Corona pandemic: Current developments and regulations at the h_da

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At the end of last week, the Hessian state government passed far-reaching binding regulations on pandemic preparedness, which also concern the restriction of university operations. At this place, all members of the university will always find the current regulations that apply to them.

On April 20, teaching at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) and the other universities in the state of Hesse will begin with digital services. This can be read in a letter from Angela Dorn, Hesse's Minister of State for Science and Art (HMWK), and the presidents of the universities. In the course of the semester, depending on official regulations, attendance events will probably take place again. Here you can find the complete letter as pdf.

Update

Students can download an RMV replacement ticket with the current certificate of enrolment 2020 in QIS (certificate in German), which is valid until 30.04.20. Further information is available at: www.h-da.de/campuscard

Revalidation of the Campuscard is currently not possible on campus, as the buildings concerned are closed. The AStA, the Student Service Center and IT Services and Applications had therefore advocated the alternative solution that has now been found.

From Friday, March 20, 18:00, students are no longer permitted to stay on the premises of the Hochschule Darmstadt for the time being. Students are only allowed to stay on the premises of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in cases of particular hardship upon written invitation by a university employee. The same applies to all guests of the university. They also require a written invitation from a university employee to enter the h_da-Campus. This prohibition to stay applies to the buildings and outdoor areas at all locations of the university.

The university management has enforced the residence ban on Friday afternoons in order to reduce the risk of infection among students and to reduce the probability of infection, especially among older persons. This far-reaching and additional restriction of university operations had become necessary because an updated assessment of the situation had found an insufficiently reduced risk of infection among students on campus. Although presence tests had already been suspended on the previous days and individual laboratories and refectories had been closed, too many students were still staying in groups on campus in the following days, in view of the pandemic containment measures.

For h_da employees, the ban on staying at the university locations expressly does not apply. The instruction of the state government to maintain basic operations at the Hessian universities still applies. This basic operation serves primarily to prepare for the coming lecture period.

In view of the dynamic developments in pandemic containment, the h_da is preparing to organize the courses in the summer semester, if possible, largely without the presence of students in university buildings, using various techniques of distance learning. The necessary conditions are currently being created under high pressure. See also the announcement on digital teaching of 20 March.

Following the imposition of a curfew for Bavaria, the university management is already preparing for possible further restrictions on freedom of movement in Hesse as a precautionary measure. In the coming days, employees will receive official certificates for their professional activity at the h_da. These certificates should enable them to prove to the police that they have to travel to work in case of a curfew.

From Thursday, 19 March, the buildings on the Darmstadt and Dieburg campuses will be open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. Elevators will be gradually put into operation from 7 a.m. in the morning and gradually shut down from 4 p.m. in the afternoon. The restricted opening hours of the university are necessary to continue to guarantee traffic safety during the above-mentioned time range. For individual buildings, such as the atrium or the hydraulic engineering hall, the respective departments have already implemented restrictions for students. These buildings will remain closed. Employees still have access to the buildings via their keys/transponders.

The Student Service Center is not personally available until further notice. Please use the alternative contact options provided on the university website, such as telephone or the contact form. Applications such as de-registration, leave of absence or similar can currently only be made by post or e-mail (info@h-da.de).

The Student Service Center hotline is available during normal opening hours at 06151.16-33333.

The General Student Advisory Service has expanded its telephone reachability: h-da.de/beratung. You can reach the Student Advisory Service by e-mail at info@h-da.de.

Unfortunately, there are currently technical problems with answering mails that reach us via Microsoft mail accounts, for example Hotmail. We therefore ask you to contact us via alternative mail accounts if possible or by phone at 06151-16-33333.

The provisions in detail:

• Returning students from risk areas defined by the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) are requested to undergo a 14-day preventive home self quarantine - regardless of symptoms - and to return to university only after the assured absence of symptoms. This applies in particular to persons who were or are in contact with a person suffering from the virus. Of course, h_da members with fever, cough or shortness of breath are generally expected to seek medical advice and to stay away from the university in order not to infect others.

• Research and development, library and administration of the universities should be maintained. Employees of these respective areas who have to care for children at home or who belong to the risk group due to previous illnesses, chronic stress, a weakening of their immune system or an age of over 60 years are asked to carry out their work from home as far as possible. Executives are encouraged to consider whether other employees can also work from home.

• State further education and training events as well as scientific and other public conferences and events with a presence character at the scientific institutions in Hesse should be cancelled for the summer semester. Employees of the State of Hesse do not attend external further education events either. Participation in the respective events have to cancelled.

• All travel by students, scientists and researchers and employees of the scientific institutions to countries that are designated as risk areas by the RKI is suspended. Please refer to the RKI website for current information on which areas are included:

  https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete.html

  Cancellation fees for business trips already booked by employees will be reimbursed without further justification or proof.

• For all other business trips of employees, executives and employees themselves have to check responsibly in each individual case whether the business trip is absolutely necessary. Alternative means of communication, such as video and telephone switching conferences, are to be examined with priority. If a business trip is unavoidably necessary, the business trip should, if possible, be carried out in a company car without passengers or in a private car. The use of public transport should be avoided.

• All employees who have a notebook or other mobile device for business purposes must take these devices home at the end of the working day.

• In order to reduce the risk of infection, children are not to be brought to the university.

• Internships during the course of study should be subject to an individual risk assessment. A corresponding detailed regulation is in preparation.

In order to react to the developments concerning the spread of the corona virus, a coordinating staff meets regularly at the h_da under the direction of the university management and the department of safety and environment. It is particularly important to protect the health of the people at the h_da.

The university management is aware that the measures taken are restrictive, but they are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus and to protect people at risk.

For employees of the university, the instructions of the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art, which are to be found on the intranet, apply.

As a protective measure - also against the flu - the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs continues to recommend simple hygiene measures:

• cough or sneeze in the crook of your arm,
• use disposable tissues and dispose of them after each use,
• avoid shaking hands,
• thorough and regular hand washing,
• do not touch the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes with your hands
  (for example, after holding on to handles in buses or using door handles that are touched by many),
• disinfect mobile phones, tablets etc. regularly,
• always use your own dishes and cutlery
• and as always in the cold season, avoid crowds if possible.
  
  Further information: https://soziales.hessen.de/

The RKI website contains well prepared and continuously updated information on the coronavirus in general, including an FAQ with frequently asked questions on the subject: https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQ/NCOV2019/FAQ_Liste.html.

The Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration has also set up an information page: soziales.hessen.de/gesundheit/infektionsschutz/coronavirus-sars-cov-2.