From the first days of the pandemic in March 2020, the UNR provided its potential to assist society in the different circumstances that arose from this exceptional and historic situation that disrupted all medical, educational, social, and productive structures. Teachers, researchers, students, volunteers worked to help the different sectors that were requiring help. Thus, support was provided with the production of respirators, the manufacture of gel alcohol and face masks, the participation of volunteers in vaccination campaigns, even with food assistance from the university dining room, or training so that social organizations and clubs can manage online in times of coronavirus.
“OneBreath” respirators
One of the most transcendental contributions promoted by the UNR was the creation of specific transition ventilators for patients with Covid that bore the name "UnRespiro" and were produced by the Inventu Company, made up of UNR graduates. Different representatives of public health in Rosario also participated in the development, who added their experiences to contribute to the design of the device.
Alcohol in gel
Only ten days after the start of the pandemic, it began to be produced in the laboratories of the Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and then distributed over the following months in public stores in the city and the province.
Facial masks
The facial protectors were made with 3D printers from the Polytechnic and with the contribution of volunteers who joined through social networks. With the contribution of companies from Rosario that were able to provide the material, several batches of face masks were produced that were distributed to workers in neighborhood health centers.
coronavirus detection kit
At the IBR, UNR and Conicet scientists developed a coronavirus detection kit to identify infected people and reduce contagion. The early detection test was approved by Anmat in September 2020.
Assistance to Older Adults
An Assistance Network for Older Adults was formed, the population most at risk that had to remain in their homes, for which volunteers were summoned who first joined this task, then participated in food assistance and also in vaccination campaigns.
milk donation
Within the framework of the food assistance plan, the UNR donated 10 liters of milk produced in the Tambo of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Zavalla in conjunction with Cotar.
The virus genome
An interdisciplinary research unit, belonging to four groups from different faculties, dedicated itself to sequencing the genome of the virus that causes COVID 19 during the pandemic and managed to fully understand it.
support for vaccines
When the vaccines were in doubt, UNR scientists expressed their support for vaccination campaigns, emphatically expressed support for the importance of vaccines and the immunity they achieve, and joined campaigns against the infodemic.
UNR canteens
In times when isolation was mandatory, the UNR dining rooms functioned as distribution and logistics centers for the delivery of food bags, in addition to taking advantage of the facilities to divide and heat the food before being distributed to the most needy at the points of concentration designated by the Municipality of Rosario. Then, the soup kitchens continued with solidarity actions and handed out free soup during lunch and dinner.
Dreams in a pandemic
Teachers from the Faculty of Psychology collected and analyzed dreams during the quarantine, and this work is currently in the process of becoming a book.
Vaccination of teaching and non-teaching staff
During 2021, the vaccination of the teaching and non-teaching staff of middle schools was carried out, who returned to the classrooms for face-to-face teaching. Some 700 workers from the Superior of Commerce, the Polytechnic Institute and the Casilda Agrotechnical School were vaccinated in a single and intense day.
Portable CO2 meters "Ventilate"
The meters were developed by UNR graduates and students specifically to determine the amount of carbon dioxide that is in the air and thus determine if it is necessary to ventilate the environment, it is one more tool to deal with the Covid-19 virus. . The UNR supported the manufacture of these devices that were later delivered to the faculties and middle schools. In addition, they will be produced to be used in the offices of the Municipality of Rosario.
Get vaccinated UNR
In February 2022, a Health Promotion Campaign was launched and vaccines against COVID-19 began to be applied at the facilities of the "7 de Abril" Health Center to the entire university community that needs to complete their vaccination scheme or start it. , with the aim of transiting a responsible and careful return to face-to-face in all academic units.