Media

An HKU spokesperson responds to the media:

“The University has required all students who have recently returned from the Mainland to undertake self-quarantine for 14 days, the same as what the government requested for other citizens in the territory. This is in accordance with the guidelines by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and advice from medical experts, in order to control the risk of an outbreak of the new coronavirous in the community.

Student residential halls have devoured all their efforts to make arrangements for non-local student residents requiring self-quarantine. Since some halls are having difficulties in providing enough single rooms with toilet facilities necessary for self-quarantine, some students have been allocated temporary hotel accommodations, with room rental being covered by the University. None of those now staying in the hotel are from Hubei or Wuhan.

The main purpose of these arrangements is to ensure the health and safety of members of the university community and that of Hong Kong as a whole. We have been trying our best to utilise any resources available, on making appropriate arrangements to hall facilities, so as to play a part as a socially responsible institution to help with the prevention of an outbreak of the virus in the community. 

According to the CHP’s latest reporting requirements for outbreak control, anyone meeting the criteria of ‘suspected cases’ will be screened and identified early when they cross Hong Kong borders or on other occasions. As such, the University will immediately report and send any ‘at risk’ persons of ‘suspected cases’ in the first instance to the hospital for check-ups, without going through hall quarantines. 

For students undergoing self-quarantine, we will provide all necessary assistance and guidance on precautionary measures to observe. Students are requested to wear a mask at any time of the day and dine in their rooms. We will monitor closely the students’ health conditions, including checking body temperatures daily, and whether there are any symptoms of respiratory illness or pneumonia etc. We will arrange for necessary medical follow-up without delay to mitigate risks when such situation arises. 

HKU has been strictly following the guidelines and advice from CHP, World Health Organisation and medical experts, and proactively taking all necessary infection control measures to address this situation, such as requesting students and staff returning from the Mainland to fill in health questionnaires, providing personal and environmental hygiene advice, and arranging for students to be in self-quarantine. We look for all community stakeholders’ understanding and support under this difficult time.”