FAU Corona regulations, Home office and E-Learning at the DCP
What to do now?
Despite the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) restrictions the Administration office DCP and the SSC Chemistry/Molecular Science are working. Here we will provide general information for all our colleagues at DCP.
Some information is only accessible in the intranet; you need a VPN access and your access data.
How to install the VPN Access?
https://www.anleitungen.rrze.fau.de/internet-zugang/vpn/
Using VPN you can access the intranet and the server of the department. For support, please contact the RRZE.
Webinars and Video conferences
FAU has set up a programme aimed at providing all teaching staff at FAU with the support they need quickly. An application form is available at schnell-digital.fau.de. We would urge you to make the most of this Service. The page schnell-digital.fau.de offers a lot of useful information for moving to digital teaching and preparing for a semester without face-to-face teaching.
The RRZE can also offer you a ZOOM coaching session to help you switch over to online teaching as quickly as possible. Experienced colleagues at FAU are available to walk you through the basic functions of the software live in a ZOOM meeting. You can cover any questions you have during the 30 minute video conference, and then you should be able to start straightaway with your first session. Book an appointment.
In addition, the Innovation in Learning Institute (ILI) and RRZE recommend using either Jitsi or Eyeson as an alternative to congested Adobe Connect on DFN servers. Information can also be found on StudOn (in German).
General staff regulations and information on teaching/learning related to Corona are provided by the administration of the FAU and are updated by them. Please address questions and concerns, which are relevant for everybody at the FAU to corona-informationen@fau.de and in CC to dcp@fau.de.
FAU’s general regulations
2G/3G-regulations (Update: April 25, 2022)
Working at home and working on site (Update: March 28, 2022)
Please read the following information: https://www.fau.eu/corona/work/#homeoffice
In view of the current situation, managers can offer and approve the option of working from home for their staff directly, taking the need to maintain operations and data protection considerations into account. The SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Safety Directive entails more bureaucracy, for example as regards officially offering, accepting and rejecting the option to work remotely. In particular, reasons for a refusal are subject to strict requirements. Occupational Safety has therefore drawn up a document referred to as the ‘SAFETY CARD Homeoffice’ which will make it easier to ensure that everything is documented correctly. We recommend that managers fill this in together with their employees.
Please note that any documents taken out of the office must be transported in a closed container or closed bag and must be stored securely to prevent unauthorised access by third parties, including family members, whenever you are not currently working on them, for example in a lockable cupboard.
There is currently no general obligation to work on site.
Obligation to wear masks at FAU (April 25, 2022)
The obligation to wear face masks shall continue to apply in university buildings (indoors and in public areas). Surgical masks are the minimum. However, we recommend wearing an FFP2 mask to keep yourself safe. The mask can be removed once the minimum distance of 1.5m to other people can be maintained at all times (whilst seated, standing or at your desk). Further information is available under the headings Basic protective measures/ Obligation to wear a mask.
Guidelines on entry from international high incidence areas, virus variant areas and other risk areas (Update: April 25, 2022)
Please read the following information: https://www.fau.eu/corona/work/#high-risk-areas
Important: A country or region can be declared a risk area at short notice. The list of risk areas is updated on a daily basis and therefore needs to be checked by travelers prior to departure on the website of RKI https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html.
Please check the entry requirements and regulations regarding self-isolation again before departure, as it is constantly being updated!
Identifying the relevant health authority
The relevant health authority can be found by following the link https://tools.rki.de/plztool/. Please enter the zip code of your address in Germany to find the relevant health authority.
After entering Germany
Travelers need to go to their apartment or other fitting accommodation immediately and without delay and isolate themselves for the time necessary. This means that no visitors can come by. Entering shops or restaurants on your way to your accommodation is not permitted. Public transportation can be used to get to the place of self-isolation. Please also respect the obligation to wear FFP2 filter masks in all vulnerable settings such as doctors’ offices, hospitals and nursing homes and in public transportation in Germany. A minimum distance of 1.5 meters needs to be kept from any person that is not living in the same household.
Where can a second test be taken if necessary?
A test can be taken in one of the test centres or through doctors-on call (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst). Please call 116117 to make an appointment if necessary.
During self-isolation
Please note that you are not permitted to enter university premises during the period of self-isolation. It is your own responsibility to organise supplies for whilst you are in self-isolation. FAU cannot provide you with supplies during the self-isolation period.
In case of symptoms and or illness
In case you show symptoms of an infection with the Sars-CoVid-2 virus (throat ache, cough, a cold, joint pain, fever, pain while breathing or loss of the sense of smell or taste) you need to contact the relevant health authorities and can contact the phone number 116117 (doctor’s-on call). They can advise you on what to do and point you to a test center or general practitioner if necessary.
Violations of the regulations for entry from areas of risk
The relevant authorities have the right to check if the regulations are being adhered to. Violations of the regulations in force on entry from areas of risk may be fined.
Entry into buildings and to facilities of FAU
Entry into the buildings and facilities of FAU is only possible after the self-isolation period has ended.
Further Information
Extension of the shutdown measures
Further information can be found here – https://www.stmi.bayern.de/miniwebs/coronavirus/faq/index.php
Obligation to wear FFP2 filter masks
FFP2 filter masks are mandatory when using public transportation as well as in all vulnerable settings such as doctors’ offices, hospitals and nursing homes. They should be bought prior to arrival in Germany. FFP2 masks in general are available in pharmacies, retail stores such as “dm”, “Rossmann”, and “Müller“, or on the internet.
