News

There have been changes regarding the wearing of an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask, which we would like to summarise for you:

In the entrance areas, corridors and staircases of Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask must be worn. The same applies to the underground car park of the main building of the University of Applied Sciences.

One of the above-mentioned masks must also be worn during lectures, even if the minimum distance of 1.5 metres is maintained. However, courses with no more than 5 participants are an exception to this rule in consultation with the lecturer; the minimum distance of 1.5 metres must be observed.

The regulations for learning workplaces (as in the library) have not changed. This means that if the minimum distance is 1.5 metres, the wearing of an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask can be dispensed with; if the minimum distance is less than 1.5 metres, the wearing of an FFP2 mask or medical face mask is recommended. Exceptions to this rule are the learning workplaces in the corridors; here it is compulsory to wear an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask.

The following applies to oral examinations: If there is a minimum distance of 1.5 metres and a sufficiently large room, the wearing of an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask can be dispensed with. In written examinations, the wearing of an FFP2 mask or medical face mask can be dispensed with. It is strongly recommended to wear an FFP2 mask or medical face mask. Breathable FFP2 masks are provided for written examinations.

The current hygiene concept can be found under the following link (German only):
https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/hochschule/organisation/hochschulverwaltung/dezernat-gebaeudemanagement/aug/hygienekonzept-covid-19

Updated hygiene concept at Bielefeld UAS: From now on, the obligation to wear masks in Bielefeld UAS buildings will be waived if the minimum distance can be maintained.

Wearing an FFP2 mask or a medical face mask is now only required in the entrance areas, corridors and stairwells of the UAS if a minimum distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. The same applies to the underground car park of the main UAS building. However, wearing is still recommended even if the minimum distance is maintained.

There are currently no travel restrictions in place when entering Germany. This may change, so we kindly ask you to check up on the travel info you find published in your own country.

If you received a positive PCR test result, you need to remember there are two different sets of rules to follow: The ones of the City of Bielefeld(a) and the rules of our university(b).

a) Please find the guidelines for action in case of a corona infection here. This involves contacting people you met on campus in the days prior to your positive test result, but also letting our Occupational Safety and Health Protection Team know.

b) These are the duties you have with regards to the City of Bielefeld:

You need to quarantine for 14 days. If you are fully vaccinated, you need to stay at home until after day 5. On day 6 (counting from the date of the first positive PCR test result!) you can take another PCR test which is free if you show your first, positive PCR test result.

Note: Please do NOT go to the LOOM since that test centre is in the middle of the city and it is important to flatten the curve. Also: Do not use public transport to get to the place where you have your second PCR test. If you are caught breaking quarantine on a bus or tram, you will have to pay a fine. The International Office recommends the test centre at Bielefeld University.

Once that result is negative and you have no more symptoms, you can break quarantine early. Otherwise, you will need to quarantine for the whole of 14 days. If symptoms of disease continue to be present, the quarantine shall be extended until the symptoms are no longer present for an uninterrupted period of 48 hours. You must inform the public health department should this be the case.

Hannah Möhring, contact person for international students, is now offering limited personal office hours again:

The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia has reacted to the rise in numbers of Covid cases by introducing the 2G rule. This will come into effect from 24 November 2021 onwards.

The new regulations:

- Every leisure or cultural activity now requires proof of 2G (You must show either your vaccination proof or your recovery status. Those who have only been TESTED without vaccination/recovery proof cannot take part in our activities anymore. That is also true for all public institutions that fall under the category “cultural or leisure/free time activities,” e.g. museums, zoos, pools, fairs, theatres, concerts, wellness, Christmas market, sport events.

- 2G+ (Which requires you to show proof of either your recovery or vaccination AND an additional test, not older than 24 hours) will be checked in clubs, discos, dancing studios, basically everywhere a person is subjected to a higher risk of infection. It can be a rapid test or a PCR test (not older than 48 h).

- All other buildings/events still require 3G  (public transport, for example)

The government has now officially decided to control/check this much more frequently. So please make sure to follow these guidelines.

