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Further easing of safety measures
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During the press conference on 18 June, the Dutch government announced that a large number of the COVID-19 safety measures will be rolled back as of 26 June. This means that we will work less from home and are allowed to come to the office more often. However, the basic rules continue to apply, which means: keep 1.5-metre distance from one another, wear face masks when social distancing is not possible (or difficult), wash your hands often, sneeze and cough in your elbow, and stay at home and get tested in case of symptoms. Read here what the easing of the measures will mean for UM staff and students from next week onwards.
Employees may return to the office part-time as of 26 June
As of 26 June (in practice as of Monday, 28 June), the UM buildings that are not yet open to employees will be reopened. You may then return to the office for up to 50% of your working hours. Feel free to spread your days at the office throughout the week. That way, should you be allowed to work full-time at the office again starting 1 September, you will have already got used to the routine. Be sure to work responsibly while at the office and stick to the basic rules.
To avoid having too many people at the office at the same time, your manager will agree with your team (based on the maximum capacity per room) who can come to the office when. Your department will inform you in the coming days of the opening hours of your UM location.
Other changes for students and staff
Food service facilities Our food service facilities are open according to the current regulations for the hospitality industry. This means that upon entry, registration takes place and you have to answer various health-related questions (the so-called health check). If you answer 'yes' to one of these questions, you must leave the building immediately. Your answers to the health check are not recorded in writing. Naturally, the 1.5 metre distance rule also applies at all locations.
Festive events Festive gatherings at UM or organised by study and student associations are allowed under certain conditions. Everyone must have an assigned seat and be able to sit at a distance of more than 1.5 metres from each other. Registration and the health check are required. For activities in areas where people do not have an assigned seat, a maximum capacity of one visitor per five square metres applies. At events for which corona tickets apply (i.e., proof of vaccination, recovery or negative test) the 1.5 metre distance rule does not have to be observed.
Face masks
As of 26 June, the mandate to wear a face mask will also largely end. We will, however, continue to wear face masks in the corridors of our buildings because the 1.5 metre distance rule cannot always be guaranteed there. This also applies to all other activities where 1.5 metre distance is impossible or difficult to achieve.
And after the summer?
After the summer, the new academic year begins, and we will continue to strive for a situation with as few restrictions as possible within the measures in place at that time. As we have during the entire COVID-19 period, our goal is to create as safe an environment as possible. In concrete terms, this means that for the period starting in mid-August, we will apply the following:
Basic rules Within the buildings we will continue with intensified cleaning, the existing rules related to ventilation, one-way traffic in the corridors and the possibility to disinfect your hands upon entry. Of course, the following also still applies: wash your hands as often as possible, do not shake hands and stay at home if you have cold-like symptoms.
Testing policy Participants of the INKOM activities who have not (yet) been vaccinated and who do not have proof of recovery must undergo a rapid test in a government-approved and subsidised rapid test centre in order to participate. This includes a large proportion of our first-year students, but also some of our second-year and older students, who are also invited to participate in a number of INKOM activities. In this way, approximately half of the student population will be screened and the risk of infection is reduced. For the faculty introductions and general education sessions, no proof of testing, recovery or vaccination will be required. As these are educational activities, we will continue to work with self-testing and rely on everyone's sense of responsibility. More information can be found in our earlier communication.
Vaccinations We are actively informing international students and staff well in advance of their arrival about the Netherlands’ vaccination strategy. As a result, they know early on how they can qualify for a free vaccination in the Netherlands or complete their vaccination if they have only received the first vaccination in their home country. In order to make vaccinations easily accessible, we are discussing with the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) if a mobile vaccination site can be set up on UM grounds starting mid-August. This would allow international students and staff to be vaccinated immediately upon arrival in the Maastricht area, if they want to. Read more about vaccinations on our website.
Adjustment period Despite the fact that staff and students may have been vaccinated and all the safety measures mentioned are being taken, it may take some time to get used to being around colleagues and students again after such a long time. You may even find it a little scary. Fortunately, you have time to gradually get used to the return to campus. Students are already allowed to go to campus one day a week, and starting 26 June employees can work up to 50% of their hours at the office (in consultation with their managers). If, as an employee, you have concerns, please discuss them with your manager or the occupational health physicians in order to find a solution together. If you are a student and have any concerns or questions, make an appointment with your study advisor.
Hybrid work for employees
As previously announced, we are working hard on the plans for hybrid working solutions. We are currently preparing an update for you, which we will send as soon as possible.
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