Face masks are compulsory at all UPC facilities. Surgical or reusable cloth face masks must be worn in any activity carried out at the UPC, regardless of the physical distance between people. The UPC began to give out reusable cloth face masks to its staff before the summer and continues to give them out to its students at campus libraries. This measure does not in any way affect the obligation of anyone who accesses the campuses to individually ensure that they have this self-protection device and to use it correctly and in the manner stipulated by the authorities at all times.

For face masks to be effective protection measures in face-to-face teaching activities in the classroom, the UPC requires its teaching staff to avoid moving around the classroom while they teach and for them to always maintain a minimum distance of two metres from the front row of students. The UPC also recommends that, to the greatest extent possible, the professor should be the last person to enter the classroom once students have taken their seats and the first person to leave once the class has ended. The UPC also plans that, when teaching and research staff who are giving a laboratory practical cannot maintain the minimum safe interpersonal distance with students, it will provide them with FFP2 face masks or their equivalent, in keeping with the protection measures and work instructions set out in the UPC Occupational Health and Safety Service's protocols. Administrative and service staff and teaching and research staff of the UPC may only work without wearing a face mask—although it is recommended—when they are at their desks (sitting and/or engaged in a task that does not involve moving) and all the necessary measures are in place. A face mask is not needed if it is an individual office and the door is closed. If someone else enters the office, the face mask must be used as protection.

The UPC distributes 1 reusable cloth face mask to every student. Pick one up at your library. Remember that you must have your UPC card or proof that you have enrolled with you as this demonstrates that you are a member of the community. Check the libraries' opening hours.

As far as lectures are concerned, students may be present at the same time up to 70% classroom capacity.

The UPC's physical facilities have been adapted in the last few months to ensure that entering classrooms and shared spaces may be staggered and crowding avoided. Information for students and the rest of the community has been reinforced through the campaign THE UPC, PROTECTED; EVERYONE IS COMMITTED. To help meet this aim, students are required to fill in and sign a declaration of responsibility (Appendix I, page 5) in which they are informed of the instructions and measures to be followed in the case of an outbreak among people who have participated in the activities at which the student has been present.

Safe classrooms. Whenever possible, and provided a forced ventilation system is not being used, face-to-face teaching activities will be conducted with the doors and windows open. When this is not possible, opening of windows between classes will be encouraged to allow for air exchange. Students are advised to always occupy the same places in the classroom. With the aim of informing and advising users of teaching facilities on the degree of ventilation and air renewal indoors, the UPC has implemented the Qaire programme. Using fixed monitors or, when this is not possible because they have not yet been installed, portable monitors, the periodic measurement of CO2 concentrations in the facilities will be promoted.

The provisions for up to 70% capacity, free access and no prior appointment continue as planned. All the libraries will be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day, with an emphasis on ventilation and the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and elements that may be touched. In circumstances not provided for in the plan, the regulations on libraries will apply.

Consult the specific information for your school, but remember that study rooms must be booked 48 hours in advance and that a record will be kept of all of the occupants.

First of all, remember that you must follow the signs that you will see across the University's premises. Entering classrooms and shared facilities must always take place in a staggered manner. Avoid crowding. Check the website for the times of activities and remember that you may have to book study rooms in advance. Do not remain in corridors or shared facilities for longer than is strictly necessary.

The dining rooms also receive special attention, given that face masks are not used, so— in addition to hand washing and maintaining the minimum safe interpersonal distance and distance between tables—maximum ventilation, with all doors and windows permanently open, is recommended. In the dining rooms and food preparation areas, signs instruct users of appliances (fridges, microwaves, coffee machines, etc.) to ensure their hands have been washed thoroughly. The maximum number of people per table continues to be that stated in the prevailing regulations.

Any person who has symptoms of COVID-19 must not come to the University and is obliged to communicate the fact to the University through the person in charge of COVID and to the corresponding health authorities if they have not done so already. For all communications in which a person states that they have symptoms of COVID-19, UPC staff must ensure that the principle of confidentiality in the area of personal data protection is guaranteed and only communicate personal data to the persons specified in the protocol for the stated purpose.

Find out who they are.

Close contacts are persons with which one has shared a space at a distance of less than two metres for more than 15 minutes, without a face mask and within the last 48 hours before the onset of symptoms. Therefore, if one has been at a distance of less than two metres for 15 minutes with a face mask on, one is NOT considered a close contact and, according to the health authorities, NO isolation or quarantine is required. Further information: https://canalsalut.gencat.cat/ca/salut-a-z/c/coronavirus-2019-ncov/ciutadania/deteccio-de-casos-i-seguiment-de-contactes/contactes-estrets/

If you are not considered a close contact, you can come to the UPC.

The UPC is subject at all times to the provisions of the health authorities in the case of outbreaks and the recommendations and compulsory actions that they may establish as regards temporarily suspending activities in particular spaces or buildings, depending on the cases in the building and the group affected. The escalation of decisions in relation to stopping the school’s face-to-face activity must be the result of the assessment, on the ground, by the health authority in coordination with the school’s management and the UPC’s Emergency Management Committee.

A change from face-to-face to distance teaching should not interrupt the course of the subject. In any case it is the responsibility of subject coordinators, together with the professor affected, to communicate to the school and the students the new plan for the face-to-face activities affected, to guarantee that the academic objectives of the subject are met. The UPC approved a reference framework for actions (Appendix II, page 6).

The UPC has made available services for your psychological well-being to help you keep good emotional and mental health. Further information: https://inclusio.upc.edu/ca/serveis/benestar-psicologic

Students are required to fill in and sign a declaration of responsibility (Appendix I, page 5) in which they are informed of the instructions and measures to be followed in the case of an outbreak among people who have participated in the activities at which the student has been present.

The persons in charge of COVID-19 at the UPC act as liaisons with the health authorities and the Office of the General Manager at the UPC on this subject. They are familiar with the protocols of the University and of the authorities. Find out who they are.

On 8 September, the Standing Committee of the Governing Council approved a set of measures complementing those approved by the Governing Council on 2 July (Governing Council Decision CG/2020/05/04) that bring together the actions and protocols of the reopening stage of the lockdown easing plan. The Decision of September 2020 updates and renders void all provisions that contradict this new document.

The University encourages students to use the UPC Estudiants app for effective and timely communication on measures related to the management of COVID-19. You can also keep up to date by following the institutional accounts on social networks, Telegram and the information provided on the UPC home page and particularly on your school's website. The UPC also recommends the Radar COVID app to help manage the epidemic more effectively.