Dear Members of the Academy,

On 19 October, the Government of the Republic of Estonia introduced new COVID-19 crisis measures, which were extended on 28 October. The main purpose of which is to prevent overcrowding in hospitals, the collapse of the medical system and to curb the epidemic spread of the coronavirus more effectively than before.

As the deterioration of the pandemic is also a serious threat to the study activities and planned events of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, then we must all work together by tolerating the inconveniences of tightening internal regulations, in order to ensure the health of our students and staff and the continuation of our learning, research, and creative activities.

There have been cases of infection among both the staff and students of the academy since the beginning of this academic year, however, there hasn’t been a major COVID outbreak emerging so far. Nevertheless, considering the current general situation in Estonia, the risk of their occurrence is in a dangerous growth trend, and therefore the following rules and guidelines have been established at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as of 29 October, 2021:

• The rector’s office calls on all students and staff who have not yet been vaccinated against coronavirus to do so as soon as possible. Different vaccines are freely available to everyone.
• Wearing a protective facemask in the study buildings of the Academy is mandatory for everyone. The protective facemask must be worn in all activities where this is possible due to the nature of the activity. It is recommended to wear a medical mask or equivalent.
• Only students and employees of the Academy are allowed to enter the study buildings of the EAMT. The main door of the building opens with a personalized magnetic card. We ask all members of the Academy to make sure that no person from outside the Academy enters the study building with you at the front door. Guests of the Academy, students of pedagogical practice, continuing education students and other persons may enter the study buildings only based on a registered permit issued by a member of the rector’s office (or the chief coordinator in case of the Drama Department). All guests must prove that they have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID in the last 6 months. A negative test result does not entitle you to enter the building.
• Verification of COVID certificates will also be enhanced at public concerts, performances and other events held at the Academy. According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Estonia, a negative test result is no longer valid as COVID proof (except for children aged 12-17). The COVID certificate will be checked at the door of the hall.
• The feasibility of organizing events with a large number of participants should be very critically assessed in the coming months. Whenever possible, events should be postponed or organized online.
• As unvaccinated travellers from Estonia are subject to the quarantine requirement in many countries, EAMT approves work related travels only for the employees and students who have been vaccinated or have recovered from coronavirus in the last 6 months.
  
• No significant changes in the organization of studies are currently planned. As a rule, studies will take place in the form of contact studies at the academy on-site. In coordination with the head of the speciality group, the study activities may also be carried out in the form of distance learning, if the learning outcomes do not suffer due to that.
• There are no specific limits for the number of students in one classroom, but where possible, the principle of social distancing should be followed, and in the case of bigger study groups, larger study rooms should be preferred.
• The lecturer must ensure that all participants in the classroom must be registered by name (for example, ask students to register their name on the registration sheet, mark those students who are absent from the class, etc.). This allows us to better identify those who have been in close contact with an infected person(s).
• It is strictly prohibited to come to the academy in the event of even the slightest suspicion of being infected with the virus. This requirement applies to both vaccinated and non-vaccinated employees and students. If symptoms of infection occur, please contact your family doctor and let yourself be tested. If the test comes back positive, then you need to remain in self-isolation until your doctor declares you healthy. In case of an infection, faculty and staff members must notify the HR manager (eve.tobias@eamt.ee, tel. 6675 705) and students need to contact the head of the student affairs department (jane.kreek@eamt.ee, tel. 6675 711).
• Unvaccinated people who have been in close contact with an infected person must remain in self-isolation for 10 days and are not allowed to enter the study building at that time. Vaccinated people or those who have recovered from the coronavirus within the last 6 months do not have to self-isolate, but you should still be careful and test yourself just before coming to the study buildings.
• Faculty members do not have the obligation to provide online classes or extra classes for those who have had to self-isolate.
• If an employee of the Academy is not able to go to work due to being in self-isolation, the respective member of the rector’s office responsible for the specific administrative area must be informed with whom the possibility of working online or the grounds for absence from work will be agreed upon.
• Coming to the academy with symptoms of illness or non-compliance with the isolation obligation endangers the health and wellbeing of others and will lead to sanctions.
• Employees who have not been vaccinated and who have not been infected and recovered from COVID, are required to continue testing themselves at least once a week. As the Ministry no longer allocates test kits to universities for this purpose and the stocks of tests given to the EAMT for a transitional period have been exhausted, it is the employee’s own duty and responsibility to obtain the tests in the future.
• For reasons arising from the health of an employee or student of the Academy, the above requirements may allow exceptions. In case of such a problem, faculty and staff are asked to contact the manager of the respective administrative area of the rector’s office, students to contact the head of the student affairs department (jane.kreek@eamt.ee, tel 6675 711). If you wish, you can also turn to the equal treatment confidant (EAMT psychologist) (elina.kivinukk@eamt.ee) for advice. The Academy shall ensure that the health records of any employee or student are not disclosed.
• The cafeteria is open to the faculty and students of the Academy, as well as the guests who are allowed to enter the study building.
• The library provides its services to the members of the academy as usual. Other readers can enter the library only upon prior registration and presentation of a COVID certificate.
• The Academy considers countermeasures to the above-listed information or the spreading scientifically incompetent information as an inappropriate act for its members and contrary to academic ethics.

EAMT Rector’s Office