The German government offers opportunities to get vaccinated for anyone who wishes to get a vaccination with the Biontech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Therefore, from 18 October 2021, Covid-19 rapid tests, PCR tests and antigen tests are not free of charge any longer.

Anyone who wishes to be tested for the Coronavirus needs to pay a fee at the doctor’s surgery or in testing centres.

This affects Bielefeld UAS students because of the 3G rule on campus, e.g. you can only attend lectures if you are

a) vaccinated

b) tested

c) recovered from Covid-19

However, international students who are in the middle of their vaccinations and therefore need to pay for a test each week can approach the international office to get their financial loss reimbursed.

This is how to do it:

a) Please hand in the invoice for your Covid-test.

b) You can prove that you’re in between vaccinations by showing us your second appointment for the vaccination or your first shot.

Only when you can prove that you’ve taken steps to get the first shot of vaccine will it be possible to reimburse you for a test.

Revaccination for international students
Students who have been vaccinated abroad with Covid-19 vaccines that are not licensed in the EU need to be revaccinated. This is the only way they can present valid proof of vaccination in Germany.

Here is an overview of which vaccines are licensed in the EU: https://www.pei.de/EN/newsroom/dossier/coronavirus/coronavirus-content.html;jsessionid=6F87823A7B6E56792FDD0739F8BBA831.intranet231?cms_pos=3

Vaccination by the medical officer at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
International students of Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences who are affected by this can be vaccinated free of charge by the medical officer of Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. The costs for this are borne by the university.

To make an appointment, these students can write an e-mail to studierendenimpfung@fh-bielefeld.de. All further details will then be sent to you. The vaccination takes place at the Centre for Occupational Medicine, Prevention and Occupational Safety (ZAPA) in Bielefeld.

New Relaxation of Some Coronavirus Regulations

Due to the decrease in Covid-19 cases, Bielefeld’s Coronavirus restrictions have been loosened a little bit. We are currently on “Step 3,” with under 100 infections in 100,000 inhabits, but over 50.

This means for Bielefeld that, from 31 May 2021, the following regulations are valid:

1. Outside (park, squares etc.), people from a maximum of two households can meet up (but no person limit // before: limit of 2 people).
2. Official sports activities outdoors can be practiced with up to 25 people (provided the necessary minimum distance is kept!)
3. Entrance to minigolf, climbing parks, zoos and swimming pools (for sports purposes, not for leisure) is possible with a negative Covid-19 test that isn’t older than 48 hours.
4. Shopping (for things that aren’t essential): No more Click / Collect, instead shops are open. No more negative Covid-19 test results required (for now), provided you wear an FFP2 face covering and keep a 1.5-metre distance to others at all time.
5. Restaurants and cafés: The outside areas of restaurants and cafés are open. You can sit down there and have a drink/food provided that you
   1. Wear an FFP2 face covering until you sit down at the table
   2. Show a negative test result that isn’t older than 48 h
   3. Hotels are open for tourism and business trips (no open hotel restaurant or bars), provided you carry a negative test result.
   4. Private parties are still not allowed and punishable with heavy fines.

NEW CURFEW FOR BIELEFELD

Starting 24 April 2021, there is a new curfew law in place in Bielefeld:

 1. People are not allowed to go outside from 22:00 (10 p.m.) until 05:00 (a.m.) at night.
Exception: If you jogging on your own, you are allowed to do that until midnight.

 2.  This law comes into effect when a city crosses the threshold of 100 infections in 100,000 inhabitants, Bielefeld is currently at a threshold of 187 in 100,000. These rules must be followed until the number of cases drops in Bielefeld or the German government introduces different regulations.

Please find a detailed German information website here: https://www.mags.nrw/coronavirus-regeln-nrw

Stricter Regulations in Bielefeld (“Notbremse”)

1. Contacts are only allowed between ONE household and a maximum of ONE other person.
2. All shops and restaurants may again only offer pick-up service (Click&Collect). If this service is not offered, the store must remain closed.
   Exception: All shops selling goods for daily needs (supermarkets, discounters) remain open.
3. Services with a close proximity to the body for which the minimum distance cannot be maintained (cosmetic, tattoo or nail studios, massage studios etc.) remain closed.
   Exception: Permitted are medically necessary services, hairdressers, chiropody and public transport.    
4. Museums, theatre and other cultural facilities are closed to the public.

