Information on the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Here you will find information provided by the Rectorate of the University of Cologne on current measures taken in regard to the coronavirus ( SARS CoV-2 ). This page is updated regularly.

The Rectorate urges you to take a reasonable approach to the current situation and to be sensible and non-discriminatory when addressing the topic and dealing with each other.

General Information

Information for Students and Faculty

Information for Employees

Updates

Changes as of 31 July 2020, 4 p.m.

The Information for Students and Faculty [LINK: https://portal.uni-koeln.de/en/coronavirus/information-for-students-and-faculty] has been substantially revised and supplemented with information about teaching in the winter semester.
For participation in examinations requiring personal attendance, the university has created special rules for students arriving from risk areas: Students who have stayed in a risk area listed by the Robert Koch Institute during the 14 days prior to an attendance examination are not subject to the house ban and may take such an examination if they present a negative coronavirus test result in English or German that is no older than 48 hours at the time of the examination to the Examination Office responsible. This rule enters into force on 4 August 2020. Further details can be found in the Information for Students and Faculty [https://portal.uni-koeln.de/en/coronavirus/information-for-students-and-faculty] under ‘Examinations’.
This exception applies exclusively for students and exclusively for participation in examinations; all other rules related to the house ban at the University of Cologne due to the coronavirus pandemic continue to apply unchanged. In particular, the following continues to apply: Anyone who has contracted the coronavirus or who has been or still is in close contact with persons who have contracted the coronavirus may not enter the university’s premises for the duration of such close contact and 14 days afterwards.
All students participating in attendance examinations at the University of Cologne are urgently requested to inform the university immediately if they test positive for the coronavirus within two weeks after their participation in such an examination. They are obliged to provide this information both to the Examination Office responsible for their exam as well as the information office of the university’s Crisis Management Team (info-praeventionverw.uni-koeln.de).

Changes as of 24 July 2020, 15:00 p.m.

Changes as of 22 July 2020, 5 p.m.

The University is taking measures to reduce the risk of infections

The summer semester 2020 will take place with online teaching. If necessary, attendance classes that can be held at a later date will supplement online teaching. However, they will not replace it.
As an exception, necessary attendance examinations, practical courses, especially laboratory training and research work in labs, may take place on campus. Also, some libraries have resumed their lending services.
The hygiene and infection prevention measures of the University of Cologne apply to all planned face-to-face events as well as working on campus.
All other attendance events planned to take place at the UoC (especially those with external participants, e.g. conferences, meetings, workshops, etc.) are cancelled until the end of September.
House bans apply to reduce the risk of infection.
Working from home is the rule at the University. Physical presence at the University is only possible for important reasons and in agreement with supervisors. Hygiene and infection prevention measures must be observed.
In all cases of physical presence at the University, the legal regulations regarding contact tracing according to Section 2a of the Corona Protection Ordinance (Coronaschutzverordnung) apply.
Business trips and excursions within Germany can be approved by the Dean or the management of the central institution. Business trips and excursions abroad will not be approved until further notice. The Dean or the head of the central institution will decide on exceptions. The Chancellor decides for all cases in the central administration.
Consultations will continue to take place only by email or phone.

Information office

The university has set up an information office for university members and staff. It can be reached via the following e-mail address:
info-praeventionverw.uni-koeln.de