GSTM2022 hygiene concept

Status: 12 October 2022

Our absolute priority is the health and safety of participants. Please make sure to check all COVID-19 related requirements with the official German Government websites regularly if you intend to participate at GSTM2022 in-person.

COVID-19 rules in Germany

To keep locals and visitors safe, FFP2 masks are required on public transport (including at train stations, airports and long-distance passenger transport) and in health care institutions. The compulsory wearing of masks is applicable in nursing care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions, as well as in certain community housing and on public transport. Mouth and nose must be covered aboard any public transport. Masks must fulfil the requirements of FFP2.

If travelers develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 (coughing, a runny nose, sore throat or fever) they should get in touch by phone with a doctor or contact the hotline 116 117. Often hotels can also help in such cases. Travelers should keep the contact details of their home country’s embassy or consulate in Germany in case they need to contact them. Extensive information in English and other languages on current regulations is available here.

Entry into Germany

Please check the most up-to-date information on requirements such as registration, test results, and quarantine for entry into Germany at: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268#content_0

Behaviour at the GRACE/GRACE-FO Science Team Meeting 2022

  • Please only attend the meeting if you are free of symptoms of COVID-19 infection (high temperature or fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc).
  • In case you are exhibiting any symptoms of illness or have had recent contact with an infected person, please stay at home and follow the conference online
  • Please regularly disinfect and wash your hands during the course of a day and follow the proper conduct with respect to coughing and sneezing.
  • Please always maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 m to the others.
  • In the auditorium, please leave 1 seat between the participants and sit shifted compared to the neighboring rows.
  • The wearing of a mouth-nose protection (medical masks or FFP2 masks) is mandatory for all participants with the following exceptions:
    • Outdoors
    • Oral presenters during the presentation
    • While seated in the auditorium only when the 1.5 m distance is met. However, it is still recommended to keep the mask while seated in any condition
    • While eating or drinking, which is not permitted inside of the lecture rooms
  • Please wear a mask during the poster session.
  • You must wear mandatory mouth-nose protection at GFZ in general if a minimum distance of 1.5 m cannot be safely maintained, but in any case when you move around in traffic and communal areas (e.g. in corridors, lifts, stairwells, kitchens, toilets, social rooms). You should then wear at least medical masks, but we recommend FFP2 masks.
  • Vaccination against the Coronavirus is viewed as an important protective measure, and it is recommended to test yourself regularly before attending the meeting.
  • In case of a suspected infection or tested positive during the meeting, we kindly ask to immediately start self-isolation and contact the organizers: gstm-organizers@gfz-potsdam.de.