New coronavirus master plan valid from Monday
The ETH Executive Board has approved a new coronavirus master plan, effective Monday 26 April. It includes more face-to-face options for students and also allows certain events to be held at the university. The Main Building will now be open at weekends as well.
As already announced in the Internal News and at last week’s town hall meeting, the ETH Executive Board has updated the university’s coronavirus master plan. This is in response to the Federal Council relaxing certain rules last week. The new plan comes into effect this Monday 26 April and only contains minimal changes compared with the existing document. The rules have been relaxed mainly with students in mind.
More face-to-face options for students
Teaching will continue to be online as a general rule, although face-to-face events which require the use of the infrastructure or other specific facilities on site can continue as before.
In addition, the master plan now allows a number of complementary face-to-face learning opportunities. The Rector has sent those involved the relevant details directly via email. These face-to-face options are subject to the new government regulations for teaching events (maximum one third room occupancy, with no more than 50 people, all wearing face masks and observing physical distancing). Lecturers are responsible for implementing these complementary face-to-face learning opportunities and will also provide the necessary information to students.
Main Building open again at weekends
ETH buildings remain closed as a general rule. The exceptions are the Main Building, the HIL building on Hönggerberg campus and buildings offering ASVZ sports facilities. Now departments can apply for additional buildings to be opened for hosting face-to-face events.
As a general rule, open buildings can be accessed from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. An exception is the main building, which is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and now also on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing access to the ETH Library.
Selected events possible again
Following the government’s easing of Covid restrictions, certain events with a maximum attendance of 50 people can now be held again on the ETH campus, for example those deemed important for the university as a whole, academic events such as inaugural or farewell lectures, and Master’s award ceremonies. Guided tours up to a maximum of 15 people are also permitted. In particular, students and their associations are now allowed to organise film showings, other cultural events or learning opportunities. However, the general ban on serving food and drinks at events still applies.
Further information
The ETH Executive Board already provided information on the new rules at the town hall meeting of 21 April. Full details can be found in the master plan on the coronavirus webpage. The FAQs on the website will be updated by the end of next week.