Important Information for the Winter Semester 2021/22

In the winter semester 2021/22, face-to-face teaching and examinations with a maximum of 125 participants can take place at the University of Jena in compliance with the so-called "3-G" regulation *) (vaccinated, recovered or tested). Digital and hybrid events will continue to be offered if this complements or enriches the teaching or if the maximum number of participants is exceeded.

The university's infection protection plan (German only) continues to apply, in particular the obligation to wear a mask. Medical or FFP2-/KN95-/N95-/KF94-/KF95 masks must still be worn in all university buildings if the distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. Wherever possible, this minimum distance must be maintained. Contact tracking QRoniton will continue.

Who can check the 3-G status?

In order to comply with the 3-G regulation, the security service will carry out random checks of students and lecturers on access to the course rooms. If the number of participants is manageable (approx. 20 people), lecturers may check the 3-G proof at their own discretion before the start of the course. The security service and the lecturers are entitled to ask for proof of identity in addition to the 3-G proof. For participation in excursions, students must provide the excursion leader with 3-G proof in advance.

How can the 3-G status be proven?

Vaccinated

The vaccination must have been carried out completely with a vaccine published on the website of the Paul Ehrlich Institute and at least 14 days must have passed since the second vaccination. Proof can be provided as an electronic document (e.g. Corona warning app, CovPass app) or in paper form (EU COVID certificate or vaccination card/vaccination book).

Recovered

Recovered persons without vaccination require proof of a positive PCR test (positive test result by laboratory diagnostics) at least 28 days and a maximum of six months ago. The same applies to those who have recovered (COVID-19 disease more than six months ago) with first vaccination (14 days after vaccination). Doctors or public health offices can issue the certificate.

Tested

A rapid antigen test or a PCR test is considered as test evidence. The test must have been carried out no more than 72 hours previously. The respective proofs are to be carried along on one's own responsibility. There is the opportunity to test yourself on campus under supervision. More information is available here.

Is 3-G information stored?

Lecturers may wish to collect the 3-G status only once, so that vaccinated and recovered students do not have to be queried for every course. For this purpose, it is necessary that these students consent to the data processing, i.e. the storage of their 3-G status, towards the lecturer. The data protection notice must be observed for the consent. It is sufficient if students declare their agreement to the lecturer in text form (e-mail). 

What happens if the 3-G proof is not available?

Participants without a 3-G certificate may not enter the venue or must leave the venue immediately.

Lecturers without a 3-G certificate are not allowed to hold a face-to-face course or a face-to-face examination, i.e. they must deliver their course in a digital format.

The absence of students from a course due to lack of a 3-G certificate is considered as "not attended". Teachers are not obliged to offer digital alternatives parallel to the face-to-face courses. If students are unable to present the 3-G certificate before examinations, they are deemed to have "failed to appear" and the examination is therefore deemed to have been "failed". The examination attempt is forfeited; in the case of intentional violation of the 3-G regulation, there is no requirement for the recognition of a case of hardship.

Persons who refuse to present a 3-G certificate or behave uncooperatively will be expelled from the room. The teacher has the right of domicile. Teachers and security staff are entitled to document personal details and inform the police if necessary.

The legal basis is the Thuringian SARS-CoV-2 Infection Protection Measures Ordinance in its current version. A violation of the 3-G regulation is considered an administrative offence under the ordinance and can be fined up to 25,000 euros (§ 26 Para. 3 No. 21 ThürSARS-CoV-2-IfS-MaßnVO).

Should lecturers or students attend a course or examination without a valid 3-G certificate and this leads to an outbreak that is prosecuted under regulatory law, the university reserves the right to examine and assert claims for damages.

When are the costs for the tests covered?

Until 31 December 2021, the tests are free of charge for

• Students who have been vaccinated with vaccines other than those specified by the Paul Ehrlich Institute
• Students who have not yet reached the age of 18 at the time of testing
• Pregnant persons at the time of testing

Beyond this date, testing is free of charge for individuals who cannot be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus at the time of testing due to a medical contraindication or who could not be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the three months prior to testing due to a medical contraindication.

From 18 October, the University of Jena will provide both lecturers and students with two rapid antigen tests free of charge, which can be carried out under supervision in the test centre in the Carl-Zeiß-Straße foyer.

Further information: Regulation on the entitlement to testing with regard to direct pathogen detection of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus Test Regulation – TestV) of 21 September 2021 (German only).

What testing options are available?

Self-testing centre

Especially for those who have to show a negative test, a self-test centre will be available in the Carl-Zeiß-Straße foyer from Monday, 18 October. For all students and lecturers, a self-test under supervision is possible from Monday to Friday between 7 am and 3 pm. The university provides two free rapid tests per week, which are handed out at the self-test centre and can then be carried out on site. In addition, self-brought tests can also be carried out under supervision. Those who want to be tested should have their thoska card ready to identify themselves.

If the test result is negative, a certificate will be issued on site allowing the attendance of face-to-face lectures and examinations for the next 72 hours. The certificate can be used for 24 hours for participation in university sports. However, university certificates are not valid for restaurants, cinemas or events.

Further testing possibilities

Those who would like to use their test certificate outside of the university can obtain it at the public test centres approved by the public health department. At the DRK test centre in the Goethe-Galerie, students pay the reduced price of 10 euros for an antigen rapid test. All those whose test costs continue to be covered by the federal government (see question 5) can get a free test here.

The test centre will open one hour earlier from Monday, 18 October, and can thus be used from 8 am to 7.30 pm Monday to Friday and from 9 am to 7.30 pm on Saturdays.

All testing opportunities in Jena can be found on the city's website.

Vaccination offers for students

To enable a successful winter semester with on-site teaching, the University of Jena is aiming for high vaccination coverage among students and staff. The university management assumes that the vaccination rate is already high, but would nevertheless like to appeal to all voluntarily unvaccinated students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before or at the beginning of the lecture period.

On Wednesday, 27 October, from 9 am to 3 pm, campus vaccination will take place in the Carl-Zeiß-Straße foyer. Students and employees of the university can get vaccinated here without an appointment with the vaccine from BioNTech or Johnson&Johnson. If available, please bring your insurance card, your vaccination certificate and your matriculation certificate or thoska.

People who are still unsure whether they should be vaccinated against COVID-19 are welcome to seek advice from the medical staff on site. This applies in particular to students who have been vaccinated abroad with a vaccine that has not yet been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). There will also be contact persons present who speak English.

The city of Jena also regularly offers the opportunity to be vaccinated at its two vaccination centres (Volksbad and Ziegesarstraße) without having to make an appointment in advance.

The website of the University of Jena provides further information on the topic of vaccination against Corona.

*) For students of human medicine and dentistry, the so-called "3-G-plus" regulation applies to all events that take place in the rooms and buildings of direct patient care, in which qualified requirements are set for testing. For more detailed information, please see the following link: https://www.uniklinikum-jena.de/studiendekanat/Covid_19/Lehrbetrieb.html(German only). The information is regularly updated.

Last updated: Tuesday, 19 October 2021