Exception: Olderdissen Zoo can still be visited with a ticketing service: https://tierpark-olderdissen.bielefeld.de/de/

All citizens of Bielefeld are allowed to have one Corona Quick Test free of charge per week.
See here for facilities that provide such a service: https://www.bielefeld.de/node/7969. Most of the places will require a booking and to reserve a time slot in advance.

As a reminder the general regulations that must be followed:

• Please reduce personal meetings to the absolute minimum (gatherings and celebrations not permitted).
• In public spaces, keep at least one and a half metres distance from other people. A FFP2 or medical mask must be worn at all times.
• Please always observe the rules of hygiene, e.g. wash your hands regularly and always sneeze into the crook of your arm.
• It is also recommended to install and use the Corona warning app on your mobile phone.

These rules will be active until stated otherwise.  The general rule is: If the numbers of Covid-19 cases decrease again, slowly, more and more things will be made possible again.

The region of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with the Federal Republic of Germany has extended the local lockdown to 7 March. Information for the time after that will follow once it is released.

Due to the continuously high number of Covid-19 cases in our country, the region of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with the Federal Republic of Germany has extended the local lockdown of December to 31 January 2021 (at least!). We will inform you if it will prolonged over that date.

Additionally to the closing of all shops, the following rules apply:

- People from one household (If you live in a single apartment, that is just you. If you live in a shared flat, that means you and your flatmates) can meet up with only ONE other person of another household.
- Lectures will continue to be held online, exams will be digital, too.
- Fitness studios, cosmetics studios, massage parlours, tattoo shops, hairdressers and tanning studios remain closed.
- Jogging and walking is allowed, provided you follow contact permissions and distancing rules.
- The library (including our university library) will be closed for attendance. The only way to borrow books is to order them online: https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/bib/abholbestellungen
- Once your books are ready to pick up, you will receive a message.
- There will be no more learning space available in the library.
- Restaurants remain closed, but you can call and order food for pick-up.
- Consuming alcoholic beverages in public places remains prohibited.

As of tomorrow, 16/12/20, stricter Coronavirus regulations apply in Bielefeld. Last weekend, the federal government withdrew the relaxations around Christmas.

Now, starting tomorrow, all stores will be closed, except for:

• Food
• Pharmacy
• Beverage trade
• Drugstores
• Banks
• Gas stations

Further, only 5 persons of max. 2 households are allowed to meet.

At Christmas, 4 more people from the immediate family are allowed to join.

We would like to ask you to follow these instructions.

Please also remember that travel at this time is subject to quarantine regulations.

You will need to find out for yourselves what the current regulations are.

For more information, check my latest e-mail or go to the Federal Ministry of Health pages: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus/current-information-for-travellers.html#c18686

Greetings and a happy holiday season to all of you.

For recent information about German Coronavirus regulations in December, please check the download box.
To inform yourself about travel during the holiday period and current quarantine regulations, visit these websites:

https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus/current-information-for-travellers.html#c18686

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268

Please find the latest information on COVID-19 Regulations in Public Space and COVID-19 Safety Regulations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany in the download box.
(This information is updated regularly.)

Coronavirus protection rules in NRW from 02/11/2020

- Citizens are encouraged to reduce contacts with people outside their own household to an absolute minimum. Only members of two households are allowed to meet in public – a maximum of ten people (never more than two households!) => different from before, where it was 2 households OR 10 persons from more households

- Celebrations in public places, in flats and private facilities are not permitted

- Gastronomy: Restaurants, bars, clubs, discos and pubs are closed. Delivery and collection of food for consumption at home is permitted.

- Sports: Fitness studios, swimming pools and saunas are closed. Individual sports, such as jogging, are still allowed – alone, in pairs or with your own household.

- Free-time facilities are closed, including theatres, cinemas, zoos. All events that serve entertainment purposes are prohibited.

- Trips: Citizens should refrain from private travel, day trips and visits to relatives - even within Germany. Hotels are no longer allowed to accept tourists. Accommodation in Germany will only be provided for necessary and expressly non-tourist purposes.

