Minister of Science Dr. Manja Schüle: "We want and have to contribute to breaking the chains of infection and slowing down the spread of the corona pandemic. The health of employees, students and scientists at our institutions of higher education is a top priority. With on-site courses and events cancelled for students since March 13, we now have to focus on the protection of the remaining employees with the highest priority. The institutions have until the beginning of the week to shut down their operations and laboratories. I would like to thank the institutions of higher education for their committed and highly professional approach to dealing with the effects of the corona crisis. Due to the dynamic development, further restrictions are possible in the coming days. We have set up a task force within the Ministry and are in close contact with all institutions to provide them with the best possible support in this crisis."
Prof. Oliver Günther, Chairman of the rectors’ conference of the state of Brandenburg and President of the University of Potsdam: "The health of our students and our staff is now of the utmost importance. Partly because students and faculty have many social contacts, and the potential risks are high. The decision in favor of emergency on-site operations is the right one for Brandenburg, especially considering the fact that digital teaching and research with a systemic relevance remain possible.”
In accordance with their pandemic plans updated in recent days, the higher education institutions themselves determine which key employees are required to be present to maintain emergency on-site operations.
The Ministry of Science can now also be reached on Twitter and communicates current developments and decisions here: https://twitter.com/mwfkbrb. Further information is available on the Ministry's Corona portal https://mwfk.brandenburg.de/mwfk/de/ministerium/umgang-mit-corona-pandemie/ and on the websites of the universities.