Hygiene guidelines

This applies in particular to: laboratory courses, sports courses, fine arts courses (theatre, music, art education) and field trips. Conducting practical classes and research activities in special laboratory or work rooms including workshops at FAU must follow the practical guidelines that you will find on the Occupational Safety website (accessible from the FAU network and by VPN). All other face-to-face teaching is still not allowed.

If you would like to hold a practical class, please complete the form included in the practical guidelines from the Occupational Safety website which must also be signed by the individual responsible and send it via email to your Occupational Safety representative. Your representative will contact you should they require further details.

Occupational Safety have prepared practical guidelines for carrying out examinations requiring attendance in person. You can find these guidelines on the Occupational Safety website (accessible from the FAU network and via VPN). In the appendix to the practical guidelines, you can find detailed information on topics such as basic standards, operational procedures, and recommendations on when and how to wear masks.

As of 25 May 2020, you must notify the Examinations Office before holding an examination or making written examinations available for inspection (by larger groups). Detailed information is available on the websites of the Examinations Offices.

Wherever possible, a minimum distance of 1.5 m between two individuals must be observed. The minimum distance applies at all times both in regular operational activities and during examinations and practical courses, insofar as these are permissible according to the above provisions. The minimum distance must also be observed in communal areas such as corridors and other access routes, when entering and exiting rooms and buildings.

Where this is not possible by implementing organisational measures, alternative protective measures must be taken. Transparent protective barriers must be installed in offices open to the public such as information and lending desks and, if possible, also to protect workplaces where the minimum protective distance cannot otherwise be ensured. In cases of doubt where the minimum distance cannot be safely maintained, face coverings must be worn that cover the mouth and nose.

Employees must work from home wherever possible at the discretion of the university management. Work on the university premises must be organised in such a way that multiple occupancy of rooms is avoided or sufficient protective distances are maintained (for example by using all available space).

Particularly during examinations and meetings, the size and equipment of the room (e.g. arrangement of the chairs and tables) must be selected in such a way that the minimum distance can be maintained, depending on the number of participants. If seats are to remain vacant in teaching rooms, these should be blocked off and the available seating indicated.

Update of 7 May 2020

Following a request for clarification to the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts on 7 May 2020, the requirement of providing a specific effective area per person in a room may be waived. However, the minimum distance of 1.5m which is set out in infection prevention regulations must be ensured at all times.

All individuals are requested to wash their hands regularly and observe coughing and sneezing etiquette (into the elbow) to reduce the risk of infection. Further information can be provided by Occupational Safety.

The university must ensure that there is sufficient opportunity for washing or disinfecting hands during work, examinations and practical courses, depending on local conditions and the expected number of people. In sanitary areas and laboratories, cleaning material and disposable towels must be provided in sufficient quantities. The minimum distance of 1.5 m must also be observed in sanitary areas.

Tools and work equipment must only be used by one particular person wherever possible. Where this is not possible, regular cleaning must be carried out, in particular before handing tools and work equipment to other persons. Otherwise, suitable protective clothing such as gloves must be used.

The university must ensure that rooms and work equipment are cleaned and disinfected regularly, if necessary several times a day, depending on the use and number of users. This applies in particular to working areas for examinations and practical courses, which are used in short succession by several participants. A cleaning schedule must be defined based on the type and extent of use of the working area.

Rooms that are constantly occupied by individuals must be ventilated regularly (guideline: ventilate rooms every 45 minutes for five minutes, if this is not already ensured by technical measures).

Public access to university buildings and offices, especially by students, must be reduced as far as possible. If possible, public access should be replaced by telephone, postal or electronic communication (for example e-mail). This applies in particular to consultation hours, enrolment, applications and the submission of work and forms.

If attendance in person is nevertheless absolutely necessary, this should only be done by prior appointment in order to avoid unnecessary social contact. Appointments must be scheduled in such a way that there are no waiting times or gatherings of people in waiting areas.

Permitted events (for example examinations) should be separated from each other as far as possible in terms of time and location to avoid unnecessary social contact, such as between participants at the end of an examination.

Waiting areas must be provided with appropriate markings (e.g. floor markings), notices and/or barriers to facilitate compliance with the distancing rules. This also applies to locations and routes where experience has shown that people gather. Even if the minimum distance of 1.5 m is observed, no more than ten individuals are permitted in waiting areas or queues.

In the case of permitted events in which a greater number of people is to be expected (e.g. examinations), the university must ensure through organisational measures (e.g. additional stewarding staff, barriers, markings, etc.) that the minimum distance of 1.5 m is also ensured before and during entry or exit and that individuals do not remain unnecessarily on site following the end of the event.

Infected individuals, in particular those with symptoms of respiratory illnesses or with non-specific general symptoms, may not take part in examinations and practical courses.

The same applies to individuals who had contact in the last 14 days with another individual diagnosed with COVID-19 (contact persons of category I and II)

If these symptoms appear whilst you are self-isolating, please immediately phone a doctor in order to discuss the next steps.

• Information for sick employees/suspected cases
• FAU Occupational Medical Service

People with a higher risk of developing severe illness (at-risk groups according to the Robert Koch Institute) are recommended to take sufficient measures to protect themselves. This may include wearing respiratory protection at the required protection level.

Advice from the Occupational Medical Service

FAU Occupational Medical Service – BÄD

www.baed.fau.de

All members of the university are responsible for ensuring that the above guidelines are actually complied with in the area for which they are responsible. This applies in particular to managers, committee leaders, examiners and teaching staff.

This also includes the responsibility to inform the relevant persons (e.g. participants in examinations and practical courses) in an appropriate manner about regulations on infection prevention applicable within their own area.

The FAU crisis team has discussed the pros and cons of using disinfectant in great detail over the course of several meetings, consulting with scientific experts and involving the FAU medical officer Prof. Dr. Klaus Schmid in discussions.

At the end of the day, we have decided not to supply or use disinfectant dispensers on FAU premises. The reasons are as follows:

Routes of transmission

According to our medical experts, the most important route of transmission is droplet infection, during which coronavirus pathogens are shed by infected people in droplets which are expelled when coughing and sneezing (and to a lesser extent also when speaking), remain suspended in the air, and are then breathed in by someone else.

This explains why it is so important that a distance of 1.5m is kept between individuals at all times. A face covering ought to be worn whenever it is not possible to keep this distance apart.

The novel coronavirus cannot enter the body through the skin on your hands. The virus can only lead to an infection if it comes into contact with mucous membranes in the mouth, nose or eyes.

Hand hygiene

According to our experts, consistent hand hygiene (washing regularly using soap and water, in particular before eating, drinking and smoking; avoiding touching your face) is sufficient outside the hospital.
A sufficient number of handwashing facilities are available in all FAU buildings. Hand disinfection is therefore only necessary in instances when you are unable to wash your hands with soap and water, for example before eating (if you are working away from home or outside the office, for example)

Cleaning

G5 is monitoring the situation closely and ensuring that highly frequented sanitary facilities, terminals and public workspaces (in particular examination rooms) are cleaned well and regularly, and that soap and hand towels are available in toilet facilities at all times. Common cleaning products containing detergents are sufficient for cleaning purposes.

If you have any reason to complain, please send an e-mail to

• zuv-g5-reinigung@fau.de (during usual working hours)
• leitwarte@fau.de (outside of working hours).

Printable templates for notices and posters on hygiene regulations are available in the appendix to the practical guidelines published by Occupational Safety (accessible from the FAU network or via VPN).