Portal

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.

Update: 03.05.2021: The staff of primary to upper secondary schools in the canton of Bern will be given the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 voluntarily. In this way, the canton wants to protect the people who make it possible to keep schools at these levels operating as much as possible with in-person attendance. However, as in-person attendance at universities remains very limited, staff at the tertiary levels cannot take advantage of these vaccination appointments.

Update 27.04.2021: Starting on 01.05.2021, The University of Bern has offered the opportunity to have large-scale SARS-CoV2 testing prior to events in which in-person attendance is necessary. However, testing does not allow for any easing of the applicable protection concepts.

Update 16.04.2021: With the easing of restrictions by the Federal Council (see the the media release of the Federal Council) of 14.04.2021, in-person courses at the university are possible again under certain conditions. However, the obligation to work from home basically remains. The situation is still very fragile. The implementation of protection concepts and compliance with the rules of conduct and hygiene remain key.

Currently, the following regulations apply:

Working from home remains 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.
In-person courses are possible again with restrictions. A maximum of 50 people may be present, with a capacity limit of one third of the available seats (Further information, in German). This also applies to continuing education courses.
Lecturers are still allowed to remain in online-only mode, and there is no on-site obligation for students for the courses that now take place in-person. Teaching must therefore either take place in hybrid mode, i.e.
In-person courses in continuing education are possible, provided that the measures specified in the pootection concept (in German) (PDF, 183KB) can be adhered to. However, some courses may be held online or modules or parts of modules may be postponed.
Most of the libraries are open. You can find more information here.
As of April 19, 2021, training sessions (without physical contact) in groups of 15 people will again be possible indoors (including the ZSSw fitness room) at Unisport. All information about Unisport operations can be found here (in German).
Events with an external audience are still not possible.

The university's crisis management team recommends:

Vaccination against Sars-CoV-2: be.vacme.ch
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 , general mask obligation and hygiene recommendations, remain in place and apply until further notice. The website is regularly being updated. In the event of contradictory statements, the latest information applies.

The university is in minimal presence mode.

The number of coronavirus infections is still high. The top priority therefore remains the protection of everyone's health.

The following regulations and recommendations basically apply:

Working from home remains 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 (Procedures for masks exeptions, in German (PDF, 120KB).
In-person courses are possible again with restrictions. A maxiumum of 50 people may be present, with a capacity limit of one third of the available seats. This also applies to further-education courses.
Lecturers are still allowed to remain in online-only mode, and there is no on-site obligation for students for the courses that now take place in-person. Teaching must therefore either take place in hybrid mode, i.e. in-person and online, or online only.
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 31 684 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

Current Information on Teaching by the Vice-Rectorate Teaching (in German)

Current information about Unisport services (in German)

Current information University Library

Current information on building management (in German)

Public Events and Infrastructure

The university buildings are basically open.

Events with an external audience are still not possible.

Most of the libraries are open. You can find more information here.

As of April 19, 2021, training sessions (without physical contact) in groups of 15 people will again be possible indoors (including the ZSSw fitness room) at Unisport. 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.

Website of the Federal Office of Public Health

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For further questions about the coronavirus: Infoline FOPH: +41 58 463 00 00

Information on the situation at the Canton Bern can be found on this website (in German)

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.

Covid 19- Regulation 2 with validity for AS2020 and FS2021 (in German) (PDF, 45KB) Protect yourself and others - hygiene rules (FOPH) (PDF, 4.2 MB) Personal daily logbook (form) (WORD, 45KB)

Personal daily logbook (digital)

Protective measures for those particularly at risk (in German) (PDF, 277KB) Protection Concept Continuing Education (in German) (PDF, 183KB)