Working from home no longer compulsory

“Following the government’s easing of restrictions, we are now able to offer our employees a little more flexibility, and we can open up university buildings,” says ETH Vice President Ulrich Weidmann, summarising the main thrust of the new master plan passed by the Executive Board. The new rules take effect from 7 June 2021, to allow enough time for the measures to be rolled out and to make sure all ETH members are informed. The new regulations will provisionally apply up to the beginning of July.

Remote working still recommended

“If you are comfortable working from home, you should continue to do so,” stresses Weidmann, who heads the ETH Covid-19 Task Force. In particular, anyone for who feels more motivated and works more efficiently when on site can now come to campus. Even so, existing rules still apply: at least 10 m² space per person, maintaining a physical distance of 1.5 metres and compulsory face masks in the workplace if there is more than one person in the room. Furthermore, these rules continue to apply to all ETH members already working or studying on campus because they need to be on site for operational reasons or require the local infrastructure for their work.

ETH testing programme allows working on site

The latest move has been made possible by the CoVMass testing programme launched by ETH in April. Anyone visiting an ETH campus at least once a week is asked to sign up to the programme and take a weekly PCR saliva test. Alternatively, they can visit a pharmacy and take a rapid antigen test. This rule also applies to ETH members already working or studying on site. Exemptions are for people who have recovered from Covid within the past six months or those who are fully immunised, in other words those whose second vaccination was at least 14 days ago.

“We see June as something of a transition phase for employees during which supervisors can only require them to work on site due to operational necessity,” Weidmann says. Rotas and shifts should be introduced to optimise the use of laboratories and workshops as much as possible.

Buildings reopen in principle

The campus will become far livelier now restrictions have been eased. All buildings will therefore reopen from 7 June onwards, with the same opening hours as before the pandemic. However, heads of department or sections can request closure of individual buildings as long as no oral or written examinations are being held there. It will then only be possible to access these buildings with an ETH card.

Face masks are still compulsory in all ETH buildings and outdoor spaces. They may only be removed when eating at a table or working in a room alone. In catering facilities, the new government rules set a maximum limit of six people per table outdoors and four indoors. Seating capacities in these facilities will be continuously adjusted to match demand. The latest information can be found on the Gastronomy website.

Students barely affected by the changes

When it comes to teaching, the new master plan changes very little, as lectures end on 4^th June. The complementary in-person teaching options introduced in many departments are subject to the new looser government regulations.

Rules for examinations – especially ongoing end-of-semester exams – are still those set down in the Safety Concept for Teaching, Spring Semester 2021. All participants attending face-to-face events must follow the relevant precautions set down in the safety protocol for teaching.

Campus life: events and sports activities

The only events currently permitted are institutional events that are important for the university as a whole, academic events, and events organised by students that can take place in compliance with the applicable rules. Participants must wear face masks and observe physical distancing of 1.5 metres. The maximum number of people for indoor events is now 100, with no more than 50 percent of room capacity occupied. The maximum number of people for outdoor events is 300 people, occupying no more than 50 percent of total capacity. Guided tours are now permitted indoors and outdoors, subject to a maximum of 50 people.

Under government regulations, no standing drink receptions are allowed yet, including after events. However, ETH gastronomy firms offer catering options in accordance with the government rules mentioned earlier.

Finally, ASVZ can step up its sports activities, with fitness/training sessions of up to 50 people. They can already start to expand their offering on Monday 31 May. Up-to-date information can be found on the external pageASVZ websitecall_made.

As mentioned earlier, all other changes come into effect on 7 June. “The Executive Board is delighted that our mass testing programme lets us take another step towards a new normality,” says Covid-19 Task Force leader Weidmann. Although the current situation only permits a slight easing of restrictions, he is convinced that more steps will follow soon, not least as more and more ETH members get their vaccinations.