Ready to fight a potential second wave

Reacting quickly to cases of infection

"We're relying on the cooperation of everyone at ETH to achieve these goals," explains Weidmann. In this case, cooperation mainly refers to following physical distancing and hygiene rules as well as using the contact tracing app, which the Executive Board strongly recommends to all members of the ETH community. "It is extremely critical for us to be able to detect outbreaks as early as possible in order to limit the damage in case a second wave hits," says Weidmann. This would also apply to individual cases of infection at ETH, he says, which is why he calls upon members of the ETH community to act responsibly: "If you feel sick, stay at home, and if you have symptoms of infection, get tested immediately." But what steps should you take if you find yourself potentially falling ill?

The Safety, Security, Health and Environment department has issued guidelines on how to proceed in cases of infection. The guidelines cover who has to inform whom and when, which measures should be taken, and how contact tracing works in practice.

For Weidmann, it is important not to stigmatise members of the ETH community who become sick. "Our safety protocols are based on probability considerations," he explains. "No one is immune from getting infected." It's a time that calls for an empathetic approach, even if cases of infection have consequences for the groups around them.

Plan B in detail

If cantonal or municipal authorities conclude that a second wave is developing on ETH’s premises, the university would activate plan B. The plan envisages that members of the ETH community would consistently work in small defined groups that are mostly prohibited from coming into contact with other groups. Other measures include mandatory mask policies for certain groups or buildings, smaller groups that rotate in and out of the workplace, and an increase in mandatory working-from-home arrangements. Meetings are to be held digitally again and substitution rules are to be defined for all relevant functions. The departments and managers of central functions are making preparations to ensure that these measures can be activated without delay. If an infection does occur at ETH Zurich, it would be possible to determine who might be impacted – meaning that only a small group of people would have to go into quarantine as per cantonal regulations. Closing ETH Zurich would not be necessary.

"If the situation takes a drastic turn for the worse, we will be forced to go back one stage in the current master plan and reactivate earlier measures," says Weidmann. "Of course, you always have to be prepared for the possibility of cantonal or federal authorities issuing new regulations, and that's another situation where we need to be able to respond immediately." The COVID-19 task force is keeping a watchful eye on developments at home and abroad. Weidmann says that the ETH community has shown great responsibility and commitment to observing the rules. "If we continue on this path, we can work together to avoid the kind of tragic situation that would be triggered by a superspreader event at ETH," he says.