- Shops: Supermarkets will remain open - but there are rules on how many customers can be in the shop.

- This is binding and violations of these contact restrictions are sanctioned accordingly by the regulatory authorities.


Source (available in German only): https://www.land.nrw/corona

Regulations from 17 October 2020

Bielefeld is officially classified as Covid-19 hotspot, with more than 50 new Coronavirus cases in 100,000 inhabitants a week. From 17 October, these regulations are in effect:

- Gatherings with a max. of 10 people (public and private space)

- Wearing of an oronasal face covering in all public spaces

- Closing hour in bars 11 p.m.

- Keep a distance of 1.5 m

Regulations from October 2020: Travel to Germany from a Risk Area
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany has released new regulations when it comes to entering Germany from a risk area:

1. It is not possible to prevent quarantine by travelling with a PCR test anymore. Information on the spead of Covid-19 show that a person can be infectuous even if they have tested negative. Symptoms might occur up to 5 days after infection.

2. The new rules state:
- You need to quarantine for 14 days when entering Germany from a risk area.
- The quarantine can only be cut short when you decide to get tested for Covid-19 after Day 5 of your quarantine.

3. Further instructions:
- Inform the International Office of Bielefeld UAS about your arrival date.
- Let the City of Bielefeld know  about your travel to Germany from a risk area: Fill in this form on the official Bielefeld Website: https://tinyurl.com/y6cbybgn (It is in German, you can find a translation of the form in the download box on the left: "Translation: Form for Registration as Traveller from a Risk Area (Bielefeld City)").
- Once you arrive in Germany, travel straight to your accommodation and confine yourself to quarantine.
- When you receive your negative Coronavirus test result after day 5, contact the Health Office of Bielefeld under info.corona@bielefeld.de and attach the result to your e-mail. State a phone number for them to contact you.
- Do not leave the flat until you receive a reply from the Health Office. Only when the health office contacts you with confirmation will you be allowed to break quarantine and go outside.

Most importantly: Regardless of whether you provide a negative Coronavirus test, travellers from risk areas are not allowed to enter the buildings of Bielefeld UAS up to 14 days after their arrival.  This regulation has been decided by the Executive Board of Bielefeld UAS in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

Thank you for your support in flattening the curve!

Video:
COVID-19 Corona - Sicherheitsvorkehrungen und Hygienemaßnahmen an der FH Bielefeld | COVID-19 Corona - Safety Precautions and Hygienic Measures at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences
https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/medienportal/channel/video/COVID-19-Corona-Safety-precautions-and-hygienic-measures-at-Bielefeld-University-of-Applied-Sciences-German-amp-English/1bc721e4d71dd5cb7f96bd9eb4e9b458/7

Referring to the News entry from 18/05/20:

In accordance to the regulations from 11 August 2020, you will need to check whether you enter from a country that is classified as a risk area. If you enter from a risk area – European or Non-European – you will need to provide a negative Coronavirus test or subject yourself to a 2-week quarantine.

This is a new development and different from the news we gave you in May.

Extended Regulations for Opening of the University Library:
- Extended opening hours of the university library: Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- No more pick-up orders: You now have free access to the shelf areas (Please take into account the direction of movement as outlined in the library, keep the required minimum distance and follow hygiene regulations). The library opens for the purpose of borrwing printed literature only. To avoid contact with library staff, borrowing books is only possible via the self-checkout machines.

- What you must do: Wear mouth and nose protection at all times (face covering).

The relaxation of the regulations wil be carried out under strict precautions and protective conditions.

PLEASE NOTE:

- The workstations, study rooms, PCs and printers as well as services that require physical contact cannot be used.

- Copying and scanning is possible in compliance with minimum distances and regulation of access to the copy rooms.

To enter and leave the library rooms, you must register with your name and signature, as well as your arrival and departure time at the Info Point at Bielefeld UAS.

In order to guarantee protection against infection, there is a maximum number of people allowed to be present in the library.

