, friend)?

• If you do not any have symptoms (cough, fever, problems with breathing, sudden loss of appetite or smell, joint pain, tiredness, diarrhoea and so on), stay in voluntary quarantine within 10 days and observe your health condition.
• In case of need, phone your general practitioner.
• You might register for a COVID-19 test on www.korona.gov.sk/en, where you will insert this information.
• If the infected person with confirmed COVID-19 infection lists you as close contact, the workers from the RPHA will contact you.
• If after voluntary isolation at home (minimum 10 days) you do not have any known symptoms of the COVID-19 disease, you can end your home isolation. 
• You can also end your home isolation in case of a negative test result, which you underwent five days since the last contact with the positive person at the earliest.
• The course of home isolation: stay at home without going out, do not invite people to visit you. Daily, monitor your health condition. If any symptoms of the disease occur, stay at home in isolation and phone your general practitioner. In case of worsened health, call emergency service on phone number 155 or 112.
• In case you miss the classes during home isolation inform the teaching workplace and the study department as soon as possible.

If you have any symptoms (cough, fever, difficulties with breathing, sudden loss of taste or smell, joint pain, tiredness, diarrhoea and so on), phone your general practitioner.

• In case of need register for the COVID-19 test on www.korona.gov.sk/en, where state this information (presence of symptoms).
• Stay in home isolation and wait for the instructions of the RPHA.
• The course of home isolation: stay strictly at home without going out, do not invite people to visit you. Daily monitor your health condition. If any symptoms of the disease occur, stay at home in isolation and phone your general practitioner.  In case of worsened health, call emergency service on phone number 155 or 112.
• In case you miss the classes during home isolation inform the teaching workplace and the study department as soon as possible.

Have you returned from abroad?

The return from a so-called ‘green’ country (countries with low risk of COVID-19 infection):

• You are not obliged to go to home isolation or register, but you can undergo voluntary testing after five days at the earliest at the private facility. 

Return for a so-called ‘red’ country  (a country with a high risk of infection with COVID-19 – stated on www.uvzsr.sk and www.mzv.sk):

• You are obliged to register on the website www.korona.gov.sk/ehranica after entering the SR as soon as possible.
• Not earlier than before the fifth day after your coming to the SR undergo the COVID-19 test.  Until the test result stay isolated at home.
• Follow the instructions of the RPHA.
• In case you miss the classes during home isolation inform your teaching workplace and the study department as soon as possible.

If you have confirmed COVID-19 infection

• Stay in home isolation for 10 days minimum, or possibly according to the instructions of the RPHA.
• In case of need phone your general practitioner.
• Inform your faculty about the confirmed positive test result and your subsequent isolation on covid@fmed.uniba.sk
• Inform your teaching workplace where you have classes when you are in isolation.
• Please, contact all you were in close contact with during recent days without a face mask and inform them about your positive test result.

If you have suspicion for the disease of confirmed COVID-19, do not travel to hostels and do not take part in tuition in-person.

 You will find all inevitable information on  www.korona.gov.sk/en, www.uvzsr.sk

Regarding the current epidemiological situation the Dean’s board of the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University bans the students from travelling abroad, especially to so-called risk countries and risk regions (they are specified on www.uvzsr.sk and www.mzv.sk/web/en). If a student will not observe this ban of the Dean’s board of the Faculty of Medicine CU, after returning from these regions:

• He/she is obliged to go to home isolation - quarantine.
• If he/she has any symptoms, he/she is obliged to undergo the test for COVID-19 on the fifth day of his/her home isolation at the latest (he/she registers for the test on  www.korona.gov.sk/en),
• If he/she is asymptomatic, his/ her home isolation finishes on the 10th day.

He/will provide the information about the isolation without any delay:

• To his/her workplace (the institute or clinic), where he/she has the tuition during the isolation,
• At the same time via an e-mail to the address covid@fmed.uniba.sk.

We want to inform you that your absence at tuition will not be excused and the student must substitute it on the alternative date according to the possibilities and conditions of the institutes or clinics. At the same time, we would like to inform you that such irresponsible behaviour will be understood as a breach of discipline.

Doc. MUDr. Peter Jackuliak, PhD., MPH

Vide-Dean of  FM CU

The speech of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava

Update 25. 09. 2020 9.00 hod.

