Dear students, Dear members of staff,

in view of the current developments in Europe and especially in Italy, we would like to share the following new information about the coronavirus disease COVID 19 with you.

The Robert Koch Institute continues to consider the risk of contracting the coronavirus in Germany to be low, but does not exclude future cases of infection, in light of the developments in Italy. To date, no suspicious cases have been reported at TU Dresden.

As one of the precautionary measures, disinfectant hand-sanitiser dispensers are gradually being installed in all of TU Dresden's buildings. As a common-sense rule, everybody should ensure good hand hygiene as well as coughing and sneezing etiquette. Furthermore, one should keep at a distance from sick people and refrain from shaking hands. Anyone who decides to wear a face mask is welcome to do so. However, there is no specific recommendation for this.

The German Federal Foreign Office has not issued any new travel warnings. As a precautionary measure, the University Executive Board recommends that you postpone all business trips to the People’s Republic of China and closely follow the information provided by the Federal Foreign Office.

Should the situation evolve, we would like to assure you that TU Dresden will react adequately at short notice. We have a crisis team ready and a pandemic plan that has been jointly put in place by the University Executive Board and the Directorates of TU Dresden. In the event of a pandemic, the plan stipulates how the risks are to be assessed and what appropriate measures are to be taken. This process is directed by the Rector and the Chancellor in coordination with the University Executive Board.

After assessing the current situation, we would like to kindly ask that you keep yourself informed and to take your own decisions accordingly, both for yourself and your professional (and private) environment.

Up-to-date information can be found here:

https://www.rki.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/-/2296762
https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus.html

All individuals who have had contact with people infected with or suffering from the coronavirus or who have stayed in risk areas, and who show typical symptoms of the disease, should consult their GP or family doctor, the Dresden-Neustadt hospital, or the University Hospital immediately, after giving prior notice by telephone.

Personal consultation on the topic is offered by your GP or family doctor and the Occupational Health Services of TU Dresden.

Best regards

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. DEng/Auckland Hans Müller-Steinhagen
Rector
Technische Universität Dresden
Mommsenstraße 11
01069 Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 463-34312