Dear Students, Dear all,

As you know, the epidemiological trend of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a significant increase in infections in recent weeks. The recent Decrees issued by the Ministry of Health have introduced new rules and guidelines. To date, vaccination remains the main strategy for dealing with the pandemic, as proved by the significant reduction in the clinical impact of the disease and its outcomes.

Let's not forget 4 small steps to help us during our everyday activities:

• Wash your hands often;
• If you have a fever or other symptoms, let's stay home;
• Physical distance is paramount;
• Wear a face mask.

Remember to book your classroom, library or reading room seat via the Prodigit system or other University IT tools to always be alerted if potentially exposed to a COVID-19 case. 

Educational activities will take place primarily in person. Online lectures will be guaranteed for students who cannot book their seats in the classroom and those who cannot attend for health reasons.

Exams and final degree exams will also continue primarily in person in compliance with safety regulations. Online exams and final degree exams will be guaranteed for fragile and quarantined students or exempt from COVID-19 vaccination and, possibly, in case of specific exceptions established by each faculty.

Exceptionally, based on the current situation, faculties and departments are invited to be more flexible and offer online sessions for January and February exams and final degree exams.

Graduation sessions will be live streamed to allow families to participate.

Fragile, exempt or quarantined lecturers can carry out their educational activities online if the health conditions are met.

COVID-19 certificate (EU Green Pass o non-EU equivalent; Please read the following file for full details on vaccines accepted by the Italian Ministry of Health) is mandatory to access the premises. The certificate will also be asked when booking your classroom, library and reading room seat and when taking exams.

New measures on quarantine, i.e., the measure that applies to a healthy person who has come into close contact with a case of COVID-19, are particularly important for our University as well.

• Quarantine no longer applies to boosted people or people who have completed the primary vaccine course or who have recovered within the previous 120 days: these people, if asymptomatic (that is, without any symptoms), are only required to wear FFP2 masks for at least 10 days after the last exposure to the case and to monitor closely for the onset of symptoms (if symptoms occur they must quarantine and get tested).
• In contrast, unvaccinated people or those who have not completed the primary vaccine cycle for less than 14 days or more than 120 days and have not yet received the booster dose must comply with quarantine, which must last 10 days from the last exposure to the "case". After the 10 days a negative swab is required.
• The quarantine can be reduced to 5 days for people who have completed the primary vaccine cycle for more than 120 days and have not yet had the booster dose if asymptomatic. After the quarantine, a negative swab is required.
• Infected people must self isolate for 10 days, with a negative swab required at the end of the 10 days. The isolation period can be reduced to 7 days for infected people who have taken the booster dose or have completed the primary vaccine cycle in the previous 120 days, provided that they have always been asymptomatic or have been asymptomatic for at least 3 days and provided that, at the end of this period, the swab is negative.

In collaboration with the AOU Policlinico Umberto I General Hospital in Rome, Sapienza has organised special open days for all Sapienza students interested in getting their booster dose. Dates will be announced soon.

The screening service for students, which is voluntary and free of charge, will resume on January 10, 2022, at a pace and frequency that will necessarily take into account the priorities reserved for healthcare professionals and people at higher risk.

Both the epidemiological trend of the pandemic and the recent regulatory measures call for a sense of responsibility from all of us to ensure the safety of those entering Sapienza, together with the efficient and effective provision of all services.

Happy New Year to everyone

Rector Antonella Polimeni