Covid-19, Education and Science, Estonia, Medicine

TalTech decided on Monday that due to the coronavirus infection rate in Tallinn and Harju County and a number of infections emerging among students, the university will temporarily switch to distance learning in some of its curricula, spokespeople for the university said.

Instruction will be conducted remotely for two weeks for the time being. The University has developed various guidelines and the situation is being assessed daily. Hybrid instruction is recommended and supported. All of the university's English-language curricula and one Estonian-language curriculum will switch to remote learning.

"Under the present circumstances, we can say that the difficult decision we made this summer not to admit new students from at-risk states was the right one. The coronavirus risk relating to the return of international students has now materialized," Hendrik Voll, TalTech's vice rector for academic affairs, said.

"The university has developed various risk scenarios that will help it assess the situation and make decisions," he said.

As at Monday, nine students had informed TalTech of having tested positive for COVID-19. According to the information available, none of the cases originate from the university campus. The university is handling all the cases in cooperation with the Health Board. All identified close contacts have been informed and potential virus carriers have been requested to self-isolate. 

The university supports its staff working remotely as much as possible.