The coronavirus pandemic is not yet over. Therefore, it remains important to protect oneself and others from infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to observe the so-called AHA formula.

AHA means:

• Maintain a distance ('Abstand' in german) of at least 1.5 meters from other people, for example, on the way to work, while shopping or walking.
• Respect hygiene - Wash your hands regularly with soap and observe the rules of hygiene when coughing and sneezing.
• Wear an everyday mask (mouth-nose cover / 'Alltagsmaske' in german) - Wear an everyday mask whenever you cannot safely maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from others in public places. Even if you use a mouth-nose cover, you should still be careful to keep your distance from other people.

Particularly in the cold season, when people spend more time indoors, another measure is important: ventilation ('Lüften' in german). The AHA formula is therefore extended by an L, which stands for regular airing, to AHA+L.

The Corona Warning App is the digital supplement to these rules of conduct. It informs users if they have had contact with an infected person. Therefore the AHA formula is extended by another A for Corona-Warn-App and the recommendation is: AHA+L+A!

Source: www.infektionsschutz.de (Status: 19.10.2020)

Since the end of April 2020, it has been mandatory in the federal states to cover the mouth and nose (wearing a mouth and nose cover) for certain situations in public spaces. The actual implementation of this requirement may vary slightly from state to state. You can find out which regulation is binding in your region at https://corona.rlp.de/de/startseite/.

Wearing a mouth-nose-cover helps to protect other people from fine droplets and particles that are ejected, e.g. when speaking, coughing or sneezing (foreign protection). It is important that both mouth and nose are covered. There is now initial scientific evidence of this protection. The recommendation to wear a mouth-nose cover is based, among other things, on studies which show that a relevant proportion of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions go unnoticed, i.e. before the first signs of the disease appear. However, the self-protection provided by mouth-nose-coverings has not yet been scientifically proven.

In order to protect oneself and others from infection with the corona virus SARS-CoV-2, it remains important to keep a distance from other people (at least 1.5 meters), to isolate oneself in the event of illness, to observe hygiene measures such as good hand hygiene, to adhere to coughing and sneezing rules, and to air the room regularly.

Source: www.infektionsschutz.deStatus: 20.10.2020

The aim of isolation or quarantine is to prevent the spread of a pathogen (e.g. SARS-CoV-2) by reducing contact with other people.

Isolation is an officially ordered measure for patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Depending on the severity of the disease, this can be done either at home or in hospital. Discharge from isolation is carried out according to defined criteria. As a rule, this is the case when it can be assumed that the person is no longer contagious.

Quarantine is a temporary isolation of persons suspected of being infected with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 or of persons who may be able to spread the virus. These are mostly contact persons of sick persons as well as travel returnees from risk areas. The quarantine can be ordered by the authorities or be voluntary.
Source on the topic: www.infektionsschutz.de Status: 07.09.2020

The aim is to slow down the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Germany as much as possible and to prevent cases of disease as far as possible. If a person tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, it is necessary to identify the people who had contact with this person. The state of health of these people is then monitored based on the individual risk of infection for the maximum period of time between infection and the appearance of symptoms (14 Ta-ge). People who have had close contact with the person who tested positive are placed in home quarantine.

The identification and observation of these so-called contact persons is the task of the responsible public health department. The public health department also determines the concrete procedure in each individual case. Since the beginning of the corona epidemic in Germany, the isolation of patients and the tracking of contact persons has been a central pillar of the control strategy.
Source on the topic: www.infektionsschutz.de Status: 03.06.2020

Quarantine is required for those who have a high risk of being infected.
This is the case if you have had close contact with a person with a laboratory-confirmed infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 within the last 14 days. Close contact mainly means that you have spoken to or come into contact with the person with the disease for at least 15 minutes, such as by sneezing or coughing, while the person was infected.
For example, if you have only been in the same room with a COVID-19 patient for the last 14 days and have not had close contact, no quarantine will be ordered, as there is a lower risk of infection.
Anyone who has had contact with a person in the family, friends or acquaintances, who in turn has had contact with a COVID-19 patient confirmed in the laboratory, but is completely healthy, does not have to be quarantined either. In this case, one is not a contact person and has no increased risk of COVID-19 disease. Whoever works with people with pre-existing conditions, e.g. in hospital or in elderly care, should inform their employer in any case. And for all of them, carry out a daily self-monitoring for signs of illness.
See also question "What to do after contact with a person suffering from COVID-19".
The assessment of the risk of infection and thus the ordering and lifting of the quarantine is the responsibility of the responsible health authority in each individual case.
Even when entering Germany from a risk area, there is an obligation to perform domestic quarantine.
Source: www.infektionsschutz.de Status: 20.10.2020

In case of confirmed infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, isolation is ordered by the authorities. Depending on the severity of the disease, isolation can take place either at home or in an inpatient setting.

If people who are ill with COVID-19 are cared for at home, the following hygiene measures should be observed:

• The ill person should be accommodated alone in a well ventilated single room.
• The number of contacts with other people should be reduced to the absolute minimum.
• Household members should stay in other rooms. If this is not possible, a distance of at least 1.5 to 2 meters should be maintained. In addition, sick persons as well as household members should wear a mouth and nose protector.
• Common rooms should be used as little as possible and preferably at different times. Also meals should not be taken together.
• Air regularly, especially rooms used by several people, such as kitchen and bathroom.
• Contact with people outside the household should be avoided. Deliveries should be placed in front of the house or apartment entrance.
• Coughing and sneezing rules should be strictly adhered to. This includes using a handkerchief when coughing and sneezing or keeping the crook of your arm in front of your mouth and nose and turning away from others. Do not forget to wash your hands afterwards!
• Tissues and other waste from sick people should be kept in a container provided with a garbage bag in the sickroom until they are disposed of with the household waste.
• Sick people and household members should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before preparing meals, before eating, after going to the toilet and whenever soiling is visible.
• Sick people should also wash their hands before contact with other people.
• For household members, good hand hygiene is also important after contact with a sick person or their immediate surroundings.
• To dry the hands, disposable towels should be used if possible.
• If fabric towels are used, healthy and sick people should not share them. Moist towels should be replaced.
• If hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand disinfectant that is kind to the skin and labeled at least "limited virucidal" can be used as an alternative to hand washing. The safety instructions of the hand disinfectants must be observed.
• Frequently touched surfaces (e.g. bedside tables, bed frames and other bedroom furniture, door handles, light switches, smartphones as well as bathroom and toilet surfaces) should be cleaned daily with a household cleaning agent and, if necessary, with a surface disinfectant. Which disinfection measures are to be carried out should be discussed with the responsible public health department or the doctor in charge.
• Clothing, bed linen, bath and hand towels should be washed at a temperature of at least 60°C with a conventional household detergent and dried thoroughly.

In addition, the recommendations of the treating physician or the health authority must be observed.

Household members of persons with confirmed COVID-19 disease are considered first-degree contact persons and are under domestic quarantine.
Source on the topic: www.infektionsschutz.de Status: 07.09.2020

The Studierendenwerk Vorderpfalz does not leave you alone and supports you in coping with the domestic quarantine. Our dormitory tutors go shopping for you and do your laundry. Please leave them outside the door in consultation with the tutors.