Corona Virus – Relevant information (as of June 7, 2022) for all scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics

Starting June 7, 2022, all Corona measures from MPIM are lifted.

• wearing a mask is now voluntary in the whole institute and there is no 3G rule for external visitors anymore.
• the limit and mask obligation for the lecture hall is also lifted.
• However, if a member of staff asks you to wear a mask when entering their office, we kindly ask you to respect this.
• We urgently ask you to stay home if you have any symptoms suggestive of the Corona virus and report every positive tested case to personnel@mpim-bonn.mpg.de or 0228-402-255.
• The daily tea will not take place until further notice.

The recommendations remain:

• Participate in virtual meetings and talks.
• Wash and disinfect your hands regularly.
• Keep at least a 1.5m distance.
• Ventilate the rooms regularly.

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During the pandemic, regulations are imposed by different sources. The German government imposes the overall rules, but the governments of the individual Länder (federal states in Germany) as well as some cities have the freedom to impose regulations with regard to the particular situation of the area. Here we try to summarize the information relevant for our guests as best as possible and to keep it up to date. We assume no liability for this information and refer to the government websites for the official regulations:

NRW website [2] (only in German), Federal Foreign Office's website, [3]city of Bonn's website. [4]

Regulations in Bonn / NRW / Germany

• Update April 3, 2022: In many areas the mask obligation is dropped indoors and outdoors. However, an obligation to wear a mask can be imposed via the house rules of the respective facility. Indoors, the wearing of a protective mask is still recommended. No medical mask or FFP2 mask needs to be worn outside. An obligation to wear at least a medical mask continues to exist for the following areas: public transportation (buses and trains, school transportation); Health care and nursing facilities (hospitals, doctors' offices, and similar facilities); Homeless shelters; refugee shelters.
• Update March 19, 2022: Contact restrictions are waived for everyone at private gatherings.
• Update for March 4, 2022: non-immunized persons with negative test result have access to gastronomy, cultural facilities and sports facilities again.
• Update for March 4, 2022: Clubs etc. are allowed to reopen with 2G+, weddings and other celebrations are also allowed to take place again with 2G+.
• Mask requirement remains in effect in certain areas, e.g. public transport; retail; public indoor areas, and more.

You can see the current numbers regarding Covid-19 in Bonn here [5].

In case of a positive test result

If you get a positive self-test result, you should get tested officially with a PCR test [6] as soon as possible and only leave the house for the test in compliance with general infection control regulations. If the PCR test is positive as well you are obligated to isolate immediately. You will get an information sheet from the city about the duties and regulations for positive tested persons and their contacts.

If you had contact with a positive tested person, you should get tested as well.

Here you can find some more information about testing [6], quarantine and isolation [7] and what to do when you have tested positive [8].

Difference between isolation and quarantine:
Isolation is a measure ordered by the authorities for persons in whom a SARS-CoV-2 infection has been confirmed by a PCR test.  Isolation can take place at home or, in the case of severe disease progression, in hospital. Discharge from isolation is based on established criteria. At the time of discharge, it must be assumed that the person is no longer infectious.

Quarantine is a temporary seclusion of persons suspected of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. These are usually contacts of ill persons and persons entering the country from high-risk areas or virus variant areas. Quarantine can be ordered by the authorities or be voluntary.

Covid Vaccination

Update Jan. 19, 2022: With one dose of the Johnson&Johnson vaccination a person does no longer count as "fully vaccinated". Please make sure to inform yourself about the possibilities of further vaccination.

Here [9] you can find some information about where to get vaccinated in Bonn as well as a list of doctor's offices [10] that offer the vaccination.

Vaccination side effects can be reported here [11].

Travel

• From 1 June onwards, travelers no longer need proof that they have been vaccinated, recovered or tested. Exception: entry from a virus variant area. Here, the existing strict registration, proof and quarantine regulations still apply.
• For proof of vaccination, it will be sufficient in future to have been vaccinated with a vaccine recognised by the WHO. These are then also vaccines such as Sinova, Sinopharm or Coronavac from Chinese manufacturers or Covaxin from an Indian manufacturer.
• The category of high-risk areas will be deleted.

The current regulations for entering Germany can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office [3].

For the digital entry registration when entering from a virus variant area, please register at www.einreiseanmeldung.de [12] before arriving in Germany and carry proof of registration with you upon entry. To see if the country you are traveling from it considered a virus variant area, please see the Robert Koch Institute website. [13]

Please make sure to check the detailed regulations that apply for entering Germany from the respective country you will travel from and for your particular circumstances.

Information for invited guests

You are still welcome to start your research stay at the institute as planned, but please be aware of the current entry regulations (see above).

Unfortunately, we cannot postpone your visit, since our office space is already fully booked. However, you can shorten your visit if needed. You can also choose the option to reapply through our online application system [14] (no new recommendation letters are needed in this case).

If you have already booked an accommodation and you plan to cancel your stay, please contact the landlord immediately to cancel the rental contract (to avoid costs) and try to find a solution for both sides.

If you have not yet booked a flight or accommodation, please wait before doing so and book only at short notice. We do not know how the situation will change and can only recommend not to book anything yet. If you have booked your flight already, check this link [15] to rebook or cancel for free.

Please be so kind and inform us about your plans by e-mail [16].