Uniarts Helsinki introduces new coronavirus guidelines that will stay valid until 10 January 2021
The restrictions on artistic activities, libraries and leisure-time activities do not concern Uniarts Helsinki’s facilities in Seinäjoki and Kuopio, however, because these facilities are located in areas that are at the baseline level of the pandemic.
The Helsinki Metropolitan Area has entered the community transmission phase, which is the most serious level in the three-phase COVID-19 classification. On Friday 20 November, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group informed of the new restrictions, recommendations and measures to be introduced in the Uusimaa Region.
Uniarts Helsinki follows the instructions issued by the authorities, and its new restrictions and policies are valid starting on Monday, 23 November. The guidelines will stay valid until 10 January 2021.
Please note that only the new COVID-19 guidelines in use at Uniarts Helsinki are listed below. You can read the full version of the university’s guidelines in the main news article, titled How coronavirus affects the university.
Uniarts Helsinki’s new coronavirus guidelines
Artistic activities
The number of people indoors in an artistic event is limited to 20 people between 23 November 2020 and 10 January 2021. When estimating the safety and the participant limit of 20 people, the size of the space is taken into consideration.
In the performances of the Theatre Academy, except for the events held at Tori, the 20-person limit includes not only the audience members but also all the performers and the members of the working group.
As for concerts at the Sibelius Academy, staff members who are present in the hall and in charge of technical equipment and safety are included in the 20-person limit, in addition to the audience members. The performers are not included in the 20-person limit. The audience members will be assigned seats at the back of the hall within a safe distance from each other. The 20-person limit in the small halls located at the Helsinki Music Centre and the R Building (Organo and Chamber Music Hall) includes the audience, technical staff and the performers. The maximum number of people in the Small Music Hall of the R Building is 15, which includes the audience, technical staff and the performers.
When it comes to events, exhibitions and their openings at the Academy of Fine Arts, the 20-person limit includes everyone present in the facilities at the same time. For the time being, there will be no public opening events of exhibitions at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Decisions on internal events and events with invited guests organised by Uniarts Helsinki on site are made by the dean if the event concerns an academy or by the rector if the event concerns the whole university. The participants in these events must wear a face mask, unless they have a health-related reason that prevents it.
Teaching
Teaching will continue in accordance with the current guidelines until further notice. The university’s preparedness team has given the academies the task of listing teaching situations where the number of participants exceeds 10 persons and/or where there are close contacts. The academies will inform on possible changes to be introduced in teaching arrangements as soon as possible.
Other work
For the most part, other work will continue remotely. The recommendation is that staff members working in the University Services have the possibility to work remotely some part of the week when this is possible considering the proper management of job duties.
The main principle is that meetings are held remotely. Exceptions can be made if there are justified reasons to hold meetings in person with consideration to heightened safety measures. Decisions are made by the dean if the exception concerns an academy or by the rector if the exception concerns the University Services. The participants in these meetings must wear a face mask, unless they have a health-related reason that prevents it.
Leisure-time activities
Leisure-time activities of groups in the university’s campus facilities in Helsinki are suspended between 23 November 2020 and 10 January 2021. This concerns all leisure-time activities of groups, including yoga groups, book clubs, leisure-time choirs and independent practice of bands.
Libraries
Uniarts Helsinki’s libraries will stay open in accordance with the current opening hours. The libraries in Helsinki will have fewer reading areas in use until further notice.