Coronavirus (COVID-19) – important information

Since 16 November, people who have tested positive for the coronavirus no longer have to self-isolate. The self-isolation requirement has been scrapped and replaced with new protective measures mandated by the Free State of Bavaria [German content]. Please note that you must adhere to these protective measures and behavioural recommendations from the moment you have knowledge of a positive test result. Specifically, this means: If you test positive but do not have any symptoms, you are required to wear a mask (at least a surgical/medical mask) when you are in university rooms with other people.

The University wishes to make it known that this winter semester at the University of Passau will be an in-person semester – teaching will take place face to face on campus – and that there never were any plans to the contrary, despite a number of misleading media reports in recent months. We look forward to welcoming you all back to our campus this semester and wish you a good start for the new lecture period!

The covid-19 testing station in the ZMK building (Innstrasse 33a) will close down on 5 August, since demand for rapid tests have fallen to a very low level recently. However, the University will keep an eye on the overall situation and testing needs and start up the testing station if and when necessary.

• Recommended measures to protect yourself from covid-19
• Testing station // costs and cost exemptions

Recommended measures to protect yourself from covid-19

As you can read in the daily press, the federal government are preparing for another wave of covid-19 infections in the autumn. No decision has been taken yet as to whether this will be accompanied by mitigating strategies, and if so, precisely which measures will be imposed. Currently, and until 20 August, face masks must be worn on public transport and in institutions that care for or treat vulnerable groups, such as doctors' surgeries and hospitals.
We are keeping an eye on the situation and will inform you in good time of any changes at the University of Passau. At the same time, in view of the high infection rate, we would encourage you to continue to stick to the known infection prevention measures whenever you come into contact with other on campus – for your own safety and out of consideration for the people around you. You are making a valuable and important contribution to making this semester as safe as can be for everyone when you:

• don a surgical/medical or FFP2 mask when attending a busy indoor event
• maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from others
• regularly wash your hands or disinfect them using the dispensers provided
• get yourself tested regularly, regardless of your vaccination status

Thank you all for doing your part!

Testing station // costs and cost exemptions

The Malteser testing station on campus in the ZMK Building will remain open for the time being. The information on costs we sent out in our last update has sadly caused a certain amount of confusion. It is still true that it is a very responsible behaviour to get yourself tested prior to attending an indoor event, after a risky contact, when the Corona Warn App shows a red warning or simply out of consideration for potentially vulnerable people. In this way, you can help ensure that chains of infection are broken, and the University recommends that all its members continue to get tested independently on a regular basis as far as possible.
However: Contrary to what we communicated in our last update, if you wish to get tested in order to attend an indoor event, this does not exempt you from the testing fee – you will have to pay the three euros.
But: Those who are considered to be particularly at risk of complications are still entitled to the free covid-19 tests ("Bürgertests"). You will find the exemption criteria listed when you register for the test date. If you fall into one of the categories mentioned there, you are of course still entitled to the cost exemption and this will be accepted by the staff on site.

As we announced on 11 May, you can once again plan indoor coffee breaks and/or receptions for your events. Similarly, cultural events (theatre, cinema, cabaret, concerts etc.) can be held again with the known time restrictions. Please contact Event Management at eventmanagement@uni-passau.de if you need more information. We ask for your understanding that we will continue to refrain from holding parties and similar events in the indoor areas for the time being. The previously announced mask recommendation for indoor areas also remains in effect.

After the experiences of the first weeks of the semester and a thorough assessment of the current overall situation, the University Executive has taken the decision to ease the masking mandate and make it a recommendation from 13 May onwards. This means that staff, students and visitors no longer have to wear face masks as of 13 May; however, we still recommend that you wear an FFP2 or medical/surgical face mask indoors and in areas where you come into contact with others. Please continue to protect yourself and the others around you.

As before, we will continue to pay careful attention to the overall situation. And we will continue to inform you about current developments and, if necessary, announce changes to the rules in these updates.

The fact that masks are no longer compulsory could also affect how you plan your coffee breaks or receptions for your events. These no longer have to be held outdoors. Please contact Event Management at eventmanagement@uni-passau.de if you need more information. We ask for your understanding that we will continue to refrain from holding parties and similar events in the indoor areas for the time being.

Regular updates are posted at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays if there are covid-19-related news to report.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• President's beginning-of-semester greeting

President's beginning-of-semester greeting

Going by the calendar, the summer semester 2022 has already begun. Campus life is picking up again with the Orientation Weeks and the subsequent start of teaching (25 April) – this semester will see much more in-person attendance than previous semesters. At the same time, this semester will be dominated by the harrowing accounts of the war that deeply affects every one of us. In his beginning-of-semester greeting, President Ulrich Bartosch gave a rundown of how the university will be organising this semester, what to bear in mind and how you can bring your strengths into play. 

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 20 April.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').