On Friday the 17th of July 2020, the director of the Public Health Agency of Catalonia issued a mandatory and justifying report on the adoption of urgent measures to address the risk of outbreaks of Covid-19. This report foresees healthcare aspects, as proposed by of the Catalan Health Service and epidemiological and public health aspects, as proposed by the Agency itself, and accredits the current situation of risk of contagion, the pandemic control situation, the sufficiency of measures, and proposes a series of measures – some of which are mandatory – in accordance with those provided for in Annex 3 of Decree Law 27/2020, of 14th July, with a proposed initial duration of 15 days.

A new resolution by the Catalan Department of Health is expected to be published, which will lileky affect the municipalities of Barcelona, ​​Viladecans, El Prat de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Esplugues de Llobregat, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Montcada i Reixac, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Adrià de Besòs and Badalona.

In any case, given these circumstances, and in order to collaborate in the containment of the pandemic, it has been considered that the University should reconsider and reduce the level of face-to-face services it is offering.

In this sense, from the 18th of July, and for an initial period of 15 days – extendable if necessary – the following measures are adopted:

1. Opening of the University buildings

Activities on the three campuses (Ciutadella, Poblenou and Mar) are restricted to the following times:

● Access hours: 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., Monday to Friday
● Attention hours: 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., Monday to Friday

The Mercè building will remain closed, and will only be open for one-off access; in order to access it, it is necessary to inform the head of the Infrastructure and Heritage Service in advance, so that a security guard can attend to the opening of the main door.

2. General Registry

All offices of the General Registry will be closed and no face-to-face attention will be provided. Applications can be sent using the general electronic form to be found at the UPF electronic office, in the Catalogue of Procedures section.

Applications may also be submitted in any of the places provided for in article 38.4 of Spanish Law 30/1992, of 26th of November, on the legal regime of public administrations and the common administrative procedure (see Submission of documentation. Addressed to the UPF).

An e-mail is made available to resolve doubts and questions:  [email protected].

3. Opening of libraries / CRAI

The individual work and study areas on the three campuses will remain closed.

The loan service will be provided through applications on the Library Management application (UPFinder). Documents will be collected at the Library counter and can also be returned:

• at the CRAI on Ciutadella campus, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.; and
• at the CRAI on Poblenou campus, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

4. Research activity, final degree (TFG) and master's theses (TFM)

Research activity is maintained in the University’s laboratories, in accordance with the approved work plans and provided that the safety and protection conditions established by the competent authorities are guaranteed, prioritizing, where possible, remote work.

Likewise, those students who had been authorized to access the campuses for the completion of their TFG or TFM will be able to continue accessing them, also taking extreme protection measures.

5. Administration and services staff

The provision of the service will be carried out preferably through the mode of remote work, whenever due to the nature of the work activity it is possible, in a similar way to how it was done during the lockdown phase.

The administration and service staff whose presence is necessary for the minimum activity on campus to be carried out will work between four and five hours a day, between 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m., this allowing them to have lunch at home.

The following services are also considered critical and essential services, and will therefore provide face-to-face service (as stated in the contingency plan for UPF workers of 15th of March 2020):

- Computer maintenance services.
- Facilities maintenance services.
- Building surveillance and security service.
- Critical laboratory services and scientific-technical services.

6. Especially vulnerable workers or with vulnerable relatives

People who have submitted a declaration of responsibility for vulnerability have been considered workers with special sensitivity in relation to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, and people over the age of 60, will not be taken into account when determining the staff that must provide face-to-face activity, as well as the critical and essential services. However, they will be allowed to join if they voluntarily apply for a face-to-face activity.

Likewise, workers who live with people who are vulnerable to coronavirus and who have submitted the corresponding responsible declaration will not be taken into account when determining the staff who must provide face-to-face activity.

7. Meetings and gatherings

Congresses and seminars

Those academic activities (such as thesis defenses) or assessment activities (such as language exams) that were planned on campus will be maintained, but extreme security and protection measures will be taken.

No activities other than those described above will be scheduled for the duration of the present situation.

Working meetings

All meetings and encounters, as well as sessions of the collegiate bodies, will be held by videoconference.

17th of July 2020