Following an Irish Government Directive, UCC campus was closed on the 12^th March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has since released a roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society. A Research Business Continuity Team (RBCT) was established in UCC in April and has been working with the community to plan for the restarting the research activity on campus in line with national guidelines.

Research Business Continuity Updates:

• COVID-19 LEVEL 5 GUIDELINES FOR UCC, INCLUDING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES - 04 Jan 2021 can be accessed here https://www.ucc.ie/en/emt/covid19/campus-latest/
• Activities on campus and/or Fieldwork/Research at Interface with Society (including volunteers on campus) are restricted during this time and limited to essential work only.
• UCC Researchers requiring research access on campus and/or require continuation of Fieldwork/Research at Interface activities during this time are required to complete the Justification for continuation of Essential Research during the Level 5 Restrictions 6 Jan 2021 form.
• Forms must be completed and signed by PI and signed by Head of School/RICU. Return completed forms to irene.kavanagh@ucc.ie
• See Prof Anita Maguire's (VPRI) email UCC Research COVID-19 update - Semester 2 Jan 2021, issued to the UCC Research Community, for further information.

Previous Updates:

• Managing possible cases of Covid-19 in, or reported to, your Unit/Research Team: Presentation by Dr Michael Byrne (UCC Student Health) on 6.11.20 to UCC Research Leadership
• Returning to Campus – the Campus Business Continuity Team (CBCT): Please note that further documentation and guidelines have been prepared by the CBCT to ensure effective university-wide delivery on national guidelines and requirements. Please follow the link here to access further information regarding Returning to Campus.
• New & Returning Researchers: We would be grateful if you could submit revised protocol/list of researchers who are accessing your facility in October to encompass all new researchers/returning researchers who have (re)commenced since your original submission to RBCT. Please highlight any amendments to your protocol/list of researchers to expedite the review process.
• Letters of Authorisation: From September 2020, in line with the CBCT , Letters of Authorisation to access campus are no longer required.

Got any Questions or Queries? Please contact RSS Research Officer, Dr Irene Kavanagh at irene.kavanagh@ucc.ie

The RBCT team has provided the created the following documents to assist Heads of School and Directors of RICUs in reopening their facilities.

1. Principles of Access
2. Restricted Access Guidelines
3. Restricted Access Guidelines Fieldwork
4. Restricted Access Guidelines Research at Interface with Society
5. Restricted Access Guidelines for Healthy Volunteer Research on Campus
6. Travel Guidelines for Research-Related Activities
7. Protocol for Third Party Access to UCC Facilities (subcontractors & maintenance staff)
8. Protocol for Maintenance Workers Arriving from Non-Green List Countries
9. Principles of Access for Desk-Based Research & Write-up Space
10. Implementation of Principles of Access for Desk-Based Research & Write Up Areas
11. Covid-19 Risk Assessment Guide & Risk Assessment Template
12. Letter of Assurance Template
13. Letter of Assurance Template (Fieldwork)
14. Letter of Assurance Template (Research at Interface with Society)
15. Sample Digital Sign-in Sheet for recording access to rooms
16. Volunteer Declaration
     (to be used where research volunteers come onto Campus)