Availability via telephone
Please ensure that you can be reached by telephone and email by the Central International Office. Please fill in a valid phone number into our online platform Mobility Online so that you can be reached by the Central International Office. The relevant health authorities will need to contact you, if necessary. Please ensure to be available via telephone and email and to pass on any changes in your contact details to the relevant units.
Recommended
Please bring enough cash (Euros) as well as a credit card with you so that you can do online shopping for food or order food during the time in self-isolation. These two supermarkets make online deliveries: Edeka and Rewe.
Additional information for students with accommodation in Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg
Self-isolation in your room or single-apartment rented from Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg is possible. Please note, that it is compulsory that shared rooms like the kitchen or bathrooms are only entered alone when no other tenant is there. After using the surfaces they all need to be cleaned with disinfectant (including door handles, light switches etc.). A joint usage of shared rooms is not possible during self-isolation.
Should you contract Sars-CoVid-2 yourself, please inform Studentenwerk.
Blanket and covers, sheets, pillows are not provided by the Studentenwerk. Therefore, we recommend students to bring their own sleeping bag and bedsheet or cover and blankets/pillows.
Students need to make an appointment with the care-taker about 2 weeks prior to arrival. Please inform yourself about the rules applicable for moving-in with the care-taker and wear a face-mask and respect the minimum distance of 1.5 meters when moving into your room or apartment.
Please also keep yourself updated on the information regarding the coronavirus published from FAU https://www.fau.de/corona/. Further information on the handling of the coronavirus and its impact on every day life can be found in different languages under https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/ib-de/amt-und-person/informationen-zum-coronavirus.
Regulations by FAU (please check on a regular base for updates)
FAQ on Homeoffice and E-Learning at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
The following FAQs is answering questions, which are relevant for our department and not covered by the central administration of the FAU.
How does COVID-19 affect me as an employee in the laboratory/office?
In view of the risk posed by the coronavirus COVID-19, the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy (DCP) has taken important measures. Each scientific area has designated a responsible contact person who is available for urgent questions regarding the closure of laboratories/offices. Please limit your inquiries – if possible – to the usual operating hours, unless exceptional circumstances require this.
The contact persons are:
- Inorganic chemistry: Christian Färber (christian.faerber@fau.de)
- Organic chemistry: Michael Brettreich (michael.brettreich@fau.de)
- Physical/theoretical chemistry: Guido Sauer (guido.sauer@fau.de)
- Pharmaceutical chemistry/food chemistry: Harald Hübner (harald.huebner@fau.de)
Above all, please inform your international employees about the current situation.
Regardless of the above measures, all employees who belong to the COVID 19 risk group should continue to have the opportunity to work from their home office as much as possible until further notice.
We will inform you about further developments as soon as they are available. Please check your e-mails regularly.
What do I have to consider in Bavaria due to COVID-19?
Here you can find the latest COVID-19 guidelines for travelers in English (and Chinese) from the Bavarian Ministry of Health:
www.stmgp.bayern.de/coronavirus/ and https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/en/.
Pregnant employees or students
Information on dealing with particularly vulnerable people (including pregnant women) is available on the information page for staff and the information page for students.
How do I work at home?
IT-safety: do not pass your access data to a third party.
Data protection: business data are only to be processed on your business computer. Due to the current situation there is a special arrangement for the data protection (official information only in German available). You are allowed to do research on your private computer.
A business laptop computer has to be provided by the working group, the recommended equipment is: VPN, mail (including the installment of function addresses), office programmes, FAUBox, browser, if possible a safe access to the file server of the FAU. In case an access to the file server of the FAU is not possible, documents which are needed to work on should be stored in the FAUBox, to have an access from home. All staff members working from home should check already in the office all necessary tools and options are working. Please make sure, you know all your necessary access data for the various tools, IdM, StudOn, mail, WordPress etc.
Please refer to the agreement on working from home for further information on regulations for working from home, available on our website.
What about teaching in the summer term?
The following shall apply to teaching in summer semester 2022, on the basis of the sixteenth Bavarian Regulation on Infection Prevention and Control Measures (16. BayIfSMV) of April 1, 2022 and the resolution passed by the Executive Board on 2 February 2022:
Face-to-face teaching will be the general rule for summer semester 2022. Accordingly, the 2G and 3G rules that have applied to date shall cease to apply with immediate effect. Despite the relaxation of certain measures, it remains clear that the pandemic is not over and it is important that our staff and students continue to feel safe in their places of work and study. FAU therefore urges you to act responsibly in your own interest and to be considerate of others at this time.
The following now applies to teaching (in addition to the general coronavirus hygiene guidance):
- Face-to-face teaching wherever possible.
- It must be ensured that students can continue to study their degree programs at all times (although not all classes may be available) despite individual or pandemic-related circumstances (such as quarantine, at-risk groups, travel restrictions)
- Although online courses that meet the highest educational quality standards may continue to be offered to complement face-to-face teaching, there is no entitlement to digital teaching.
Please read the information at https://www.fau.eu/corona/studying/
Under what circumstances can I hold exams, lectures or events on site?
All types of regular and special events are once more possible without any special restrictions/regulations apart from the internal FAU obligation to wear a mask. Organizers are responsible for implementing hygiene guidance such as keeping a distance, ventilation etc. It is no longer necessary to submit a hygiene concept in advance. Organizers will include the obligation to comply with all remaining hygiene guidance in the safety concept they are obliged to draw up for special events. For events that do not require a safety concept, the obligation to comply with all remaining hygiene guidance will be stated in the letter granting approval.
The latest information concerning examinations is available from the Examinations Office website.