Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Measures at the CMMC

Due to the current improvement of the Corona situation, the Executive Board of the University Hospital Cologne and the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Medicine lift the general ban on business travel effective June 1, 2021 and would like to point out to all employees that when returning from business trips from abroad (especially from high incidence or virus-variant areas), not only the applicable federal and state regulations, but also the testing and quarantine regulations established by the University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine by the Executive Board and the Dean's Office must be observed. These regulations can be found on the intranet at FAQ Coronavirus.

Travel / Vacation
Please note that in terms of bans and quarantine regulations after returning from abroad the regulations of the University Hospital are valid for all people working at the CMMC.  
For your summer vacation planning, we kindly ask you to check whether it is safe to travel to your chosen destination. It is requested that you do not travel to areas that have already been designated by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) as a risk area, high incidence area or virus variant area at the time of your departure.
According to the new Coronavirus Entry Regulation – Corona Einreise Verordnung (valid since May 12, 2021 until June 30, 2021) the following requirements now apply to UKK employees:
- If you suffer from COVID-19 like symptoms, after returning from vacation, please stay at home and consult your family doctor in order to obtain a sick note. When you are symptom-free you can have a PCR-test taken at the Infection Protection Center at the University Hospital of Cologne. You are only allowed to return to work if your PCR-Test is negative.
In case that no symptoms are detected after returning from vacation, please follow the instructions of the University Hospital, which vary depending on the area visited (risk, high incidence or virus variant area). Please find the exact procedure here: https://medfak.uni-koeln.de/en/corona.

Due to the high number of infections, we ask you to give your team members, if possible, the option to work from home.
This procedure is in accordance with the instructions of Professor Gereon Fink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (University of Cologne) and Professor Edgar Schöming, Medical Director of the University Hospital Cologne.
These measures are aimed at reducing the number of people on campus to the lowest possible level - especially when the recommended social distancing is difficult or impossible to maintain.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Best regards
Debora Grosskopf-Kroiher - debora.grosskopf-kroiher[at]uni-koeln.de

During the past months all members and guests have made significant contribution to limiting the consequences of the corona pandemic on the Campus of the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital Cologne.
Even though the frightening dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 new infections could be broken in March, the infection rate has gone up again.
The prevention measures against SARS-CoV-2 previously taken by the University Hospital Cologne and the Faculty of Medicine remain in force and unabridged:
•    no gatherings
•    use of mouth-nose masks is mandatory
•    general hygiene and distance rules
•    ban on business trips
•    resource-saving handling of disposable materials

Since April 15, 2020 and considering the update from October 23, 2020 the Medical Director of the University Hospital Cologne and the Rector of the University of Cologne forwarded following measures/regulations. These regulations are implemented at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne.

For further questions about the working conditions in the CMMC Research Building

• Please contact Dr. Debora Grosskopf-Kroiher (debora.grosskopf-kroiher[at]uni-koeln.de) or Dr. Claudia Herr (claudia.herr@uni-koeln.de).

• The wearing of a mouth-nose mask is obligatory in the CMMC Research Building, on the entire Campus of Medical Faculty / University Hospital Cologne.
• Wearing masks applies also to outdoor areas and areas within buildings including offices and laboratories (regardless of the size of the room).
• If CMMC members arrive at or leave the campus together the wearing of masks is mandatory.
• For CMMC members working in the CMMC Research Building a given number of masks per person will be provided at the reception desk.

• Follow the hygiene rules to avoid possible infection by taking a few simple measures, you can protect yourself and help to protect others against Covid-19 infection - www.infektionsschutz.de
• Regular and thorough hand washing, cleaning of surfaces, ventilation of rooms and offices
• Regular disinfection of laboratory equipment, tables etc. as well as door handles
• Disinfectant where there is no opportunity to wash hands regularly.
• The Central Hospital Hygiene Department (Zentrale Krankenhaushygiene) of the University Hospital Cologne headed by Dr. Zweigner will be happy to answer any questions from scientific staff (phone 0221 478-81317 or - 81318).

• A minimum distance of 1.5 meters between each other, even during breaks is mandatory.

• 48 hours regulation: CMMC members with flu-like symptoms must not return to work until at least 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared.
• 14 days quarantine regulation: CMMC members who have had contact with people infected with SARS-CoV-2 must stay at home for 14 days.
• Please stay at home if you are not sure e.g. in case of suspicion or illness.
• CMMC members who are affected in one or the other way by the COVID-19 situation and are therefore psychologically stressed, please contact: psychosomatik[at]uk-koeln.de.

• Web based video meetings are obligatory for all group meetings, seminars etc.
• Until Sept. 30, 2020 internal or external face-to-face events (e.g. seminars, workshops) are not allowed beyond the university’s regular lectures and seminars in accordance with the decision of the federal and state governments that major events will remain prohibited until 31 August, 2020
• Web based seminars are obligatory. The CMMC is changing the Seminar Series accordingly.
• If you need assistance in setting up the digital communication, please get in contact with Konstantin Belostoski (konstantin.belostotski[at]uni-koeln.de)

If you require service of the CMMC core facilities, please visit the following webpage for further informatio n: https://www.cmmc-uni-koeln.de/core-facilities/overview

Please also visit the webpages of the central facilities from which you need support (e.g. animal facility netw ork, ZKS, ethics committee, scientific core services, MedizinFotoKöln, etc.)

• Please inform your staff of the risk of infection with the coronavirus and how they can protect themselves (see https://www.infektionsschutz.de/)
• Continue to allow work from home when possible.
• Advise your team members that meetings with external visitors should be avoided until further notice.
• Internships for Master Students are allowed. A confirmation from the CMMC Office is required. Please get in contact with Claudia Herr (claudia.herr[at]uni-koeln.de)