Based on the decision of the Deans Board CUFM on September 9, 2020 the winter semester 2020/21 begins on September 14, 2020 according to the valid schedule. With regard to the current situation, the management from CUFM is negotiating with the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and decided the following form of teaching in the first week of winter semester:

Study program GENERAL MEDICINE

• oral lectures will be online
• practical lessons will be in presence form at the departments and hospitals

Study program DENTISTRY

• oral lectures will be online
• practical lessons will be in presence form at the departments and hospitals

Based on the Manual for Universities, which was published by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the SR and the methodological guideline of the Rector of Comenius University in Bratislava for the faculties and other parts of Comenius University in Bratislava the dean’s board of the Faculty of Medicine decided that the tuition in the winter semester will start on 14 September 2020.

ENROLMENT

• The enrolment into the first year of the study programme General Medicine and Dentistry will be organized in terms of the Study Rules of FMCU in Bratislava in person (a student must come personally).
• The enrolment into the 2nd - 6th year of the study programme General Medicine and Dentistry will be organized electronically. More detailed information will be sent to your university e-mail shortly.

TUITION

• The tuition in the winter semester will be performed as the combination of the distance and in-person form of learning. The lectures will be provided on-line in MS TEAMS or MOODLE.
• Laboratory exercises, autopsy exercises and practical education (practical training) will be organized in person under strict hygienic and epidemiological measures. The dean’s board of the Faculty of Medicine of the CU recommends performing seminars and theoretical introductions to practical training also on-line.

The institutes and departments will publish all necessary information on their websites.

MEASURES FOR IN-PERSON EDUCATION

• The protective face masks, hand disinfection at the entrance to the buildings and keeping the distance at least 2 metres is obligatory in all inside premises of the Faculty of Medicine of the CU and premises of health care facilities, in which the practical training is performed.
• Newly admitted students and continuing students (regardless their nationality) coming from the countries or regions marked as risky are obliged to follow the present valid measures of the Public Health Authority of the SR or any relevant public authority. From these students, we require the negative result of the PCR test for COVID-19 before the beginning of the tuition. In case of need, the students from risky countries must provide quarantine for themselves on their own expense.
• The Faculty of Medicine of the CU recommends to their students to undergo PCR tests for COVID-19 before the beginning of the educational part of the academic year. The students will be informed about possibilities and conditions to undergo tests on the website of our Faculty and via their university e-mails.

The dean’s board of the Faculty of Medicine of the CU and the rector’s board of the Comenius University carefully monitor the epidemiological situation and will react immediately in case of worsening of the situation.

Dear students,
 
Considering the situation related to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, all students coming from high-risk countries must arrive in Slovakia on September 1, 2020 and according to the order of the Chief Hygiene Officer of the Slovak Republic all must register for an RT-PCR test on the website:

https://korona.gov.sk/

You are required to have the test (swab from nose and throat) and show the negative result upon the registration for the academic year.

Please visit the page https://korona.gov.sk/en/ehranica/# daily and in case your home country (or the country where you are at the moment) is on the list of risky countries, it is necessary for you to immediately come to Slovakia, register on the page https://korona.gov.sk/

Either complete the Slovak version of the form (formulár) under the heading:

Or go to the English version by switching to the English version of the website at the top right option:

Or go directly to the link: https://korona.gov.sk/en/ehranica/#

Once in the English version of the website, complete the form at „Register here“ under this heading:

From 1.9.2020 following countries will be added to the list of risky countries: Belgium, France, Croatia, Netherlands, Malta, Spain. Travelling to the Slovak Republic from a risky country? You must register. Register here

Please complete the form correctly. Enter your Slovak birth identification number or BIFO, if you have it, or Identification number assigned by another country (e.g.,your passport number or your home country ID number)

Make sure to write your correct phone number in the form, as you will receive the notification of the registration and later also notification about the date, time and place of the RT-PCR test on that phone number.

Please write in the comment the following: "I am a student of the Faculty of Medicine, CU in Bratislava", so we can track your registration and enable your testing for the new coronavirus.

Once you are done with the registration, you will get an SMS.

Please write us your identification number that you entered in the beginning of the form to the email address: ba.brazinova@uvzsr.sk

This will help us to track your registration and sign you up for the test.

The regional Public Health Authority will assign the date, time and place of your RT-PCR test for you and you will be notified by an SMS on your phone number. Please make sure to go to have the swab done at the assigned date and time. You will get the result of the test by an SMS.

If you have any questions please email to: ba.brazinova@uvzsr.sk

Board of the Dean, FM CU