Disclaimer
As you will certainly understand, CERN cannot predict the spread of the virus or the evolution of event or travel restrictions, airline polices or flight/public transport cancellations. Your participation in the School is at your own risk and, in particular, CERN and Institut d’Études Scientifiques de Cargèse (IESC) are not responsible for any costs associated with early departure from or termination of the School, travel, quarantine, medical treatment or any other consequences resulting from being infected or a close contact during or in connection with participation in the School. Please ensure you have the necessary travel and medical insurance in place to cover your attendance.
This is a detailed COVID-19 prevention plan for the School, based on IESC instructions and French rules, and taking into account specific requirements of the School.
It’s important to note that the national or local rules might become more strict as the situation evolves; in which case the following School sanitary measures will be adapted accordingly.
Travel
It is participants' individual responsibility to ensure that they fulfil all the requirements to travel to France, Corsica and Cargèse.
Pre-arrival
Participants with COVID-19 symptoms (including fever, cough or respiratory problems) are asked not to travel to Cargèse, and will not be allowed to enter IESC and to attend the School.
COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 self tests will be available on a voluntary basis to all participants. The goal is to reassure participants and personnel, as well as to identify any infected persons as quickly as possible.
In specific cases, taking a COVID-19 test and presenting a negative result may be required by the School organiser, by the hosting institute or by the local authorities.
Sanitary measures
During the School, we will all be required to follow standard COVID-19 sanitary measures that are in line with national and local regulations.
For the safety of all participants and personnel at the School, an individual participant’s failure to comply with the required sanitary measures will result in their expulsion from the site.
- Physical distancing: The participants are encouraged to limit close-proximity contacts, especially if indoors and/or during prolonged periods.
- Masks: Wearing surgical masks (type 1, 2 or 2-R / EN 14683) will be required in the following situations:
- while queueing for the buffet meals at IESC, and getting the food/drinks;
- when discussing directly with the lecturers or other participants during the hands-on exercise sessions;
- in buses, taxis or other shared transport.
- In additional to these rules, the School organizers encourage wearing masks in all situations (other than meals) when participants interact in close proximity (less that 1.5 m), especially if indoors and/or during prolonged periods. Surgical masks will be made available at IESC.
- Hand hygiene (washing and disinfection): Hand sanitizers are available at various locations in IESC. Disinfecting hands will be mandatory before taking food at the buffet-style meals, and in other occasions which require touching or handling share items. Finally, participants are strongly encouraged to wash their hands regularly.
Quarantine / medical isolation
We cannot exclude the possibility that, even with all the above measures in place, one, a group, or all participants and personnel attending the School may be required to quarantine or isolate, even if they are vaccinated.
If a participant contracts COVID-19 during the school, local sanitary rules for self-isolation apply. The participant will be able to stay in their school accommodation for the duration of the school (i.e. until Saturday May 7th morning). In that case, the cost of the accommodation and food for quarantining during the School is already covered by the participant’s registration fee.
However, any other costs of self-isolation or quarantine outside of the School accommodation, and/or after the end of the School, will be under the sole logistical and financial responsibility of the individual participant(s) concerned, and cannot be covered or arranged by the School organizers or IESC.
