“We’re staying on the safe side”

With the Federal Council now lifting all coronavirus measures (with the exception of self-quarantine and the requirement to continue to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare settings), ETH Zurich is returning to largely unrestricted operations effective immediately. “We are staying on the safe side for the first few weeks, however,” says Vice President Ueli Weidmann, head of the Crisis Management team, in reference to the new measures that go into effect at the beginning of the semester.

Continuing caution

“Even though Omicron infections are now part of everyday life and are no longer a big threat for most people, we still need to prevent entire teams from becoming infected at the same time,” says Weidmann. Due to the ongoing high rate of infection, there is the risk that university operations could be impaired if all 30,000 or so members of the ETH community return to campus at the same time without protective measures. “Protecting vulnerable individuals from infection also remains important to the Executive Board,” says Weidmann.

For this reason, a mask mandate remains in place for those spending time in a particular room: at the workplace, in meetings, in lecture halls and in seminar rooms. Activities that are not required for operations or studies, such as attending events and drinks receptions or using the ASVZ sports facilities, are no longer subject to coronavirus safeguards, in line with the rest of Switzerland. However, for the time being, drinks receptions and events without masks may only be held in rooms that can be sectioned off or outdoors.

Indoor mask mandate – with important exceptions

In order to prevent excessive infections and to protect vulnerable individuals, there is still a general mask mandate in place indoors at ETH Zurich. However, there are important exceptions in place that should help make the transition back to campus easier.

Masks can be removed at the workplace or student workspace if a personal distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained to one’s neighbours. There is of course no requirement to wear a mask when eating or drinking.

After-hours events and ASVZ facilities are also exempt from the mask requirement.

There are no changes regarding the mask requirement in the classroom: as a general rule, everyone is expected to wear a mask. Exception: teaching staff may remove their masks in lecture halls that are equipped with the relevant safeguards.

Back to campus – without a certificate

At the beginning of the semester, all buildings and rooms at ETH Zurich will be freely accessible without a COVID certificate, including libraries, museums, exhibitions and ASVZ facilities.

While students have long expected to be able to physically attend the Spring Semester, employees are now also being asked to work on site once again – at least for a few days per week at first.

“After nearly two years of mostly working from home, we need to get used to working together in person again, both mentally and from an organisational perspective,” says Weidmann. “This will take some time.” The Executive Board also wants to make sure that offices don’t fill up too quickly. The Board is asking employees to discuss and coordinate their on-site presence with their supervisors and teams. Staff are still urged to continue partially working from home for now.

Meetings, workshops and retreats vs events

Meeting rooms are no longer required to have at least four square metres per person. The only space requirement that remains in place is the minimum personal distance of 1.5 metres. This means that around every second seat can be occupied. There is still a requirement to wear a mask at meetings, workshops and retreats, and rooms must continue to be regularly ventilated.

For events that are not mandatory for working or studying, event organisers are responsible for deciding whether there is a mask requirement or whether all COVID safeguards can be lifted. It is now possible to holds drinks receptions again.

Next steps

The new rules are in place until further notice, which is likely until the Federal Council lifts the mask mandate in public transportation. “The ETH Crisis Management team is monitoring developments and case numbers and is in touch with the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force,” says Weidmann. According to Weidmann, one can assume that the situation will continue to calm down in the coming weeks.

“I hope that by the end of March at the latest, we will be able to transition to normal operations that are no longer permanently defined by the pandemic,” says Weidmann.