The wellbeing of international students is a top priority at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), which has implemented standards, instructions, and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure that you have all the support you need during your stay at our university. To this end, the USC is strongly committed to achieve that:
- The different USC spaces (faculties, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, halls of residence, and any space for shared use) comply with all the requirements of the health authorities and can therefore be used safely.
- The different activities of the university community (teaching, studying, research, administration, and services) are developed in a safe way and in agreement with the requirements of the health authorities.
- All members of the university community (faculty members, students, and staff), as well as employees from external companies and visitors, comply with the necessary prevention measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
Although you can have access to these rules, instructions, and protocols at both the USC institutional website and the websites of the different faculties and services, some basic personal prevention and protection measures are provided in this document:
- At all times and every place, it is mandatory to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) with respect to other people.
- The use of a mask is mandatory in all USC shared spaces.
- Masks must be kept on when coughing or sneezing. If you have to remove your mask temporarily, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable cloth or, alternatively, with the inside of your elbow.
- Disinfect your hands at the entrance and exit of any USC facilities, by using the gel dispensers installed for this purpose. Also disinfect your hands in case of contact with objects or surfaces of shared use and avoid touching your face before disinfecting.
- Avoid greeting with physical contact. Do not shake hands.
- Pay attention to all the signs referring to COVID-19 and follow their indications.
- Comply with the provisions of the various protocols and instructions that, in relation to COVID-19, are issued for application at the USC in any of its faculties, services, and units.
If COVID-19 infection happens, you have symptoms of the disease, or you have been in contact with infected people, the following instructions must be followed:
- You must not attend on site activities at any USC facility if you have symptoms related to COVID-19, are in isolation due to a diagnosis of COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- The USC facilities have dedicated rooms for isolation of possible COVID-19 cases. These rooms are clearly identified, have the appropriate equipment, the necessary information material, and a telephone to communicate with the USC COVID-19 Management Office and with the health authorities. If symptoms related to COVID-19 appear during the development of any activity, you should self-isolate in this space and put on the surgical mask that will be available there.
- If symptoms appear while staying in a hall of residence or university college belonging to the USC University Residence Hall Service, you must remain in your room. During the isolation period in your room, you will be provided with a surgical mask, a telephone, and all the necessary equipment, as well as the food and assistance you may need.
- In any of the three aforementioned circumstances, you must call the COVID-19 helpline (900 400 116) and follow the instructions you will be given. You must also report the situation, as soon as possible, to the USC COVID-19 Management Office via e-mail (info.coronavirus [at] usc.gal (info[dot]coronavirus[at]usc[dot]gal)) or by phone (8818-11111).
- The USC will ensure that all students who must stay in quarantine because of COVID-19 will have online access to the teaching of the courses in which they are enrolled