Page reviewed: 1 April 2021 at 09:00
Updated information regarding the coronavirus
With regards to the coronavirus outbreak, Jönköping University is monitoring the situation continuously and following the information from the Swedish government and the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Students and staff are urged to stay updated with information from this website, from the authorities, and in the FAQs on this website
Information on this page:
- Keep distance and take personal responsibility
- National regulations and general advice
- Regarding travels and visits
- Regarding the spring semester education 2021
- Earlier decision regarding the autumn semester's education
- Working from home
- Opening hours on campus
- Events and meetings
- Stay updated - external links
- If you have questions
- JU's work
- Previous information
Starting 14 December national regulations and general advice were introduced. You can read a press release regarding the new national regulations and general advice here
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An update and tightening of the national regulations were presented on 18 December. The government has extended several of the regulations and general advice on multiple occasions and on 31 March they were extended again. Read more here in a press release
Keep distance and take personal responsibility
JU believes, in accordance with the Public Health Agency of Sweden, that every individual has a great responsibility. Everyone must contribute to help minimize the spread of infection. To do this, you always have to stay home when you have symptoms, be careful with hand hygiene and keep distance. JU cares for all employees and students, and acts on this in different ways.
National regulations and general advice
The government has introduced national regulations and general advice and Jönköping University has made adjustments to the operations. The goal is to reduce instances of physical contact which leads to more digital meetings and increased work from home.
The following changes apply until further notice:
- At present, the previously decided corona-adapted campus education will continue with the exception that lectures should be given online.
- Students are encouraged to study from home and find digital solutions for contacting other students and JU staff.
- Staff are asked to work at home if their tasks allow it. Decisions about the suitability of working at home are to be made in consultation with the immediate manager.
- Meetings that do not require a physical gathering should be carried out digitally.
- Business trips should not be made
- Entry to campus premises will require a pass card at all times.
- The University Library, IT-helpdesk and Service Centre will remain open, but students and staff are asked to consider digital contact options to begin with.
- Sports training in Campus Arena, which is arranged by various student associations at Jönköping University, are now cancelled and the gym at Campus Gränna will also be closed.
Regarding travels and visits
In accordance with the recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in relation to the responsibilities Jönköping University has towards its employees and students, JU has decided to follow the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' recommendations and restrictions for travels and visit, for students and staff.
See the full list here (in Swedish)
As the situation can change quickly, we recommend that everyone stays updated through the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel information and the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s information.
From 6 February 2021, all foreign citizens traveling into Sweden must present a negative Covid-19 test. The test cannot be more than 48 hours old. The rules were extended on 24 March and apply until 31 May, 2021.
The following persons are exempted from the rules:
- Persons under 18 years of age.
- People living in Sweden.
- People traveling for urgent or humanitarian reasons.
- People who commute to work can use tests that are no older than one week, from 31 March this also applies to people who regularly cross the border to study in Sweden.
More information about the rules that apply can be found in a press release on the Swedish Government's website
Regarding the spring semester education 2021
Jönköping University will continue with the corona-adapted education during the spring semester 2021. All operations and planning are conducted according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s regulations and general recommendations.
The continued goal is to reduce physical meetings, which means that more activities will be done digitally, as well as an increase in working from home. JU is continuously making further adaptations and priorities to contribute to reducing the risk of infection.
Study groups with laboratory or practical elements as well as study groups with examination elements that are not suitable to be conducted remotely/digitally will be prioritized JU-wide to be on-campus.
The Dean at each school and Managing Director at JUE is given mandate to allow for on-campus education and examination in an exam hall for student groups other than those that are prioritized JU-wide as described above. Each Dean/MD is responsible to ensure that the corona-adapted education at each school is conducted in accordance with the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s regulations and general recommendations.
Students who do not have any scheduled classes or activities are asked to study from home to the extent possible.
Staff is encouraged to work from home if their work tasks allow it, the decisions are to be made in consultation with the immediate manager.
Earlier decision regarding the autumn semester's education
Earlier decision regarding the autumn semester's education
On Friday 29 May, the Swedish Government announced that the Public Health Agency of Sweden will lighten the recommendation regarding off-campus education. Some parts of the teaching will continue remotely in order to follow the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s general recommendations on social distancing and avoiding greater social gatherings.
Jönköping University is planning for on-campus education from the start of the autumn term 2020.
