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Division 8.1 – Academic Employees and Assistants

Division 8.2 – Technical and Administrative Employees

Travel and visits from abroad

The legal requirements relating to travel are being continuously updated. Currently, only the Coronaeinreiseverordnung (CoronaEinrVO for short, Coronavirus Entry Ordinance in English) of the German Ministry of Health applies in North-Rhine Westphalia. The Ordinance contains specifications on reporting, testing, and self-isolation obligations when entering Germany from abroad. From August 1, 2021, risk areas are now only designated as one of two categories: high-risk areas or areas of variants of concern. The category of “basic” risk areas has been dispensed with. Further information is available on the website of the Robert Koch Institute.

The following still applies as a basic principle: As soon as an individual exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they are banned from entering the RWTH premises with immediate effect.

If you are planning an international business trip, we are asking you to please find out if your destination falls under one of the two categories and what your obligations are regarding registering, testing, or quarantine well ahead of time. Division 8.3 will be happy to assist you on this matter. Business travel to high risk or virus variant areas is strongly discouraged. If, however, a business trip is absolutely necessary and cannot be postponed, this must be dicussed with Division 8.3 before you enter the business travel request in the system.

Exemptions for cross-border commuters and individuals entering the country from abroad for urgent work-related reasons or because of their training or studies continue to apply. In case of doubt, employees should contact the responsible health department. Individuals who are subject to mandatory testing are not allowed to enter the RWTH premises until they have received (negative) test results.

If a certificate is required for absolutely necessary and urgent travel to an employee’s country of origin, the following departments will be happy to help:

• Division 2.1 for students
• Human resources departments for employees
• Division 2.2 for guests, visitors, service providers, etc.

The Crisis Management Team recommends to consider the option of videoconferencing or other remote formats as a substitute for an in-person meeting before planning a business trip.

RKI risk areas

Federal Ministry of Health website for travelers to Germany from abroad

Coronavirus Entry Regulations Overview (de)

Until further notice

Duty to report infections of University members

Cases of infection of University members are immediately to be reported to the University Medical Center at +49 0241 80 94444 ("Hochschulärztliche Einrichtung")

Until further notice

Contact tracing of close contacts

In some cases, contact tracing for contacts of infected individuals may be delayed. For this reason, all RWTH members who have been classified as a close contact are not permitted to enter the RWTH premises for the duration of the usual quarantine period. All RWTH employees concerned shall work from home during this period. If you are uncertain about whether you may be classified as a close contact, the University Medical Center will be happy to advise you in this regard. Furthermore, you should also get in touch with the local health department.

Until further notice

Work from home

• Since July 1, 2021, employees can come to work in the office again. However, the employer must take all appropriate technical and organizational measures to reduce necessary personal contact during university operations.

• Simultaneous room use by several persons must be reduced to the minimum necessary for operations.

• Exceptions to this rule may only be granted for good reasons, in particular for activities that secure the infrastructure of RWTH or for experiments in the university institutions. The respective managers are responsible for objectively and closely interpreting this regulation and ultimately deciding how to implement it.

• In the interests of infection control, applications to work from home for up to 50% of individual working hours shall be permitted if they do not impact work interests. Furthermore, there are no objections if requests exceeding this are approved upon joint agreement.

• Further information can be found here.

• If employees have questions regarding the organization of working hours and childcare, the human resources departments will be happy to help.

Home Office Guide (de)

Until further notice

Study and reading rooms

• Central study spaces (including University Library): The central study spaces of the University Library or the Central University Administration have been operating since the start of June. The booking system will continue to be in operation for securing a study space in order to avoid lines forming in front of the rooms. The regulations concerning mask-wearing and compulsory testing must be adhered to.
• The list of rooms available each day is on this page.
• Non-central study spaces (especially in departmental libraries): Decentralized study spaces may be opened provided this has been approved by the Occupational Safety and Radiation Protection Staff Unit within the scope of their available capacities, suitable supervision is ensured during the opening hours, and a responsible person has been designated in the organizational unit. The regulations concerning mask-wearing and compulsory testing must be adhered to.

Until further notice

University Library

The University Library and the Medical Library are open for the loan of all items for RWTH members and returns for all users without prior appointment. Access is limited to two individuals at any one time – please note that this may lead to longer waiting times. Proof of compliance with the 3G regulations must be shown at the entrance. The libraries are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The study spaces at the University Library are open until 10pm.

Further information is available here.

In-person advising services

In principle, in-person advising services can be available again as long as the special hygiene measures are observed. We strongly recommend contacting the respective service point by phone or email beforehand to find out what the measures and conditions are and to then arrange an appointment if possible.

Until further notice

Written exams

Regulations for written exams are based on the incidence level determined in Städtregion Aachen and, at the state NRW level. An overview of the respective applicable regulations can be found here.

Until further notice

Work meetings

Work meetings may only be held in person if absolutely necessary and only absolutely necessary participants may attend. All attendees must wear their masks (FFP2 or medical masks) and adhere to the known hygiene regulations throughout. Individuals who are required to attend necessary, official meetings are to be offered Coronavirus self-tests on a regular basis via their university institution. Please note that currently most employees are obligated to work from home.

The current applicable minimum distance between individuals must be maintained during all activities. If this is not possible, the activity may only be carried out under application of compensation measures previously agreed with Occupational Safety.

Please also refer to the guidelines on how to conduct job interviews (de).

Until further notice

General events

The Rectorate, the deans of academic affairs, the chairpersons of the examination boards, and the Crisis Management Team have decided to put special regulations in place for hosting events. These have been communicated in our concept of implementation of the regulations.

The concept contains regulations on the following in particular:

• Teaching and exams
• Study spaces
• Research and ongoing operations
• Congresses/symposia/third-party events
• In-person work meetings

University Sports

Please refer to the University Sports website for detailed information.

Until further notice