If you are experiencing symptoms of a coronavirus infection, please stay at home and seek advice by telephone (general practitioners’ surgeries, fever outpatient clinics, nationwide call number of the emergency medical service in Germany 116117). You can find out whether a test is possible and where you can have it done here.
The main pathway of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 is respiratory ingestion of virus-containing particles generated by breathing, coughing, talking, and sneezing. Depending on particle size or physical properties, a distinction is made between larger droplets and smaller aerosols. While droplets sink quickly to the ground, aerosols can also float in the air for a long time and disperse in enclosed spaces. Aerosols are expelled when breathing and speaking, but even more so when shouting and singing; coughing and sneezing also produce significantly more droplets. The likelihood of exposure to infectious particles of any size is increased within 1-2 meters of an infected person.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by aerosols is possible when many people congregate in inadequately ventilated indoor spaces and there is increased production and accumulation of aerosols. Effective air exchange can reduce aerosol concentrations in a room.
If the minimum distance is maintained, the probability of transmission outdoors is very low due to air movement.
Transmission through contaminated surfaces cannot be ruled out, especially in the immediate vicinity of the infectious person.
The disease courses of COVID-19 are nonspecific, diverse, and vary greatly from asymptomatic courses to very severe courses with severe pneumonia with lung failure and death. Frequently mentioned symptoms are cough, fever, runny nose, loss of smell and/or taste, and pneumonia.
Fact sheet from the Robert Koch Institute
The university does not publish numbers of confirmed COVID cases, but assists the health department in identifying contacts when needed.
A positive self-administered test does not require quarantine or a mask. However, please wear a mask (at least mouth-and-nose covering) voluntarily outside your own home until a confirmed test result is available, if a minimum distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained.
In case of a positive result of a rapid test, the regulations of the “Ordinance on protective measures replacing isolation for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2” apply. You must wear a mask (at least mouth-and-nose covering) outside your own home for five days from the time the sample is taken or from the time the sample is received by the evaluating laboratory. An exception applies outdoors if a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from other persons can be maintained. Please inform your household members about your positive test result. Your household members do not have to take any precautionary measures or go into isolation (quarantine), but it is recommended to reduce contacts as far as possible.
As a general rule, if you are ill and have symptoms, you should stay at home as before and get a sick note from your doctor.
Positive test results must not be reported to the university.