In accordance with a President’s Decision, and considering recommendations and guidelines, on-campus education will primarily be held for the following prioritized student groups:
- Study groups with laboratory/practical elements
- Study groups with examination elements that are not suitable to be conducted remotely/digitally
- First semester students
Utilization and adaptation of premises:
- The occupancy of class/teaching rooms shall ensure that sufficient distance can be maintained between the persons in each room and that there is no risk of over-crowding in the corridors. Groups of up to 50 people can be in a classroom. The maximum limit applies provided that the room can be adapted, so that there is sufficient distance between the students in the room.
- Class/teaching rooms can, if appropriate, also be used in the evening.
- Students who do not have any scheduled classes or elements are asked not to be on campus.
Introduction week:
- Roll calls will be divided and held during several days
- General information will be recorded and made available digitally
The Dean of each school and JUE are given the mandate to, within the framework of the operations of the school through a written decision, starting 17 August 2020, allow on-campus education and examination in an exam hall for other student groups than those prioritized.
More information will be given continuously to staff and students.
Working from home
The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends that those who have the opportunity to work from home to continue to do so during the autumn. This contributes to reduced risk of spreading, both in the workplace and in public transport. Decisions regarding working from home will also continuously be made in dialogue with the immediate manager and it is each manager who decides whether the employee can and should work from home. The assessment is made based on the employee's private situation and the conditions of the activities.
At a pressconference on 15 March, the Swedish government reminded about the importance of working from home if tasks allow it.
JU staff are asked to work at home if their tasks allow it. Decisions about the suitability of working at home are to be made in consultation with the immediate manager.
More information about working from home can be found in the FAQ for staff.
Opening hours on campus
For more information about opening hours, please visit this webpage
The University Library has had limited their opening hours. From Monday 25 January it will be open in the evenings again and you will no longer need a JU-card to enter. For details, please see this page.
External events
According to the Swedish government's decision (link in Swedish) JU will not arrange any public gatherings or social events until further notice.
Due to the current situation, Jönköping University will cancel some of the events that were planned during the spring. See the list of cancelled events here
Stay updated - external links
Students and staff are encouraged to keep up to date via the responsible authorities’ websites. They update information on developments and recommendations on a regular basis.
See links below:
If you have questions:
- If you have general questions about the outbreak, you should primarily seek information through the above sources.
- You can call 113 13 for answers regarding covid-19. 113 13 is Sweden’s information number in case of major accidents and crises. The service is available 24 hours a day. This national information number is used to reduce the burden on the emergency number 112 and 1177.
- Questions related to suspected illness are referred to the health service via telephone number 1177 (+46 771 11 77 00) or 1177.se.
- JU employees should contact their immediate manager if they have any questions.
- Students can also contact the Student Health Care for support.
JU's work
To handle issues and challenges that have risen during the spread of the coronavirus, JU has had a crisis organisation activated. The management of the crisis organisation has consisted of representatives from the Foundation, all companies within JU, Jönköping Student Union, and the unions.
On Tuesday 28 April, the crisis organisation was deactivated. It may be reactivated if the need arises. The continuous work of dealing with consequences of the spread of the coronavirus will be dealt with within the existing organisation, at the request of JU Executive Team.
In May, an internal working group was appointed to investigate and develop criteria and guidelines for how the operations can be conducted, adapting and taking into account the risk of spread of infection.
Questions and Answers
If you have questions
Students and staff
Please turn to the Service Center
Please do not visit the Service Center if you have symptoms, if you have symptoms you should contact 1177.
Read more at 1177, krisinformation.se or call 113 13 and ask for advice.
What can I do?
Stay at home when you are sick to avoid infecting people at the university, on the bus, at work or in areas where you are close to other people.
Everyone with symptoms of respiratory infection, even mild symptoms, should avoid social contacts which can spread disease. Stay at home 48 hours after you are symptom free.
- Avoid touching your face or eyes as well as contact with sick or elderly people.
- Cough and sneeze into the bend of your elbow or into a tissue to prevent infection from spreading around you, or from contaminating your hands.
- Wash hands often with soap and warm water, before eating, before preparing food, and after toilet use. Alcohol-based hand rub can be an alternative when you are unable to wash hands.
Read the Public Health Agency of Sweden's full recommendations here
Be respectful
As an international university, Jönköping University works actively to have a climate on campus where all students and staff treat each other with integrity and respect.
We urge everyone in our organization, both students and staff, to continue to support each other with respect and care. We urge our campus community not to make assumptions about the risk of students, staff or faculty based on their ethnicity or travel history. It is important not to contribute to the spread of misinformation and fear, and to be mindful of unverified information.
To colleagues and students at JU
- Information from the President 19 November
- See video message and words from the President from Tuesday 17 March, regarding the coronavirus.
- Read a new message from the President to staff and students, published on 9 April 2020
- Responsible changes – with constant adjustments, text published on 15 January 2021
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