Coronavirus pandemic: ETH Zurich tightens rules
(Re-post from ETH Zurich Services & resources Internal news) In view of the rapid increase in the rate of COVID-19 infections, the Executive Board has responded to advice from the ETH COVID task force by tightening the measures for combating the spread of the virus at ETH Zurich. The facemask mandate will be extended further, drinks receptions and other social events are generally no longer allowed and working from home will once again become the preferred option.
The following measures will come into effect on Monday, 19 October:
Broader mask mandate
- Masks now required in all public indoor spaces, including at all student workplaces.
- No more exceptions to the mask mandate for certain buildings.
- Meetings are only allowed with masks or remote participation (or a combination of the two). This also applies to bilateral meetings such as HR meetings and consultations. Masks must still be worn when there are protective acrylic screens in place (added protection).
- The provisions of the teaching safety concept continue to apply to teaching activities.
Conduct in the workplace
- No personal contact between groups unless required due to operational procedures. This mainly relates to mealtimes and breaks.
- Members of different groups may attend meetings together when operations require, provided all applicable rules and measures are observed.
- A “group” is an organisationally discrete entity such as a professorship, a section within an administrative department, etc.
- Any ETH member showing signs of illness is obliged to stay at home until they have been symptom-free for one day.
Working from home
- Renewed emphasis on working from home: working in the office at ETH no longer the rule, should rather be restricted to operationally necessary activities. No restrictions on experimental research.
- Supervisors can require their employees’ presence in the workplace if it is necessary for internal processes or decision-making.
- Supervisors will take measures to ensure that operations can continue if quarantine measures become necessary (e.g. splitting into teams that work in rotations, shift work, etc.).
- Individual solutions should be implemented for staff who belong to a risk group (as defined by the Federal Office of Public Health) and/or who live in specific high-risk situations; supervisors will support employees in this.
Additional measures
- General ban on drinks receptions at ETH Zurich, applies to the entire ETH Zurich premises, indoors and out, including non-public areas.
- Strong recommendation not to hold Christmas dinners, no financial support for such events.
- Expectation that members of ETH Zurich conduct themselves responsibly outside the university as well.
- The Executive Board urgently recommends the SwissCovid app to all ETH members.
“We are aware that these measures seem very strict. But given the rapid spread of the pandemic, we want to do everything we can to contain a second wave within the university.”Ueli Weidmann, ETH Zurich Vice President
He stresses that ETH is still a relatively safe place. The task force knows of 83 ETH members who have tested positive for the virus to date, around half of them students. The current situation in Switzerland is nevertheless a cause of major concern for the Executive Board. “Our highest goal is to ensure that in-person teaching can continue up to end of the semester, if at all possible,” says Weidmann. An extensive closure of the university should be avoided.
For the full article, please visit the ETH Services & resources Internal news webpage.