Corona update: Regulations for the CAU from May 31

Dear members of the University,

since spring did not deliver what we all expected, neither in terms of the weather nor in terms of the development of the infection figures, a certain confidence is now spreading in both areas. In Kiel, too, the number of new infections with the coronavirus is currently decreasing continuously. The incidence rate in Kiel has been below 50 for a week, and even below 35 for a few days now. This is reason enough for the University Board to gradually allow more presence on campus again within the framework of the applicable state and federal regulations, and to lift some of the restrictions that have been in place up to now. However, university operations will continue to be strongly characterised by digital formats during the pandemic, because the unchanged distance regulations in particular severely restrict all forms of presence on campus.

From 31.05.2021, the following regulations will apply to university operations:

• Teaching in the summer semester is mainly continued digitally. Currently, on the basis of the "University Corona Ordinance" of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which has been in force since May 30, lectures on site are still only possible in the known exceptional cases for practical courses. The examinations of the summer semester may also take place on-site, provided that the distance requirement is observed. Detailed information on the examinations starting on August 2 (1st examination period) will be provided shortly, as well as an outlook on the plans for the coming winter semester.
• The Central Library is expanding its services from May 31. In addition to lending and returning media, the open access area for taking out print media will be open again. The functional rooms for copying and scanning or for people with visual impairments are also accessible. Individual workstations and carrels are available as before with online reservation. Please inform yourself about the services currently offered on the websites of the University Library and the specialised libraries as well as on the Corona pages of the University.
• University sports are also starting up again, initially limited to outdoor sports. Since 28 May, courses at the Sailing Centre can be booked under certain conditions. Information from the Sailing Centre (German only). In addition, the following outdoor university sports will start on 7 June: canoeing/rowing, tennis, running, orienteering, Ultimate Frisbee, Urban Workout. Registration for these offers begins on Monday 31.05., 12.00 hrs. To the university sports programme (German only)
• The museums of the CAU are open to visitors after pre-registration by telephone, the presentation of a negative rapid test is no longer required. In the Botanical Garden, the open-air areas can be visited. Please check the websites of the facilities or the Corona pages of the CAU on openings and closings.
• For the university workplace in research, administration and services, the unchanged distance requirement remains the basis for the requirement to work in a home office wherever the activities allow it. In view of the limited space available for working in presence due to the distance requirement, flexible working hours, shift work or physical barriers as well as the maximum occupancy of rooms will continue to be necessary.
• If work is done on site at the university, meetings and working group meetings can again be held in presence, provided that the minimum distance is maintained at all times, a medical mouth-nose protection is worn and the rooms used are ventilated regularly. As a matter of principle, home office workers should be allowed to participate.
• Committee meetings, job interviews and appointment procedures should continue to be conducted as video conferences or in a hybrid format to enable employees who work from home to participate.
• For business trips and field trips, the approval of the University Board is still required for trips abroad to countries for which a corona-related travel warning has been issued by the Federal Foreign Office (RKI website: "Information on the designation of international risk areas by the Federal Foreign Office, BMG and BMI"), as well as for trips to areas in Germany and abroad where the 7-day incidence is above 100.
• In-house training and further education can be carried out with a hygiene concept while maintaining the minimum distance, wearing masks and sufficient ventilation; online courses should continue to be offered. The same applies to the offers of the CAU counselling centres. Please check their websites to find out whether or when counselling is offered in a face-to-face setting.
• CAU events with external guests such as conferences, workshops or public lectures can be planned as hybrid formats. A hygiene concept is required for the implementation and the premises must be approved for the maximum number of guests specified by the state of Schleswig-Holstein (cf. capacity details in the UnivIS). Since further changes are foreseeable via the state government's step-by-step plan, please inform yourself via the CAU's Corona page which regulations will apply to events in attendance in the coming weeks and months, if the respective incidence values permit this. A corresponding information page is currently under construction.
• Preparation of hygiene concepts: Since the ordinance basis has changed continuously in the past weeks and months, the University Board decided on May 25 to update the university's hygiene conceptual framework (HCF). To the HCF of the University (the English version is currently being updated)

Please continue to adhere to the known hygiene and distance regulations for all activities and events permitted in the presence area, as well as to the obligation to wear masks (medical or FFP2 mask) that apply on the entire campus in and in front of the buildings. In addition, it is necessary that you also observe the other requirements that result from the respective hygiene concepts for teaching events and from the risk assessments at the workplace. In contrast to the regulations of the state, there have not yet been any relaxations of the requirements for work on site in the federal occupational health and safety regulations. For example, there are still no special regulations for fully vaccinated persons. As soon as there are changes here, we will of course inform you.

Take advantage of free rapid tests at numerous public test centres and stations, including on campus in the Sechseckbau in front of Mensa I and in the sports centre. The university continues to offer up to two self-tests per week to employees working on site. However, a negative rapid test is only a snapshot and even with a daily negative rapid test, the hygiene and distance regulations must continue to be observed.

We do not yet have any more concrete information or dates regarding the planned vaccination offer for CAU employees by the medical service. Together with the other universities in Schleswig-Holstein, we are in contact with the state government to ensure that a vaccination offer can also be made to students in good time before the start of the winter semester.

Despite all impatience and understandable desire for a return to "normality": we will only be able to approach this in small steps and still have to be careful. The development of the vaccination campaign gives rise to justified hopes that the coming winter semester at the latest can take place under better conditions, even if there are still many imponderables. For some time now, a working group made up of a broad range of faculties, administration, student representatives and the University Board has been dealing with the organisation of the winter semester and we will inform you about the plans shortly.

Please remain careful and circumspect!

Yours sincerely
Claudia Ricarda Meyer
Chancellor