Information about coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and student and staff travel

Advice and Monitoring

EUR stays on top of the developments and all measures that have been communicated by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). EUR also remains in touch with its own Occupational Health and Safety Service, that is continuously informed about al national and international developments. Learn more about the most recent developments on the novel coronavirus at the website of RIVM. RIVM monitors the situation in the Netherlands and advises the public at https://www.rivm.nl/coronavirus. EUR also stays on top of these advices, in conjunction with other Dutch universities. Read more about our measures in the Corona dossier.

Travel advice for students and staff

In a number of regions in the world governments are taking steps to halt a COVID-19 outbreak. With the number of regions increasing by the day, Erasmus University is actively monitoring which regions these are. Although the University’s travel policy for students and staff remains unchanged, it is extra vigilant of the current risks.

For students this means the following: as always, you may not travel to an area that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has designated as an orange or red zone in its travel advice. If you are already in an orange or red zone, consult your University contact person on how to return safely. If you were planning to travel to a green or yellow zone, but discover that coronavirus has been confirmed there, you may decide to reconsider your trip.

For staff this means the following: as always, you need permission for a business trip abroad. The travel advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs determines which administrative level will authorise the trip. If you are considering or have been given permission by your manager to ignore the travel advice, you may do so in consultation with the Executive Board. 

If you are travelling soon to a region with confirmed coronavirus cases or if you are already there, please take good note of the precautionary measures on this page. If you are returning from such a region, notify your GP by phone if you are running a temperature and your airways are affected (cough or shortness of breath). If you do have these symptoms, you may only have the flu. For detailed advice see the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment website.

Preventive measures

Erasmus University advises taking everyday preventive measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses (viruses that cause infections on the respiratory tract). These measures are:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash or disinfect your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if water and soap are not available.
• Stay at home when you are sick.

If you have travelled to an area with coronavirus in the last 14 days or you have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and you feel unwell and have a fever, cough or breathing problems, the advice is:

• Stay at home; do not travel if you are ill.
• Seek medical help. Before going to a doctor’s surgery or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent trip and symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
• Do not travel if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if water and soap are not available.