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Frequently-Asked Questions: Self-Isolation Arrangements in Hotel for Students Returning from the Mainland
1. Why did the University arrange for students to undergo self-isolation?
2. Are there any ‘suspected cases’ within those who require self-isolation? What is the health condition of those students who require self-isolation?
3. Why is there a need to arrange for students to stay in hotel for self-isolation?
4. For the undergoing self-isolation in hotels, are there any coming from Hubei or Wuhan?
5. What control measures have the University put in place to reduce the threat to the community posed by such students?
6. Will the students undergoing self-isolation pose a threat to the hotel guests and staff members?
7. Will the students undergoing self-isolation pose a threat to the residents in the vicinity and increase the risk of an outbreak of the new coronavirus in the community?
- More information about the Novel Coronavirus
- Download bilingual pdf file1. Why did the University arrange for students to undergo self-isolation?
As a socially responsible institution, HKU has the responsibility to undertake all precautionary measures possible in tackling the novel coronavirus.
We require all students who have recently returned from the Mainland to undergo self-isolation for 14 days, same as all other citizens in Hong Kong returning from the Mainland, in accordance with the guidelines stipulated by the CHP and advice from medical experts.
Self-isolation is vastly different from undergoing quarantine in designated quarantine centres arranged by the government.
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Self-isolation is a precautionary measure, an effective measure to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill.
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Self-isolation does not equal Quarantine. Quarantine is a mandatory measure undertaken to prevent contact with those already diagnosed with the disease. High risk people returning from Hubei or Wuhan have been arranged to undergo Quarantine in designated quarantine centres arranged by the government.
Self-isolation is different from ‘suspected cases’. Suspected cases have been sent to hospital for testing and medical follow-up.
2. Are there any ‘suspected cases’ within those who require self-isolation? What is the health condition of those students who require self-isolation?
The University follows strictly the guidelines set by CHP in regard to ‘suspected cases’*. Individuals with fever or under ‘suspected cases’ symptoms will be reported and sent to hospital for testing without delay and will not be arranged to stay in hotels.
Before checking in to hotels, students' body temperature is measured by HKU staff to ensure they have no fever. Students are also required to complete a questionnaire to declare they have no symptoms developed for novel coronavirus.
As such, students who have been arranged to undergo self-isolation in hotels are all in good health condition at the time of check-in.
* Medical practitioners are requested to make a report to the CHP for further investigation if they encounter an individual with fever or acute respiratory illness, or pneumonia, and who had experienced one of the following within 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms:
(a) visited Hubei Province; or (b) visited a medical hospital in the Mainland; or (c) had close contact with a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus while that patient was symptomatic.
3. Why is there a need to arrange for students to stay in hotel for self-isolation?
Student residential halls have devoured all their efforts to make arrangements for non-local student residents requiring self-isolation. Since some halls have difficulties in providing enough single rooms with toilet facilities necessary for self-isolation, some students have been allocated temporary hotel accommodations.
4. For the undergoing self-isolation in hotels, are there any coming from Hubei or Wuhan?
None of those students now staying in the hotels have visited Hubei or Wuhan recently.
5. What control measures have the University put in place to reduce the threat to the community posed by such students?
We wish to reiterate that all students being arranged to stay in the hotel have undergone a health screening, and have shown no symptoms before they can stay in the hotel. None of the students visited Hubei or Wuhan recently.
We have provided the students with a set of practical tips for self-isolation with reference to advice and guidelines provided by CHP, World Health Organization and professional medical experts. They must adhere to the guidelines, like all other citizens who require self-isolation after returning from the Mainland:
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Students must wear a surgical mask in a proper way when they leave their rooms. Students should exercise good hand hygiene.
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Students MUST disinfect their hands properly.
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Students should also observe, on a daily basis, any symptoms of respiratory disease and alert HKU staff immediately for medical follow-up if any symptoms occur during their stay.
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Students are advised to eat in their own hotel room. Starting from 4 February, HKU will arrange food delivery to students’ rooms.
HKU will make arrangement to measure students’ body temperature at the hotels on a daily basis to ensure they have no fever symptoms, nor any symptoms of respiratory illness or pneumonia etc. We will arrange for medical follow-up without delay when the need arises.
6. Will the students undergoing self-isolation pose a threat to the hotel guests and staff members?
The University has adopted various measures to closely monitor students’ health condition and to ensure they observe the guidelines issued by the University for self-isolation.
We trust the hotels will strictly follow the health advice on infection control provided by CHP for the hotel industry (https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/nid_guideline_hotel_serving_guests_eng.pdf), the same as it is dealing with all other hotel guests, to ensure the safety of guests and staff members.
7. Will the students undergoing self-isolation pose a threat to the residents in the vicinity and increase the risk of an outbreak of the new coronavirus in the community?
According to the latest information from CHP, the main mode of transmission of novel coronavirus is through respiratory droplets. The virus is not airborne and doesn’t spread through “causal contact”. Individuals must be in close contact (within two metres) to be able to inhale droplets from a cough or sneeze that is not covered. For day to day contacts, adopting good personal hygiene and wearing a surgical face mask is sufficient protection.
The self-isolation arrangements by the University has helped largely reduce the risk of close contact between students returning from the Mainland with others, to protect the community and Hong Kong as a whole. We seek for your understanding and support.
As of January 26, all the six suspected cases on campus reported to the CHP have been cleared of the novel coronavirus infection. There are no new suspected cases as of February 3. The University has set up a webpage (updated daily) to report on new suspected cases at: http://wap.jeffenvelope.cn/others/coronavirus-updates.html
More information about the Novel Coronavirus:
- World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/transmission.html
- Centre for Health Protection:
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
- University Health Service, The University of Hong Kong
http://www.uhs.hku.hk/phpedpr/novel_infectious_disease_of_PH_significance.php
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