Coronavirus: Current information for students and staff of the university
March 13, 2020
Classroom teaching suspended
The State Ministry of Science of Rhineland-Palatinate and the state universities have decided that classroom teaching for the current summer semester cannot resume until April 20, 2020.
Until then, no more lectures, seminars, tutorials, exercises and similar classroom teaching activities will take place at Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
Examinations and assessments can continue to be held as planned, and all examinations can be taken. This applies to all types of assessments, including individually supervised bachelor’s theses and project assignments.
Internship phases with our partners in dual degree programs are not affected by the ministry’s decree and can, in principle, be continued with the agreement of the partners.
Together with the teaching staff, we will find out in the next few days how exactly we will proceed until April 20, 2020. The university will increasingly expand its online events in this regard. General administrative operations, research and other activities of the university will continue to take place.
The following continues to apply:
Anyone who has been in a high-risk area within the last 14 days is to avoid unnecessary contact - regardless of symptoms - and stay at home for the time being.
Anyone who has been in a high-risk area and experiences symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, cough, cold, diarrhea, etc. within 14 days of returning from there is to avoid all unnecessary contact and stay at home for the time being. These individuals should immediately contact their primary care physician by phone or contact the emergency medical service (kassenärztlicher Notdienst) under 116117.
Anyone who has had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient during their stay in a high-risk area or within the past 14 days must immediately contact the Public Health Office (Gesundheitsamt). This must be done in all cases, regardless of the occurrence of symptoms.
You can find the responsible Public Health Office (Gesundheitsamt) by entering the postal code using the following link: https://tools.rki.de/PLZTool
The updated list of high-risk areas, which can be obtained from the Robert Koch Institute, applies:
https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete.html
Staff members experiencing relevant symptoms or illnesses should not come to the university.
Business trips and field trips will generally not be undertaken, or must be reduced to the absolutely unavoidable minimum.
Meetings, events and other appointments are to be reduced to the absolutely unavoidable minimum. In assessing this, the type of event, time requirements, scheduling urgency, importance, group of participants and location are to be taken into account.
Where possible, staff should use telecommuting or mobile working arrangements. Corresponding requests including the grounds for the application can be submitted to your superior for approval of home office use. Superiors are asked to review these requests and contact the Human Resources Department.
Visitors should be reduced to the absolute minimum necessary. Please advise everyone to use the phone or email.
These instructions apply to all individuals at our university, including students, professors, lecturers, instructors and all other employees and staff working at our facilities. Staff members who are supposed to stay at home should also contact the Human Resources Department immediately by phone to clarify further procedures. In the event of a leave of absence, the payment of salary or wages will continue.
FAQ on the coronavirus
What do I do if someone I was in contact with has tested positive?
- 14 days of home quarantine
- Make a list of all contacts within the last 14 days (name, phone number, email, and, if possible, the address where they are registered); this list may be requested by the Public Health Office (Gesundheitsamt)
- As an employee/staff member: inform your superiors, discuss and clarify subsequent procedure
- If no symptoms are noticeable in the household during this time and the matter has been discussed with the university: return to the university after that
- If symptoms appear in the household during this time: immediately call your primary care physician, inform the Public Health Office, inform the university
What do I do if I encounter a person who has flu-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, infection-related shortness of breath)?
- Answer the key questions of the Robert Koch Institute:
- Was the person in one of the high-risk areas within the last 14 days?
- Has the person had contact with a coronavirus patient within the last 14 days? - If either question is answered with ‘yes’, ask the affected individual to have a physician evaluate the situation. Ask employees and staff of the university to immediately contact the Human Resources Department by phone to clarify how to proceed.
- Based on current information, the Ministry of the Interior of Rhineland-Palatinate recommends that this person stay away from the university for 14 days.
We are working very hard to address all the issues in detail, and will keep you informed on an ongoing basis.
The University Management of Mainz University of Applied Sciences