Is the university safe from an epidemiological point of view?
Given the nature of the COVID-19 disease, the risk of infection cannot be completely ruled out in the course of social interaction. As is already well documented and known, the virus is still capable of infecting people even when the carrier is symptom-free.
At the same time, BBS does everything it can to reduce the risk of infection. We have introduced the following important regulations:
- The wearing of masks is mandatory everywhere in all the buildings, including in the classrooms.
- We are reducing the number of people in the buildings by holding some classes online.
- We will be cleaning and disinfecting areas far more intensively than on average.
- We are minimizing the number of events and we are making the wearing of masks at these programmes compulsory.
At the same time, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the latest wave of the infection emerged at a time when the universities were still closed, in other words, leisure activities play a significant role in the spread of the infection among those belonging to university age groups. For this reason, in order to slow the rate of infection it is necessary not only to comply with all university regulations but also to exercise self-discipline in all social interactions.
Please ensure that in the course of your everyday lives, in the interest of your own health and the protection of the BBS community, you comply in full with the regulations on the wearing of masks and make sure you observe the correct social distancing.
Is there a compulsory Covid-19 (PCR) test at the university?
No there isn’t, for two reasons. On the one hand, there is a charge for carrying out tests on symptom-free students and our revenues cannot cover the considerable expense of these tests while we do not want to burden you with additional expenses running into several tens of thousands of forints. On the other hand, a test carried out at the beginning of the semester would only guarantee for a few days that infected students do not enter the university but it would offer no protection as regards the entire semester. This is why the best protection is when we all constantly observe and comply with the epidemiological regulations and recommendations.
Isn’t the test compulsory for all foreign students?
No mandatory testing is required at this time. According to current government regulations, foreign students have to spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival. The quarantine period can be shortened if the student obtains two negative PCR tests. In practice, it can take 10-14 days to organize and conduct testing, so the quarantine period would not be reduced significantly. The International Mobility Department can provide more information.
What should I do if I suspect that I may be infected but I don’t have any symptoms?
First and foremost, think back to see whether you have been in close contact with any person infected with COVID-19 in the past two days.
The following qualify as close contact:
- A person living in the same household (or halls of residence room) with a person infected with COVID-19;
- A person who had direct physical contact (for instance, through a handshake) with a person infected with COVID-19;
- A person who was in contact with the infectious mucus of the COVID-19 patient without using protective equipment (for example, the person was coughed on or the person touched a used paper tissue with bare hands);
- A person who was in personal contact with a person infected with COVID-19 (at a distance of less than 2 metres and for a duration exceeding 15 minutes without a mask covering the nose and mouth);
- A person who was in an enclosed area together with a person infected with COVID-19 (at a distance of less than 2 metres and for a duration exceeding 15 minutes without a mask covering the nose and mouth);
- During a flight:
- a person who sat up to 2 seats away – in any direction – from a person infected with COVID-19,
- a travel companion or other person caring for a COVID-19 patient.
If any of the above apply to you, then you have to reckon on the possibility of being infected. In this case, stay at home for two weeks calculated from your last contact with the infected person and minimize contact with others. If you are a Hungarian citizen living in halls if residence, travel home. If you are a foreign citizen living in the halls of residence or the youth hostels rented by BBS, please contact immediately your international coordinator and they will help you to find a quarantine pension or flat. The expenses of the quarantine will be partially covered by BBS. Foreign students should report their place of quarantine to the International Mobility Department. At the same time, please notify your lecturers if you will be unable to attend classes for a certain time, but only if class activities in the given subject count towards your semester result.
What should I do if I display symptoms typical for the infectious disease?
According to WHO data, the symptoms of COVID-19 are the following:
Common symptoms:
- Fever (88%)
- Dry cough (68%)
- Fatigue (38%)
Furthermore, occasionally:
- Productive cough (33%)
- Shortness of breath (19%)
- Sore throat (14%)
- Headache (14%)
- Muscle or joint pain (15%)
- Shivering (11%)
Rare symptoms:
- Vomiting (5%)
- Diarrhoea (4%)
In the event that you display any of these symptoms, you must stay at home for two weeks. If you are a Hungarian citizen in halls of residence, please return home immediately and do not meet other students.
If you are a foreign citizen living in the halls of residence or the youth hostels rented by BBS, please contact immediately your international coordinator and they will help you to move into a quarantine pension or flat. The expenses of the quarantine will be partially covered by BBS.
Consult with your GP and follow the doctor’s instructions. Foreign students should report if they feel any symptoms of COVID-19 to the International Mobility Department as well as to the administration of halls of residence or youth hostels. At the same time, please notify your lecturers if you will be unable to attend classes for a certain time, but only if class activities in the given subject count towards your semester result.
What should I do if a positive PCR test proves I have the COVID-19 disease?
Follow the instructions of the healthcare institution treating you or the epidemiological authority. You may not go in to the university and you may not meet other students. If you are still staying in the halls of residence when you get the test result, immediately notify the head of the halls of residence about the fact of your infection. He/she will arrange for your isolation. At the same time, organize your earliest possible return home, if you are a Hungarian citizen.
If you are a foreign citizen living in the halls of residence or the youth hostels rented by BBS, please contact immediately your international coordinator and they will help you to move into a quarantine pension or flat. The expenses of the quarantine will be partially covered by BBS.
You must complete the Neptune questionnaire entitled ‘Reporting Covid-19 infection’. It is designed so that we have an up-to-date picture of the infection rate among our students. We do not forward personal information to anyone and we only publish total headcounts in reports on the infection.
If you have the opportunity, please inform your lecturers that you will not be taking part in classes for a time. It is recommended you do this only if class activities in the given subject count towards your semester result.
I have recovered from COVID-19 infection. Now what do I do?
Complete the Neptune questionnaire entitled ‘Closure of Covid-19 infection case’.
Having been cured, you can return to classes and the halls of residence.