Masks, vaccinations and physical distancing
Under the City of Hamburg’s current regulations, wearing a mask is mandatory only in a few cases – for example, to protect vulnerable individuals or when a large number of people are together in a small space. Accordingly, masks continue to be mandatory in the buses and trains of Hamburg’s public transport system. Similarly, masks are required in the lifts at HAW Hamburg when these are being used by more than one person as they are difficult to air out properly. Surgical or FFP2 masks are also mandatory in many of the university laboratories since it is difficult to avoid close contact during the practical training units.
In addition to the booster vaccination, Prof. Dr. Ralf Reintjes, an epidemiologist in the Faculty of Life Sciences, recommends continuing to wear FFP2 masks in all university rooms: ‘As a doctor and epidemiologist, I can only encourage everyone to reduce their individual risk of infection as much as possible. In addition to getting a booster, this also means regularly wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and anywhere that lots of people are close together.’ He also recommends physical distancing for everyone’s protection.
Please note: The coronavirus-related rules can change over the course of the semester depending on how the rate of infection develops. You can find information about the current regulations and detailed FAQs on the Coronavirus Update page of the HAW Hamburg website.
