The 1st important notice to all UM staff members and students about anti-epidemic measures

To prevent the spread of novel coronavirus and to safeguard the health and well-being of all staff members and students of the University of Macau (UM), the university’s Task Force for Pneumonia Prevention and Control hereby releases this important notice with details as follows:

1. Attaching great importance to the prevention and control of the epidemic

UM established the Task Force for Pneumonia Prevention and Control on 23 January 2020, with UM Rector Yonghua Song and Office of Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs Interim Director Tin Kit Peng serving as the Leader and Coordinator, respectively. The five vice rectors, in charge of academic, global, research, student, and administrative affairs are responsible for coordinating efforts within their purview.

The task force is closely monitoring the development of the epidemic in order to formulate contingency plans and to take appropriate precautionary measures to safeguard the health and well-being of all UM staff members and students. All UM units must fully grasp the gravity of the situation in the prevention and control of the current epidemic and take responsibilities in the implementation of preventive and anti-epidemic measures at personal, family, and university levels.

2. Implementing relevant preventive and control measures

2.1 Ensuring staff availability

During the anti-epidemic period, all new applications for official leave (including those for the purpose of conferences and research) and annual leave will be suspended. For those staff members who are currently not in Macao and cannot return to Macao to report duty, their cases will be considered as taking annual leave and will be approved as special cases. All UM units must ensure that there are personnel on duty during public holidays.

2.2 Postponing classes 

In view of the current development of the epidemic, the university will postpone the resumption of classes. Please refer to UM’s website for more information. 

2.3 Cancelling or suspending exchange activities at mainland universities in this semester

• All exchange activities for UM students at mainland universities will be cancelled. Students will continue their studies at UM; 

• All short-term exchange activities for UM faculty and students at mainland universities will be suspended. All programmes related to the Ten Thousand People’s Scheme will be postponed. 

2.4 Cancelling all group activities on campus

All group activities on campus, including the spring dinners and campus visits, will be cancelled immediately.

2.5 Campus facilities

• All campus facilities, including sports facilities, the UM library, the UM Gallery, different activity venues, and amenities in the Staff Quarters will be closed immediately until further notice;

• Some entrances and facilities of the University Mall (S8) will be closed temporarily. The Fortune Inn will only provide limited service. Other dining facilities on campus will only provide take-away service.

2.6 Campus management

• Equipment for measuring body temperature will be set up in the main buildings on campus. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers will be available in all buildings.

• Disinfection will be enhanced on campus. 1:99 diluted household bleach will be used to disinfect public areas on campus, equipment, and public buses. All restrooms will be disinfected with 1:49 diluted household bleach on a regular basis and liquid soap will be provided at all times. The daily frequency of disinfection may increase depending on the development of the epidemic.

• All outlets and contract service providers on campus are required to closely monitor the health status of their employees. They must measure the body temperature of their employees on a daily basis and require their employees to wear masks and maintain personal hygiene.

2.7 Health security management

• All frontline staff members must wear masks on campus.

• A zone will be set up inside the UM Medical Centre for measuring the body temperature of incoming patients. A specialised outpatient department for patients with fever will be set up.

• All staff members and students who have been to Wuhan during the holiday will be monitored. If symptoms develop, they will be immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance and UM will immediately notify the appropriate government department.

• Employees who had been to Hubei province within 14 days prior to their departure to Macao, as well as employees who had unprotected contact with people infected by the novel coronavirus but the activity falls outside the definition of ‘close contact’ of the Health Bureau, must wear masks and measure their body temperature on a daily basis. If they feel unwell, they must seek medical treatment and make an honest disclosure to the medical personnel about their travel history. If more than two staff members in a unit/work place/work team show symptoms such as fever, cough, and muscle pain, the above measures must be taken. 

• The university has reserved rooms for those who need to conduct self-quarantine. 

2.8 Health declaration

• All students are required to fill in the online travel declaration form to declare their travel history over the Chinese New Year Holiday; 

• All UM faculty members, students, and staff must fill in the online health declaration form upon returning to campus.

2.9 Arrangement of accommodation for residential students and students’ return to campus

• Residential college students 

• All Macao students who are currently staying in a residential college must return home immediately if their homes are in Macao; Macao students who are already at home must not return to campus until classes resume; 
• Non-local students who are currently out of campus must not return to campus until classes resume；
• As responsible citizens, we should respond to the nation’s call to cooperate in the fight against the spread of the outbreak in the community. Therefore, we strongly urge all current residential students (except for those who have already returned home) to refrain from leaving the campus in order to prevent any cross-infection; for those who have already returned home, we strongly urge them to refrain from returning to campus until classes resume.

• Postgraduate students (master’s and PhD students)

• All Macao students who are currently staying in the Postgraduate House must return home immediately if their homes are in Macao; Macao students who are already at home must not return to campus until classes resume; 
• Non-local students who are currently out of campus must not return to campus until classes resume; 
• In case of any special research tasks that necessitate returning to the campus before classes resume, recommendations must be initiated by the concerned supervisor; endorsement must be obtained from the faculty dean or institute director; and further approval must be obtained from the vice rector (academic affairs). Students who have sought special approval to return to the campus must follow all the university’s anti-epidemic guidelines and regulations. 
• As responsible citizens, we should respond to the nation’s call to cooperate in the fight against the spread of the outbreak in the community. Therefore, we strongly urge all current residential students (except for those who have already returned home) to refrain from leaving the campus in order to prevent any cross-infection; for those who have already returned home, we strongly urge them to refrain from returning to campus until classes resume.