Dear employees and guests,

The institute and campus management take the rapid spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 very seriously. As advised by our headquarters in Munich, we have decided to enhance our measures to help break the chains of infection and reduce the risk of uncontrolled contagion.

This requires us to reduce the number of people on the campus as much as possible. We are monitoring the situation daily and may adjust the following rules and guidelines in the coming days or weeks.

The following compulsory provisions apply:

• All employees who are able to do some or all of their work from home should do this work at home. Please follow the instructions from your supervisor about working from home.
• All seminars, meetings and visits of guests are to be canceled.
• Use of public spaces is only permitted alone, with one other person not living in the same household, or with members of one's own household. Citizens are urged to reduce contacts with people outside their own households to an absolute minimum
• In public, wherever possible, a minimum distance of two metres must be maintained between two people.
• It is important to comply with hygiene regulations and implement effective protective measures.
• You cannot bring any children to campus.
• Preparations for emergency operations on the campus should be made.

Please also note additional federal regulations which have been in force since March 23.

All previous conditions continue to apply:

• No business trips to risk areas will be approved. A continually updated list of these areas can be found on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (German).
• If you have returned from a risk area, stay home for 14 days from the date of your return, and, if you can, work from home.

  • Geographical risk areas (state of April 2, 2020):
    • Austria
    • Egypt
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Iran
    • Netherlands
    • South Korea: Daegue and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province (North Gyeongsang)
    • Spain
    • Switzerland
    • United Kingdom and North Ireland
    • USA
      
      

• If you notice viral symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat, breathing difficulties, cold etc.), call your doctor or an emergency room, before you visit the Institute, the doctor’s office or the emergency room in person.
• If you have had contact with people who have been in a risk area and suffer from viral symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat, breathing difficulties, cold, etc.), call your doctor or an emergency room, before you visit the Institute, the doctor’s office or the emergency room in person.
• Any employees, but especially those with chronic or serious illnesses and pregnant employees, may discuss with their supervisor whether they can work from home.
• Potential guests who are currently in a risk area and wish to visit our institute, must postpone their trip until further notice.
• We are unfortunately unable to accept visitors coming directly from risk areas in our guest house.

Employees who have had direct contact with someone known to have a Corona infection have to work from the home office for 14 days - regardless of whether they are showing any symptoms.

If you develop the symptoms described above during your presence at the institutes and belong to the risk group:

• Go home immediately observing the hygienic measures and consult your doctor or the offices set up for this purpose
• The Institute's 'company' doctors do not handle this condition. So please do not attempt to see them. Rather contact your own doctor or the emergency room.

Dealing with domestic and domesticated animals:

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute and the Robert Koch-Institute have so far not received any information from China or other affected countries that would suggest a special role of pets and livestock. Likewise, there is no evidence that pets, e.g. dogs and cats, are possible carriers.

With these measures, we hope that we can protect you as our valuable employees and guests.