University to keep online classes until end of semester

Essential services and practicum work may return to on-site mode in coming months

Photo: Bruno Todeschini

After the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul announced that on-site classes at universities may start resuming gradually on Jun 15, the University has decided to keep classes and most activities and services remotely until the end of the semester.

Based on the recommendations of official health agencies and public authorities, PUCRS has carried out all necessary procedures to fight the new coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. In the event of a possible gradual return of essential services and practicum work, protocols for the prevention and containment of risks related to Covid-19 have been put together.

With the support of its Academic Schools, PUCRS has conducted a detailed analysis, as it evaluated the different contexts and needs of each program. Over the next few weeks, faculty and students will receive more information and further details of the possible return.

The University continues to keep track of the new developments in municipal and state decisions regarding Covid-19.

Prevention actions

By putting the safety and wellness of the academic community first, PUCRS has taken several measures to make the Campus a safe and protected environment. Find out some of them:

• Professionals who are on campus doing their essential activities have been given masks and face shields;
• Laser thermometers have been purchased and teams have been assembled to check out temperatures of people getting into the buildings;
• Cleaning protocols have been in force all over the campus; routines have been altered and protocols have been made to make sure that filters and air conditioning ducts systems have been cleaned;
• All environments have been duly identified with signs, ensuring the occupancy limit and mandatory distance measures and other important prevention and safety guidelines;
• Online courses for all University professionals on the prevention and safety protocols of the institutional plan for risk prevention and containment have been delivered;
• Development of specific protocols, based on the controlled social distancing model issued by the State Government and the institutional prevention plan, in order to meet all the specific aspects of the various fronts of action at the University.

Additionally, the parties involved are planning of possible scenarios for the second semester, every day, as orientation from official agencies is being provided. This is how the community plans ahead for the coming months.