Obligated preventive SELF QUARANTINE
This website is to support students who need preventive quarantine upon arrival in the Netherlands (as a new student, or after return from your parents/vacation) and their housemates/friends.
WHAT IS Obligated Preventive QUARANTINE?
Self-quarantine is the situation where you have to stay at home for 10 days after travelling from a region/country labelled red/orange by the Dutch government, this requirement applies even if you have proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. For more information about obligated preventive quarantine and an up-to-date list of high-risk countries visit this webpage or check the quarantine roadmap of the UT.
Self-quarantine takes place in the same accommodation you have rented to live in. Self-quarantine is allowed in accommodation with shared facilities (bathroom, toilets, kitchen). Please keep a distance of 1,5 m to your housemates (for example make a time schedule for using the kitchen). You are allowed to be on a balcony or in the yard of the house (if available). In case of preventive quarantine, housemates are free to leave the house and move around unless the person quarantined or another housemate shows Covid-19 symptoms. In that case, another protocol is in place: the person with symptoms needs to be tested and has to stay in the house until the result of the test is in. In case symptoms include fever and shortage of breath housemates also need to stay in the house until the results of the test are in.
PREPARING FOR PREVENTIVE QUARANTINE
If you need preventive quarantine we advise you to pay attention to the following:
- Take sufficient facemasks with you
- Make sure your accommodation has wifi. You can check with your renting company/landlord.
- Make sure your phone works in The Netherlands
- Make a paper-based list of useful phone numbers (just in case :))
- During quarantine, you can only be provided with groceries. Make sure you take whatever else you need. Check the inventory list in case you rented a furnished room.
before arrival
Before entering the Netherlands from a high-risk county or region you need to complete a quarantine declaration form. A quarantine declaration form can be completed both online and on paper. The form is available in multiple languages and can be found on this webpage. Not completing the quarantine declaration may result in a €95 fine. For more information visit this webpage.
UPON ARRIVAL
The Student Union/Kick-In can arrange for a pick-up service. Check out the webpage for more information about this service.
You are allowed to use public transport to travel to your quarantine accommodation. If you do so, please avoid rush hour. Face masks are obligatory at Schiphol Airport as well as in all public transport. See the following webpage for detailed instruction on how to get from Schiphol to Enschede.
SURVIVING QUARANTINE
Having to stay inside another 10 days after arrival is not fun after we already experienced months of restrictions. This may help you:
- Get in touch with your housemates (keep 1.5 m distance) and (online with your fellow students during the Kick-In). They may help you out with groceries and offer (moral) support. See also this webpage with practical tips and information e.g. on how to obtain groceries. If nobody is able to help you, you can contact buddy@union.utwente.nl. The buddy platform is probably able to help you by giving tips about doing your groceries.
- Prepare for the start of the academic year by checking the info you receive(d) from your programme
HELP NEEDED?
- Is your wifi not working? Get in touch with your renting company/landlord as they are responsible for wifi. If you really get stuck, get in touch with Student Services.
- Do you encounter study-related problems? Contact your study adviser
- Do you have an issue related to the Kick-In? See the kick-in website.
- Do you have (mild) Covid-19 symptoms? See the next sections on this webpage.
- Do you encounter (other than Covid-19) (mental) health problems that cannot wait until your quarantine is over? See utwente health services for more info.
- Do you encounter severe (mental) health-related problems outside office hours? See utwente health services for more info.
- Do you have any other questions regarding the COVID-19 virus? See the Utwente Service Portal for health and prevention for more information.
In all other cases:
- MSc-students of ITC can contact ITC-Student Affairs
- All other students Student Services.
QUARANTINE AFTER (SUSPECTED) COVID-19 INFECTION
Common symptoms that may point to Covid-19 are a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, a mild cough, a sudden loss of smell or taste, a fever and shortness of breath.
- If you have one or more of these symptoms, get tested. Stay at home until you receive the results. If you have shortness of breath or fever above 38 degrees Celsius, all housemates must also stay at home until you receive the results. If they have symptoms, they must also get tested.
- How to get tested?
If you have mild symptoms, call 0800 1202 for an appointment. You’ll be connected to an assistant from the GGD (municipal health service) not being a doctor. The assistant will find the first available appointment for you. More information on testing: https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-test. Don’t wait until you have severe symptoms, but if you have see the health services at the UT. - Stay at home until it is time to go to the test location. Bring proof of identity and confirmation of your appointment with you. Your details will be checked when you arrive.
- Go home immediately after the test and stay there until you get the results.
ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT TESTING
- When making an appointment you will be asked for your BSN-number. If you do not have such a number (yet), you can also make an appointment. Please make sure you have your address at hand.
- The test location in Enschede is on the UT-campus (De Achterhorst 1, 7522 EA Enschede). There are also other test locations nearby (see https://www.ggdtwente.nl/corona/corona-testen/waar-kun-je-je-laten-testen [Dutch only]). You cannot go by public transport, so most people who don’t have a car go by bike or arrange for a ride/taxi. If you need assistance to get to the test location because you don’t have a bike yet, please contact Student Services.
- Because of privacy regulations, the UT will not be informed about the fact that you have a test and/or the result of the test. Therefore, UT-staff can only assist you in the test process if you explicitly inform them and give permission to do so.
BEING A HOUSEMATE OF A PERSON IN QUARANTINE
- If you have a housemate who is in preventive quarantine there are no restrictions for you. Self-quarantine is allowed in accommodation with shared facilities (bathroom, toilets, kitchen). Please keep a distance of 1,5 m to the housemate who is in preventive quarantine (for example make a time schedule for using the kitchen). You may help your housemate by offering to do grocery shopping or you can offer moral support and fun 1.5m activities. Those in preventive quarantine are allowed to be on a balcony or in the yard.
- If you have a housemate who does show symptoms, he/she needs to be tested as soon as possible. If the symptoms of your housemate include fever/shortage of breath, you have to stay at home until test results are in. If you do miss compulsory study activities due to this, please inform your study adviser. If you or a housemate get tested positive for Covid-19 you will receive instructions from GGD on what (not) to do.
- For more information on Covid-19 and student housing see the following webpage.