Developments in recent weeks show that the Corona pandemic is far from over. In many countries, the number of infections has again skyrocketed and continues to rise. Those returning to their home countries are affected, as are some of the home countries of employees of our partner companies. In order to protect all persons employed at MEYER WERFT the current measures to prevent infection will be strengthened again until mid September 2020. With the return of many employees to the shipyard from 31 August 2020 onwards a new updated health questionnaire or a negative corona test will be mandatory in order to gain access to the yard. In a specially constructed test area, several stations must be successfully completed in order to gain access authorisation.

Those who do not have any symptoms of illness and have not been in risk areas (incl. transit through risk areas) will receive a new sticker for the shipyard pass after handing in and checking the questionnaire and measuring the body temperature, which entitles them to access. The risk areas are very strictly defined, i.e. with more than 25 infections per 100,000 inhabitants. In addition, the shipyard's successful shift and zone concept, which was introduced with the introduction of Pandemic Level 4 in spring, applies.

"We have now been able to organise the mobile test centre very well, we still have numerous employees in the home office as well as on the ships Iona and Spirit of Discovery with their own and similarly restrictive regulations, and we can now control access much better. In order to avoid waiting times, all direct employees can already go through this "check-in process" on 28 and 29 August. We will continue to be as vigilant as possible in implementing the "AHA rules" (distance hygiene mask) and appeal to everyone to observe these rules in their daily lives both inside and outside the shipyard", explains Thomas Weigend, Managing Director of MEYER WERFT.

Nico Bloem, chairman of the works council, also sees a need for action due to the current development of the corona case numbers: "We have to protect the health of our colleagues, this has top priority. Due to the new developments, short-term action was necessary. The high number of people returning to their home countries poses a danger. The measures are necessary to keep the risk of infection at the shipyard as low as possible. It is a matter of the health protection of colleagues", says Nico Bloem.