Content |
Professors, colleagues and students:
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed in a press conference announcement on 3/31 that National Taiwan Normal University has a confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus. The university has cooperated with the CECC’s requirements and has already conducted an investigation and environmental evaluation. Based on our investigation, the university has already thoroughly cleaned and sanitized all areas in which the infected individual has been present, and additionally has conducted a large-scale sanitization of all the school campuses over Spring Break. The University Health Center has also been taking necessary action in accordance with information we’ve received from Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. The Health Center has been closely monitoring the health and wellness of the infected individual, and will continue to provide comprehensive information and assistance to all students, faculty and staff.
During the following weeks, we kindly call on all students, faculty and staff to adopt the following safety measures:
- Please avoid social gatherings as much as possible and practice social distancing (at least 1 meter indoors and 1.5 meters outdoors; if this is not possible, please wear a face mask)
- If you have already received a notification from the university to self-quarantine, please comply with this request and self-quarantine for 14 days. During this time, measure your body temperature in the morning and evening and pay attention for any respiratory symptoms, signs of fever (37.5 – 38 C), coughing or trouble catching your breath. If you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms, please immediately notify the Health Center (extension: 3111) or Student Advisers Office (extension: 3123) and contact the school’s Pandemic Hotline (ext: 1922) and seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Please do not take public transportation on your way to the hospital.
- Please do not publically share or spread unverified health information regarding potentially infected individuals.
- We request that all university departments maintain airflow in their academic spaces and pay close attention to the health and wellness of their students and staff. Individuals that do have respiratory symptoms (but no fever) are required to wear face masks when entering school premises, wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, and seek medical treatment if symptoms worsen. If you begin to show the aforementioned symptoms, please access the university’s Pandemic Safety Measures page and proactively report your health situation to the school.
Taiwan Center for Disease Controls has provided the following FAQ regarding close-contact with infected individuals
- What is regarded as “close-contact” with infected individuals? Who will be regarded as individuals who have been in “close-contact” with infected individuals?
- From the time the infected individual has been diagnosed to the beginning of quarantine:
- If you have been in close proximity to the infected individual (face-to-face) for longer than 15 minutes without protection, i.e. wearing face mask
- OR, you are a medical/healthcare worker who has treated or been in close proximity to the breathing liquids or particles of an infected individual
- All individuals who meet the aforementioned definitions will be regarded as individuals who have been in “close-contact” with an infected person. However, Taiwan Center for Disease Control may change these definitions as the situation changes or intensifies.
- Which individuals need to self-quarantine at home?
- Taiwan’s Ministry of Health strongly suggests that any people who have been in close contact with an infected individual should self-quarantine at home for 14 days, starting from the last known or suspected interaction with the infected individual. During this self-quarantine period, the quarantined individual should stay at home and is prohibited from leaving their home or leaving the country. They should do their best to stay separated from their family members. However, if not possible, family members should adopt appropriate safety measures and maintain safe distance from the quarantined individual.
- Are other people not at risk?
- All people who have been in close-contact with infected individuals (refer to definition of “close contact” above) must self-quarantine in their homes. However, for those who have not been in close-contact with infected individuals, we suggest that you adopt appropriate health management measures, such as vigorously and thoroughly washing your hands and wearing face masks when going into public. If you start showing symptoms (such as fever, coughing, fatigue, etc), please immediately notify health care professionals. For those who have been in close contact with self-quarantined individuals, please adopt appropriate health management measures and proceed with your regular routine as usual.
- I attend a school that has a confirmed case of Covid-19, and have been getting unwanted scrutiny and attention. What should I do?
- As long as infected individuals or people in self-quarantine fully cooperate with Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center’s preventative measures (quarantine in hospital or at home), every should not be overly or unnecessarily worried. We will do our best to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the Covid-19 pandemic. Our goal is to keep you informed and protect the privacy of those directly affected by this pandemic.
|