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

December 15, 2020
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.

Wearing of mouth-nose masks

• 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.

Strictly follow the hygiene regulations

• 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).

Social distancing

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

Permitted number of persons in areas at the CMMC Research Building

Rooms/laboratories at the same time depends on the size of the room (e.g. writing rooms, offices, social areas, lab areas and seminar rooms) - installed  Sept. 01, 2020. The areas are available to the staff members in the CMMC Research Building in compliance with the Covid-19 regulations (e.g. wearing of mouth-nose masks / social distance / hygiene rules).

Laboratory areas

• room size of about 15 m² = a maximum of two persons
• room size of about 25 m² = a maximum of three persons
• room size of about 50 m² = a maximum of six persons

Office space and writing rooms

• room size of about 18 m² = a maximum of two persons
• room size of about 25 m² = a maximum of three persons
• room size of about 36 m² = a maximum of four persons
• room size of about 50 m² = a maximum of six persons

Seminar Room and Mediathek
Since September 23, 2020 the seminar rooms are exclusively available for laboratory meetings of research groups located in the CMMC Research Building. 
This also means that all events of members or organisational units of the University Hospital or of non-CMMC research groups can no longer be held in the seminar rooms. We thank you for your understanding.

Lab Meeting

• room size of about 80 m² = a maximum of 14 persons
• room size of about 35 m² = a maximum of   5 persons

Writing areas in the big Seminar Room and the Mediathek
During the times when the seminar rooms are not occupied by Lab Meeting, the seminar rooms can be used as additional writing areas.
From September 30 onwards

• 6 writing places are available in the big Seminar Room, which can be used flexibly.
• in the Mediathek: 6 writing places are available, which are specifically assigned to specific research groups working groups in order to relieve the PhD and PostDoc writing areas.

If younhave further questions, please get in contact with Lisa Müller beforehand zmmk-koordinationsstelle[at]uni-koeln.de.

Social Rooms

• room size of about 16 m² = a maximum of  2 persons

CMMC members and health

• 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.

Scientific exchange and interaction

• 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)

Service of the central facilities

• If you require the service of the CMMC core facilities, please visit the following webpage for further information: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 network, ZKS, ethics committee, scientific core services, MedizinFotoKöln, etc.)

For research group leaders and heads of central facilities

• Please inform your staff of the risk of infection with the coronavirus. Inform your staff how they can protect themselves (see also 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 Dr. Claudia Herr (claudia.herr@uni-koeln.de)
• Traveling is not allowed until further notice. Please use the modern communication technologies instead.

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).