Most Comenius University students left the dormitories after the introduction of distance learning
Bratislava 5 October 2020: Last week, several thousand students took the opportunity to leave the Comenius University dormitories voluntarily. At the two largest university dormitories, the Ľudovít Štúr Campus and the Družba Halls of Residence a total of 2,340 residents remain accommodated as of now, occupying barely 26 percent of the accommodation capacity of both dormitories. We expect this number to decrease by the end of the day because the residents have until midnight to sign the accommodation contract amendment electronically.
At the moment, five residents of these two dormitories in Bratislava have confirmed COVID-19 infection. Mandatory quarantine has already ended for the other residents who tested positive in recent weeks.
Comenius University leadership would like to thank all the students who decided to leave. Through their supremely responsible attitude it was possible to eliminate a potential infection hotspot which would spell big trouble not only for the dormitories, but also for medical facilities in Bratislava. CU dormitories can therefore remain available to students who could not leave - whether due to their practical assignments, laboratory work, or for medical or other significant personal reasons. Some foreign students who would be seriously inconvenienced by returning home also had to stay accommodated at the dormitories. The university will continue to provide support to those students who are unable to leave.
CU leadership continues to encourage all students who can leave its dormitories and have somewhere to go to do so. So far, we have managed to prevent worst-case scenarios which could threaten the largest Slovak student campus. If, however, the situation worsens, the university's leadership does not rule out taking more drastic measures to protect the lives and health of our students and staff.
In order to keep the dormitories operational for as long as possible, the university is introducing additional, stricter measures - no visits among rooms, severe sanctions for violating the rules, which include the obligation to wear a face-mask, a ban on congregating in dormitory premises and a mandatory night curfew.
Today, 5 October, is the last day of the quarantine at the university dormitory of the Jessenius Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Martin. All teaching will continue remotely except for graduating students of general and dental medicine and students of non-medical programmes who complete professional (clinical) practice on-site.
We believe that by introducing these measures and a general roll-out of distance learning, Comenius University is ready for the coming weeks. We are also convinced that the university's action will assist in curbing the spread of the infection in Slovakia just like it did during the first wave of the crisis.