Further information on the precautions taken and rules of conduct at the library locations can be found under https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/bib/aktuelles/corona-wiedereroeffnung  (This is in German, so please enter this into deepl.com to find all info you need to know).

Please behave in accordance with the regulations to protect others and yourself. In order to remain open, we are dependent on your careful behaviour.

If you have any further questions, please contact bib.info@fh-bielefeld.de

For European citizens, our region (North Rhine-Westphalia) no longer has quarantine restrictions for people travelling into the country.  This means you do not have to subject yourself to 14 days of self-isolation when you travel to NRW from Europe.

Please read more here: https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2020/05/changes-in-the-border-regime.html  (The crucial sentence being: „A 14-day quarantine should be ordered in future only for travellers entering Germany from countries outside of the EU“.)

It is important to note that other Bundesländer (Federal States) may decide against this relaxation of the quarantine rule. So if you are currently in Germany, but not NRW, please inform yourself about regulations in your Bundesland.

Important: Please also inform yourself about the quarantine restrictions of your own country, so that you will not face trouble travelling back.

The federal states and our chancellor declared the following relaxations of Coronavirus regulations (relevant to you):

1)      Starting Monday, 11 May, all shops are allowed to open again (provided they can offer the necessary hygienic safety measures)

2)      Opening of restaurants starting on 11 May, but with reduced seating

3)      Olderdissen Zoo opens again on 12 May 2020. (https://goo.gl/maps/biAuyKFTtgypPmZB8)

4)      Bielefeld’s museums are already open again.

5)      From 11 May onwards, playgrounds are open again.

6)      Contact to other people: Starting 11 May, it is permitted if people of 2 households meet in public.

Please continue to act responsibly and sensibly in public: Face coverings are still obligatory in shops, tram, train or bus and the 1.5 m distance between individuals should be upheld.

Bars and clubs are still closed and events/public parties not permitted to take place. Despite the changes, your semester will continue online. Most exams will be held online, too. Please contact your professors and talk to them about exams. Kindly ensure that your exam dates lie within the semester. You can only take exams if you are still enrolled, so your last exam should be 31 August at the latest.

Travel restrictions are still in place. Whenever you have travelled into another country, quarantine regulations must be upheld for 14 days. There still is a world-wide travel warning.

(Political) developments in this region, North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW): As of Monday (27/04/2020), NRW has made wearing a face covering mandatory when shopping and taking buses, trams or trains. Face coverings can be bought in the following stores: Rossmann, DM, Real.

I would encourage you to post in the Incoming Whats App group if you know of any other stores or places where you can buy face coverings.

Please remember that you might have to pay a penalty fee if you go into a supermarket or store without a mask or use the regional travel without one.

Important: If you do not have a mask yet, a scarf wrapped around your mouth is (as of this week) also possible.

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One more point of interest: The university will reopen the University Library Campus Bielefeld from 27.04.2020 in restricted service operation. The reopening will be carried out under strict pre-cautions: Only for the purpose of lending printed literature to students, lecturers and other members of the university. The workstations, study rooms, PCs and printers, as well as services that require physical contact, still cannot be used. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the University Library Campus Bielefeld. Borrowing of printed books is only possible after pre-order via the self-check-out machines.

To enter and leave the library rooms you have to log in and log out at the designated places.

For more information on the precautions and rules of conduct in place at library locations, you can contact bib.info@fh-bielefeld.de.

Since 10 April 2020, the Robert Koch Institute no longer identifies any international areas as risky or particularly affected by COVID-19. The virus has spread world-wide. Outbreaks have occurred in a considerable number of countries, some of them with large case numbers; the exact case numbers of other countries are not known. There is therefore a risk of transmission both in Germany and in a vast number of regions worldwide. The Federal Foreign Office has issued a worldwide travel warning.

More information can be found here (only available in German): https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete.html

Information for incoming exchange students in winter 2020/2021

Currently (as of 3 April 2020) we are operating under the assumption that the winter semester 2020/2021 at Bielefeld UAS will take place with courses that require physical attendance.

Since the situation is dynamic and might change, we recommend that you do not make any travel arrangements at the moment, if your (flight) tickets do not have a cancellation or re-booking policy.