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Positive Cases on Campus

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How to report COVID-19 positive cases or close contacts to the University?
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Centralized Reporting of Campus COVID Cases

All reports of rapid test positive, PCR positive, and close contact cases should be made to the Security Control Center (SCC) by phone through 2358 8999, which is manned 24/7, although reports through the COVID webpage and other channels will still be monitored.

 

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What is the definition of close contacts?
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The latest Government definition of Close Contact is as follows: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html#testPositive

The determination of close contacts will take into consideration relevant details of the situation. In general, tracing period is counted from two days before symptom onset date of the confirmed case; for asymptomatic case, it is counted from two days before the date of collection of specimen which tested positive. Close contacts refer to:

• Persons who live with the confirmed case in the same household

• Persons who have had face-to-face close contacts with the confirmed case (especially when the confirmed case did not wear a mask, such as when having meals together)

 

Student hostels are not typical household, the above criteria are used as reference for determining close contacts in hostels. Since the COVID situation is developing very rapidly, please refer to the above webpages for the latest updates.

 

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How does the University deal with COVID-19 cases among campus residents?
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Contingency Plans to Handle COVID-19 Cases Among Campus Residents

In order to protect the health and safety of members, the University is making contingency plans to accommodate campus residents who are tested positive for COVID-19 and close contacts using multiple facilities as follows:

  • Confirmed / preliminary positive cases: Members living on campus who are tested positive for COVID-19 should report their status to the Center for Health Protection (CHP) which will make arrangement for isolation in a hospital or a Government facility if needed.  Further, members should report their status to the Security Control Center (SCC) by phone through 2358 8999, to report the positive case and for arrangement of a temporary place for isolation until they are admitted to the hospitals or Government facility if needed.  
  • Close contacts: close contacts (e.g. household members, hall roommates, hall residents in adjacent rooms) of preliminary positive cases among campus residents will be requested to stay at home or a designated hall for at least 7 days to undergo quarantine and medical surveillance according to the Stay Home Safe Scheme.  Staff residents and family members may stay in their quarters, while students living in halls will be moved to Hall 9 for this quarantine period. Note that this is a quarantine arrangement by the University, members need to follow other Government requirements, if so instructed by CHP.
  • Logistics support, e.g. transport of members to isolation/quarantine facilities, food ordering and delivery, and special cleaning services (as needed) will be arranged.
  • If there is a positive case in a hall, other residents tested negative may choose to move out and their hall fee will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.

 

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How does the University deal with staff quarter residents who are tested positive?
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Members living on campus who are tested positive for COVID-19 should report their status to the Center for Health Protection (CHP) which will make arrangement for isolation in a hospital or a Government facility if needed.  Further, members should report their status to the Security Control Center (SCC) by phone through 2358 8999, to report the positive case and for arrangement of a temporary place for isolation until they are admitted to the hospitals or Government facility if needed.  

 

According to the Government’s recommendation, staff quarters can be used for home isolation while waiting for admission to hospital or Government facility. Staff residents may choose to remain in their quarters and wait for further Government instructions, which is in compliance with Government regulations. Staff residents choosing to stay in their quarters must strictly follow Government instructions, which can be obtained in the Center for Health Protection webpages:

• For people tested positive https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/pending-admission.html

• And for close contacts under home quarantine https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/home-quarantine.html

 

CMO colleagues will conduct thorough and regular cleaning of common areas in staff quarters with residents waiting for admission or undergoing home quarantine. Support for meal delivery would also be provided if needed.

 

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Is there any case of “confirmed patient” or “home quarantine” on campus? Will home-quarantine persons pose a threat to other residents and increase risk of campus community outbreak of the COVID-19?
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The latest COVID-19 related figures on campus can be found here. Residents on campus undergoing quarantine are reminded to strictly follow the Centre for Health Protection’s Infection Control Advice for Person under Compulsory Home Quarantine. The University also closely monitors the campus home quarantine situation.

 

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What is the University’s arrangement when there is a confirmed COVID-19 case among university members? What if the confirmed case is a campus resident?
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When there is a confirmed case, the University will inform the campus community by updating the COVID-19 related figures on the webpage, and the concerned department or office will reconstruct the campus activities and contacts of the diagnosed person in the past 14 days from the date of diagnosis. Necessary follow up actions include informing and offering assistance to contacts and disinfecting areas visited by the diagnosed person. If the confirmed case is a campus resident, special cleaning and disinfection will be conducted in the building the person lives in, and necessary advice and assistance will be provided to other building occupants.

 

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What is the University’s arrangement if there is a campus-related, non-HKUST member confirmed case?
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If there is any confirmed case of non-HKUST members (e.g. contract staff, visitors, etc.), the University will collaborate with the Government Centre for Health Protection, who will advise university management on taking appropriate infection control measures. The University will support to take any necessary follow-up actions, including tracing contacts and cleaning the concerned areas.

 

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