Coronavirus - Current situation
On this website you will find the latest information from the University of Bern on how to deal with the corona epidemic.
Currently, the following regulations apply:
• Working from home is mandatory everywhere where it is possible and can be implemented with a reasonable amount of effort.
• Masks are compulsory on the entire campus of the University of Bern. This applies to the entire perimeter of the institutions, i.e. not only inside the buildings but also their exterior spaces.
• All in-person courses will continue to be replaced by distance learning (Further information, in German). This also applies to further-education courses.
• Most of the libraries will reopen March 1, 2021. You can find more information here.
• Starting March 1, 2021, outdoor workouts of the Unisport in groups of up to 15 will once again be possible, and the outdoor facilities at the Center for Sport and Sport Science (ZSSw) will be open. All information about Unisport operations can be found here (in German).
• Events with participation by external people are cancelled. New events will not be allowed.
The university's crisis management team continues to recommend:
• Installing the official Swiss-COVID app.
• Avoiding large crowds of people.
• Avoiding public transport during rush hour.
All other measures, especially the social distancing rules and hygiene recommendations, remain in place. All measures apply until further notice. The website is regularly being updated. In the event of contradictory statements, the latest information applies.
The university is in minimum necessary presence mode
The number of coronavirus infections is still high and threatening to rise. An improvement of the situation is not yet within sight. The top priority therefore is the protection of everyone's health.
The following regulations and recommendations basically apply:
- Working from home is mandatory everywhere where it is possible and can be implemented with a reasonable amount of effort.
- If symptoms of illness occur, stay at home and avoid contact with other people (self-isolation).
- Masks are compulsory on the entire campus of the University of Bern. This applies to the entire perimeter of the institutions, i.e. not only inside the buildings but also their exterior spaces (Information on masks, in German, PDF, 846KB). Individuals who cannot wear masks for medical reasons can apply for an official exemption from wearing a mask around the University of Bern premises (Procedure for mask exceptions, PDF, 14KB).
- All in-person courses will continue to be replaced by distance learning. This also applies to further-education courses.
- Meetings are to be conducted virtually.
- In order to be able to trace personal contacts closer than 1.5 meters for longer than 15 minutes in case of an infection with Sars-CoV-2, every person is obliged to keep a personal and daily updated logbook (digitally or by using this form). The logbook must be kept for 4 weeks.
- It is recommended to install the official Swiss Covid app. If it can be verified that all the people present have installed and activated the app, there is no need for a logbook entry.
- It is recommended to avoid large crowds of people and avoid public transport during rush hour.
Procedure for those who show symptoms of disease
If symptoms of illness occur, stay at home and avoid contact with other people (self-isolation).
Inform your doctor. Your doctor will decide whether a test is appropriate.
If you are tested and the result is positive, you must continue to isolate yourself. The competent cantonal authority will contact you and discuss all further steps. The cantonal authority will also inform you when the isolation can end.
If the test result is negative, you can leave isolation 24 hours after the last symptoms of the disease have subsided.
Points of contact
The university’s in-house physician, Benny Wohlfarth, is the first point of contact for lecturers and employees with medical questions related to Covid-19 – in particular for questions regarding the handling of people who have tested positive. He can be contacted during the mornings, Monday to Friday, by telephone at +41 31 631 42 98 or +41 75 500 08 98 and by e-mail at betriebsarzt@unibe.ch.
For UniBE-specific questions: Risk Management Unit as coordinating office, E-Mail
Public Events and Infrastructure
The university buildings are basically open.
Events with an external audience are no longer permitted. Any such planned events must be cancelled.
The in-person events in continuing education will be replaced by distance learning.
Events of the Senior Citizens' University and of the Universitédes aînes de langue française de Berne (UNAB) will be cancelled.
Most of the libraries will reopen March 1, 2021. You can find more information here.
Starting March 1, 2021, outdoor workouts of the Unisport in groups of up to 15 will once again be possible, and the outdoor facilities at the Center for Sport and Sport Science (ZSSw) will be open. All information about Unisport operations can be found here (in German).
Current Information
The situation may change continuously. The most up-to-date information for Switzerland can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Public Health.
For further questions about the coronavirus: Infoline FOPH: +41 58 463 00 00
Business and private trips abroad
Anyone entering Switzerland from a country or area with a high risk of infection must go into quarantine for ten days. You can find further information on this here.
Responsibilities and directives
The crisis management unit and the University Executive Board are responsible for the drafting and enactment of university directives.
Organizational units (institutes, departments, divisions) are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the University's directives. The responsibility lies directly with the managers of the respective organisational units.
In every situation, a substitute regulation must be established.
The following directives generally describe the minimum standards in principle. In case of doubt, whichever option that minimizes the risk of spreading the disease, based on local conditions, should be chosen.