On September 30, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) classified the entire country of Belgium as a risk area. This has implications for border commuters living in Belgium and commuting to RWTH for work or study purposes.
Employees Living in East Belgium
Infection rates in this region are estimated to be on a par with that of the Aachen area. Employees not working from home may continue commuting to RWTH for work. Commuter certificates already issued by the Department of Human Resources are still valid. If necessary, a new certificate can also be issued. Please contact the Department for more information.
Employees Living in All Other Areas of Belgium
The infection rates in the rest of Belgium are currently estimated to be higher than that of the Aachen area. Employees should only commute to RWTH if this is absolutely necessary for work duties that cannot be postponed and can only be carried out at RWTH. Otherwise, and in principle, employees living in these areas of Belgium should only work from home. Commuter certificates already issued by the Human Resources Department are also still valid for individuals in these areas. If necessary, a new certificate can also be issued.
Students Living in Belgium
Participation in (oral and written) exams, lab courses and practicals, as well as bridge courses is usually deemed compulsory and cannot be postponed. We would have no objections to students commuting to RWTH for such purposes. As a rule, the student ID card should suffice as proof of a justified reason to travel. If necessary, the Central Examination Office will be happy to issue you with a corresponding notification.
Please note: If you intend to travel (or go on an excursion) in Germany for private or work reasons any time soon, we would strongly recommend that employees and students living in Belgium check with the local authorities or providers at your place of destination in advance whether special travel arrangements need to be made. Some federal states have imposed temporary bans on accommodation, for example.