Coronavirus
update Coronavirusupdate

The City of Hamburg's Covid-19 regulations and the SARS‑CoV‑2 occupational safety ordinance expired at the beginning of 2023. The coronavirus-related measures under the federal Law on the Prevention of Infection Transmission were also rescinded as of 2 February 2023, earlier than originally planned. Accordingly, the HAW Hamburg Hygiene Plan, which outlined the university-specific preventative measures, is no longer in effect.

The expiry of the transmission-prevention measures means that the isolation requirement for individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus is no longer in effect. Accordingly, the university is no longer entitled to enquire whether an individual is infected with the virus.

Nevertheless, we ask that wherever possible those individuals who have tested positive do not enter university facilities. Employees who have tested positive but are still able to work will be given the opportunity to work from home. Students with a coronavirus infection will also be provided with course materials for study at home.

In those cases where the infection results in an inability to work, a written doctor's note needs to be submitted to the Personnel Department following the third day that the individual is ill.

The decision to wear a mask for protection is a personal one and lies with each individual. The remaining supply of masks at the university is available for use. Additional purchases of masks by the university are not planned.

In specific working or teaching situations where there is a higher risk of transmission than in the general population, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine which protective measures are necessary.

Employees who are working on campus can use tests from the university's existing supply. As previously, these can be picked up from the usual distribution locations on campus. The City of Hamburg is not planning to order additional rapid antigen self-tests centrally.

In all HAW Hamburg buildings, the conditions are in place to maintain the basic hygiene and preventative measures. This means that hand disinfectant is available at all building entrances and that rooms should be aired out on a regular basis. The duration, type and frequency of airing out depends on the ventilation possibilities, the length of the event and how the room is being used.

In rooms with windows, it is recommended that the space be aired out several times per hour at regular intervals by completely opening the windows. Rooms with technical ventilation systems do not need to be aired out via the windows.