COVID-19 related information
General life
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic daily life in Germany has changed drastically within a week!
We provide here two links for further information concerning the corona pandemic.
- one from the federal ministry for health:
https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/en/press/2020/coronavirus.html
- the other from the city of Heidelberg (in German but with links to English and other languages):
https://www.heidelberg.de/hd,Lde/coronavirus_+die+lage+in+heidelberg.html
During March 22, 2020, the federal states and the federal government agreed on nine common rules that apply to all inhabitants of Germany, basically inforcing a "contact ban" between people for two weeks.
The measures are:
- Public gatherings of more than two people will be banned (unless you have to pay a fine of 200 Euro). There will be exceptions for families and those living together.
- General contact with others should be reduced to a minimum.
- A 1.5-meter (4.9 feet) distance should be kept at all times when in public.
- Gastronomy businesses must close. Businesses offering food delivery and collection will be allowed to remain open.
- Service providers such as hair-dressers, cosmetic, massage and tattoo studios where a 2-meter distance between people is not possible must also close. Businesses and centers offering medical treatments may remain open.
- Police and other law enforcement agencies will enforce any infractions of the new rules.
- Hygiene regulations must be implemented for staff in the workplace, or for visitors.
- Commuting to work, helping others and exercising alone outside will still be permissible, as long as the activities are carried out in abidance with the guidelines.
- The measures will remain in place, initially for the next two weeks.
(taken from: https://www.dw.com/en/what-are-germanys-new-coronavirus-social-distancing-rules/a-52881742)
Further links in English:
This link provides informations given by the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Note that some rules were slightly different in different states, in particular concerning the closure of universities. The link explains the new laws in german, but also provides information in foreign languages.
IMPRS related
The MPIA, and also IMPRS, has been a virtual institute over the last days. This is a purely preventive measure and will apply initially until April 20, 2020. The IMPRS Office can be reached via email.
Concerning the lecturing, teaching activities, we definitely expect that we cannot return to normal university life at the semester start.
What will happen, we don't know yet, as every day seems to bring new surprises. We will keep you updated.
Here is a link to the Heidelberg University website on corona virus-related information.
The MVAstro 1 block course on Astronomical Techniques taught by Eva Grebel is offered via Zoom. Please send an email to her if you want to participate.
Concerning the IMPRS seminars we are discussing solutions. The IMPRS seminar of the 14th generation, taken place in Trifels, has been cancelled. We will inform you about a new date asap.
