From Monday
Unvaccinated people are locked out: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg introduces 2G model
Students sit in a face-to-face event in the lecture hall of the University of Bremen. The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg will introduce a 2G regulation for face-to-face events from next Monday.
© Sina Schuldt // Picture Alliance
2G or 3G – while handling is still being discussed in many institutions in Germany, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg is really nailing it. In future, unvaccinated people will face closed doors at face-to-face events.
Bavaria has the fourth wave of the corona pandemic firmly under control. According to the RKI dashboard, the seven-day incidence on Saturday was 487.7 – only Thuringia and Saxony currently have higher values. The state government around Prime Minister Markus Söder reacted at the beginning of the week by tightening the corona rules. Since then, a 2G regulation has applied to indoor sports and cultural events. (Read more about what 2G and 3G mean here)
A measure that the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg is also taking. Starting next Monday, the university, one of the largest in Germany with more than 38,000 students, will also introduce a 2G regulation for face-to-face events. While there is still a one-week transition period, this means for unvaccinated students that from November 22nd they will no longer be allowed to attend lectures or seminars on campus. The university announced this to its students and teachers on Friday evening.
This is happening “in view of the current worrying conditions in the intensive care units – especially at the University Hospital Erlangen,” the university said in a letter on its homepage. The aim of this regulation is not only to protect students and teachers, but also to avoid a new lockdown in university operations. The university library and study rooms, in which a 3G regulation still exists, are exempt from the regulation. The university did not provide any information about the duration of the regulation.
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg reacts to the tense corona situation
A look at the data shows how tense the situation is in Erlangen. According to the Divi intensive care bed register, only one of the 102 intensive care beds in the city of Erlangen is still free. In the neighboring districts, too, capacities are almost exhausted. And that with an incidence that is still low by Bavarian standards. According to the RKI, it was 246.5 on Saturday, which is below the national average of 277 and well below that of the neighboring districts in Middle Franconia.
For unvaccinated students, however, the university wants to continue to offer educational opportunities. “You can follow the content either via synchronous transmission or via (possibly already existing) recordings,” says the university’s announcement. In lecture halls and seminar rooms with more than 50 participants, a separate service provider should check whether the regulation is actually being adhered to. Accordingly, at least ten percent of the events are checked daily. In rooms for less than 50 people, the lecturer or an authorized person is responsible for checking.
There is a risk of fines and a house ban
According to the university, students who cannot provide proof of 2G or 3G can expect a fine of 250 euros. Anyone who is caught three times receives a restricted entry ban. In addition to the fine, employees of the university also face labor law measures. It is not possible to switch to digital teaching to circumvent the 3G or 2G regulation. This is only possible where a hybrid format, i.e. a mix of face-to-face events and online transmission for unvaccinated people, is not possible.
The university’s decision sparked a discussion on the Internet. “What are these conditions now? You discriminate against unvaccinated students and deny them the classroom study?” Wrote a former student who claims to be a former student on Twitter. “You deserve a huge shit storm.” Others welcomed the decision there: “Consistent and sensible: 2G is a clear sign – congratulations on this decision!”
According to the Bavarian University Conference, there are currently “no concrete plans to transfer the 2G concept to other universities”. This is what managing director Alexander Fehr said at the request of the German press agency. “Nevertheless, appropriate considerations are made and the requirements for this (…) are checked.” According to current assessments, a 2G regulation is legally possible – “insofar as the studyability can still be ensured through hybrid or digital offers,” said Fehr. This is taken into account in the Erlangen concept.