For office workplaces, it is recommended until 30 April 2022 to continue to work from home and to hold meetings by telephone or video conference if this is possible. This is intended to reduce the number of unnecessary contacts. For the rest, see the service agreements on mobile working: https://verwaltung.uni-koeln.de/abteilung41/content/themen_von_a_z/mobile_arbeit/index_ger.html.

The current hygiene concept applies to workplaces at the University that are not purely office workplaces, i.e., that include laboratory activities, for example.

Since personal encounters and spontaneous direct exchange are important for joint learning and teaching, the home office recommendation does not include teaching.

Information on the Covid 19 vaccination can be found on the RKI homepage, among others: https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQ/COVID-Impfen/gesamt.html.

The University strongly recommends that all students and employees get vaccinated. Vaccinations have been proven to protect against a serious course of illness. In this way, you protect yourself and make your contribution to preventing the health system from being overburdened.

Employees can also attend vaccination appointments during working hours after consultation with their supervisor (this then counts as working time). Within the framework of DV flexitime, a credit is given if the appointment falls during service time. Work must be resumed immediately before and after the vaccination appointment (provided that the after-effects of the vaccination do not impair the ability to work).

Where can I get information on the effectiveness, side effects etc. of the Covid-19 vaccination?

• On the information portal of the Federal Ministry of Health you can find all information for download: https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/en/?articlefilter=coronavirusvaccination
•  YouTube Channel of the RKI
• Side effects and vaccination reactions:
  - BZgA
  - RKI

The 3G status of employees and external guests (e.g., employees of external companies) is no longer recorded. Any data stored in this context must be destroyed. Employees (and external visitors) are free to report their 3G status on a voluntary basis. The 3G checks in teaching rooms and in other face-to-face studies will also be suspended from 4 April 2022 until further notice.
As an employee, you are entitled to one rapid test per week. You can apply for this via the Service Help Desk.

Testing options for university employees are described here .

Please note that different regulations may apply on the premises of University Hospital Cologne.

From 18 September 2021, business trips (including excursions) to Germany or abroad will again be approved by supervisors through the regular official channels.
Only for business trips to international virus variant areas must an unavoidable necessity be demonstrated. Such business trip requests must be submitted to the Rector or the Chancellor via the supervisor.

As a general rule, business trips should be planned and carried out with care. Depending on the vaccination status, quarantine measures may be required upon return. Therefore, we recommend planning a few days’ home office after return.

Further information on travel modalities can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/gesetze-und-verordnungen/guv-19-lp/coronaeinreisev.html.

Events with external guests are no longer subject to approval. However, the legislator provides for a number of protective measures that the organiser must ensure are complied with. These include, among others:

• Events may only take place in certified rooms. Note that the rooms are made available to the University with priority for teaching and examinations.
• A coronavirus risk assessment (GBU) must be prepared and shown on request. Staff Unit 02.2 (Occupational Health and Safety) will advise you here.

All other detailed questions arise from the currently applying coronavirus protection regulations of the state or the federal government.

Information on the current regulations on quarantine and domestic isolation in the event of a positive test result or as a contact person can be found in a clear presentation on the website of the state government: https://www.mags.nrw/pressemitteilung/gesundheitsministerium-erlaesst-neue-corona-schutzverordnung.