High incidence rates in Cologne: Minimize attendance at the University
The very high incidence rates in the city of Cologne make it necessary to minimize attendance at the University.
The university headships appeals to all faculty, students, and staff to come to the University only when absolutely necessary. Lecturers are urged to conduct examinations and courses on campus only when absolutely necessary and in compliance with all hygiene and infection control measures. Managers and supervisors are encouraged to reduce attendance at the University in their areas as much as possible.

In addition, where attendance is still necessary, rapid and self-tests can provide additional safety. The University therefore appeals to everyone to make consistent and regular use of the existing free testing facilities at the testing centre on campus, or at other testing centres.

Classroom teaching and face-to-face examinations will continue to be permitted only in exceptional circumstances
On 24 April 2021, the amended federal Infection Control Act went into effect. It stipulates that if the 7-day incidence is above 165 for three consecutive days in an independent city or district, face-to-face teaching at schools and universities is prohibited from the day after next. This criterion is currently met for the city of Cologne.
It is unclear what the term ‘face-to-face instruction’ covers in the higher education context. The legislative resolution indicates that it does not cover face-to-face examinations and activities in laboratories. In addition, the law provides exceptions for graduate classes. The ministers of science and research of all 16 federal states have asked the federal government for prompt legal clarification of how these requirements should be implemented in higher education.  

Until then, the University assumes that those courses that absolutely depend on attendance, such as practical laboratory work, courses in connection with patients in clinics, practical and artistic tutorials, etc., as well as face-to-face examinations within the framework of the existing state regulations continue to be permissible in individual cases, as they are not comparable to classroom teaching at schools.

The currently existing specifications and regulations for classroom teaching at the University therefore remain in force.

In individual cases, carrying out a course face to face is only permissible if it cannot be carried out remotely or postponed without serious disadvantages for students. In-class examinations and preparatory measures for them are only permissible if they cannot be rescheduled for legal or factual reasons or if the rescheduling is unreasonable for the examinee.

If the federal or state government provides legal clarification that deviates from these regulations, we will inform you accordingly.

Home Office
The amended law obliges employers to allow employees to work from home in case of office work or comparable activities. What is new is that there is now also an obligation for employees to accept these offers if there are no reasons on their part to the contrary. This may be the case if employees are significantly restricted in their work at home, e.g., due to a lack of quiet or limited ergonomic working space. To demonstrate this, it is sufficient for the employee to inform his or her supervisor that working from home is not possible.

Increase in the number of sick days for children
The legislator has increased the number of sick days for children for all employees with statutory health insurance. Accordingly, in 2021 there is an entitlement to children’s sick pay for 30 days per child (60 days for single parents). The entitlement continues to apply even if children must be cared for at home because daycare facilities and/or schools are partially or completely closed due to the pandemic, or mandatory school attendance has been suspended. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has extended this provision to civil servants in the state for a limited period until 2021.

Curfew in the city of Cologne
Since 17 April 2021, curfew restrictions have been in effect within the city of Cologne from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day. Citizens may only leave their homes or other accommodation during this time for valid reasons. This also includes the pursuit of professional and official activities, including professional, official or academic training that cannot be postponed. In each case, this also includes travel to and from these activities by direct route.
If applicable, employees must be able to credibly demonstrate the professional activity. An employer certificate is not necessary for this purpose and is not provided by the University.

Information from the city can be found here.
The mayor of the city of Cologne has called on all companies to implement home office to a large extent. The Rector and Chancellor have joined this appeal.

Self-tests for employees in attendance
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is successively making a weekly self-test available to the University’s employees who are currently in attendance for official reasons. The first self-tests will be distributed at the University in the coming days.
Employees usually perform the tests themselves at least once a week at home before going to work. Please be sure to follow the detailed instructions at https://portal.uni-koeln.de/coronavirus/tests!

The tests are currently supplied by the state in packs of 20 tests. Unfortunately, these 20-packs cannot be divided into individual tests. It is therefore not possible to supply individual self-tests. This makes it necessary to distribute the self-tests in a prioritized manner. Initially, therefore, especially those employees with self-tests should receive them who have necessary and regular contact with other persons during their presence on campus, work in situations in which there is a particular risk potential, and/or work continuously or very regularly on campus.
The deans’ offices and unit managers receive quotas from Division 5 for distribution to the areas within their responsibility. In these areas, supervisors organize the distribution to those employees working on campus, who will receive the tests at their workplace. There is no entitlement to, and no need for self-tests for persons who consistently work from home.

The state has promised further weekly deliveries. The successively arriving additional test packs can then be used to supply more employees working in attendance. Starting in May, the state will try to provide tests that are also suitable for individual dispensing.
All further information is available here.

All information on testing possibilities for members of the University are available here. The website is under construction.

The MediCare rapid test centre in the New Seminar Building (Neues Seminargebäude, building 106) is now up and running. Appointments for free citizen tests can be booked on Medicare’s website at https://www.covid-testzentrum.de/koeln-uni.
 

Summer semester planned as a flexible hybrid semester: classroom teaching until Whitsun only in exceptional cases
The currently very high infection rates and the applying requirements of the state only allow for a very limited number of courses to be offered on campus at the beginning of the semester. The state requirements are currently limited until 18 April 2021, but in view of the current pandemic development, it is not expected that there will be any relaxation in the foreseeable future. Due to the unclear development of the pandemic, the University pursued a flexible strategy for the summer semester from the beginning. This is now proving to be sensible approach.

In order to provide all faculty, students, and staff with the clearest possible orientation and planning security, the following regulations for classroom teaching will initially apply until 21 May 2021 (the Friday before Whitsun):

• Classroom teaching is only permitted until 21 May 2021 in individual cases if a class cannot either be held virtually or postponed without serious disadvantages for students.
• Face-to-face examinations are only permissible until 21 May 2021 if they cannot be rescheduled for legal or factual reasons, or if rescheduling is unreasonable for examinees.

The Faculties and central institutions will be informed of the applying exception criteria. They are asked to check promptly which courses fall under these exception criteria and can therefore take place on campus, and to inform participants accordingly.

For each face-to-face event at the University, the requirements and specifications of the University’s Hygiene and Protection Directive for premises and hygiene measures must be observed without fail. In addition, all participants must wear medical masks and contact tracing must be ensured. In addition, a maximum of 50 people may participate in face-to-face teaching sessions.

Prohibited by state requirements until at least 18 April are voluntary preparatory courses or other extra-curricular offers on campus. Unfortunately, this also affects the usual introductory events offered by student councils and the like.

The University hopes that after 21 May 2021, the infection situation will allow for more presence on campus and will notify the university community accordingly with sufficient notice.

Due to the ‘Corona emergency brake’ in the city of Cologne, only lending operations are currently permitted in university libraries, but the University is striving to return to operations in compliance with the necessary hygiene and infection control measures before 21 May.

Netherlands classified as a high-incidence area on 6 April
Due to high infection rates in the country, the German federal government has classified the Netherlands as a high-risk area (or high-incidence area) on 6 April 2021. Therefore, upon entry, certification of a negative PCR or rapid test must be presented, carried out no more than 48 hours prior to entry.
For border commuters who have to cross the border regularly because of their job, studies, or training, a negative test is valid for 72 hours. If commuters are unable to present proof upon entry, they must take a test immediately after entering the country.

Commuters must be able to prove the reason for their border crossing. Affected employees from the Netherlands who are currently working on campus at the University can obtain an employer’s certificate issued by the Human Resources Division.

In addition, those entering the country are required to register at www.einreiseanmeldung.de; this does not apply if the stay is less than 24 hours.