1. What precautions can I take to protect myself from COVID-19?
Please follow the MOH advisory (https://www.moh.gov.sg/2019-ncov-wuhan) to remain vigilant and to adopt good personal hygiene practices at all times:
All travellers should monitor their health closely for two weeks upon return to Singapore and seek medical attention immediately if you feel unwell. Travellers should inform their doctor of their travel history. If you have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose, shortness of breath), you should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
2. Must I wear a mask?
Masks are generally not needed for people who are well.
If you are unwell, it is advisable for you to wear a surgical mask as it will help reduce the possible spread of the virus. If you have a respiratory tract infection, such as cough or flu, it also helps prevent the droplets from being passed into the air when you cough or sneeze.
A surgical mask should be discarded after use and under no circumstances should it be used for more than one day. Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.
It is also important to observe good personal hygiene:
-
Wash your hands frequently with liquid soap.
-
Always wash your hands after sneezing, coughing, cleaning the nose; going to the toilet; and before touching the eyes, nose and mouth, or preparing food.
-
You can also build up your body's immunity by adopting a healthy lifestyle – eat well, get plenty of rest and sleep, exercise, and refrain from smoking.
3. I would like to seek medical attention as I have a cough and runny nose and have recently travelled overseas to a place with confirmed cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. Should I go to the University Medical Centre or do I have to go to a hospital A&E?
If you have recently travelled overseas, and are feeling unwell with a fever, or respiratory symptoms (such as cough, runny nose), please seek medical attention immediately. Wear a surgical mask and call the University Medical Centre or your nearest clinic ahead of your visit. You should also inform the doctor of your travel history. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has informed and reminded healthcare practitioners to be vigilant for cases and how to manage them. All suspected cases seen at various healthcare settings will be reported to MOH immediately and referred to hospitals for further assessment and treatment.
Travel, Stay-Home Notice (SHN), Leave of Absence (LOA) & Quarantine matters
4. I am an NTU faculty/staff/student and I am still in China, but I plan to return to Singapore soon. What must I do?
All NTU employees and full-time students returning to Singapore with travel history to mainland China within the last 14 days must contact NTU's Office of Human Resources (OHR) and Office of Academic Services (OAS) respectively before you travel back to Singapore and provide details of your planned arrival. This is regardless whether your trip was personal or official.
OHR will provide the necessary assistance to facilitate your return, including seeking approval from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for NTU employees on Employment Passes and Work Permits.
This approval by MOM must be given before your return to Singapore, failing which you will be denied entry. Foreign workers may have their work permits revoked and be repatriated. Students may face disciplinary actions. Permanent Residents, Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and Dependant's Pass (DP) holders may have their Re-Entry Permit, LTVP or DP revoked or the validity shortened.
OAS will provide the necessary assistance for full-time students to facilitate their return.
5. I had travelled overseas within the last 14 days. When I return, what must I do?
All faculty, staff and students who had travelled to mainland China and returned to Singapore on or after 18 February 2020 will be issued a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) for 14 days starting from the day after you return to Singapore. They are to remain at home, even if they have no visible symptoms of illness.
Under the new guidelines, all employees and students who have been served a SHN are to strictly observe the following: - They must remain in their residence at all times during the 14-day period.
- If necessary, they can opt for home delivery services or get the assistance of others for their daily necessities. Food delivery will be arranged for students serving SHN on campus.
- They must not leave their residence except to seek medical attention if unwell
- They should monitor their health closely and seek medical attention. immediately if they develop any fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath.
- Other persons can share the same room/home/apartment with them but social interaction and contact should be minimised.
- They should avoid sharing food, crockery, utensils and other personal hygiene items with others.
- They should avoid having visitors and maintain a record of persons they have come into close contact with during this period.
|
Returnees from mainland China currently on a mandatory 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA) will continue to complete their LOA.
NTU employees can consult their respective HR Business Partners if you have any questions on SHN or LOA matters (see Q10).
6. What is the current advisory on travelling to mainland China?
You are advised to refer to the MOH website for the latest travel advisories. MOH has advised the public to defer all travel to Hubei Province and non-essential travel to mainland China.
As an added precautionary measure, NTU will defer all official trips for faculty, staff and students to mainland China. All inbound and outbound exchanges will also be suspended until further notice. Arrangements will be made to ensure that those returning to NTU from these locations comply with the current health guidelines.
7. Why is the university asking all students who have visited mainland China in the past two weeks, and do not have a local residence, to report to the Graduate Hall 1 ops desk upon their return to Singapore?
In line with the additional precautionary measures announced by Singapore's Multi-Ministry Taskforce, with effect from 18 February 2020, it is mandatory for all Singapore residents and long-term pass holders (regardless of nationality) returning from mainland China to complete a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
With the implementation of the SHN, the Government will no longer issue Leave of Absence to returnees from mainland China.
Full-time students on Stay-Home Notice with no alternative housing will be assigned a temporary SHN room at Graduate Hall 1 for 2 weeks.
Graduate Hall 1 has been designated as a Government Quarantine Facility (GQF). Some rooms at Graduate Hall 1 have also been set aside as temporary housing for students on SHN and LOA. The rooms meant for SHN and LOA students will be in a separate block from those for persons under quarantine (PUQ).
The university will make food delivery arrangements for students serving SHN, LOA and QO on campus.
Students who have been served a SHN are to strictly observe the following: - You must remain in your residence at all times during the 14-day period.
- If necessary, you can opt for home delivery services or get the assistance of others for your daily necessities. Food delivery will be arranged for students serving SHN on campus.
- You must not leave your residence except to seek medical attention if unwell
- You should monitor your health closely and seek medical attention. immediately if you develop any fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath.
- Other persons can share the same room/home/apartment with you but social interaction and contact should be minimised.
- You should avoid sharing food, crockery, utensils and other personal hygiene items with others.
- You should avoid having visitors. Maintain a record of persons you have come into close contact with during this period.
- Do not attend lectures, classes or student activities, but follow your home-based learning plan to continue with your learning.
|
Students who are currently on a mandatory 14-day LOA will continue to complete their LOA.
Students on SHN and LOA will be supported by their school and e-resources in NTULearn to enable them to continue with their learning.
8. What is the difference between Stay-Home Notice, Leave of Absence (LOA) and a Quarantine Order (QO)?
In line with the additional precautionary measures announced by Singapore's Multi-Ministry Taskforce, with effect from 18 February 2020, it is mandatory for all Singapore residents and long-term pass holders (regardless of nationality) returning from mainland China to complete a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
Those who have been served a SHN are to strictly observe the following:
- They must remain in their residence at all times during the 14-day period.
- If necessary, they can opt for home delivery services or get the assistance of others for their daily necessities. Food delivery will be arranged for students serving SHN on campus.
- They must not leave their residence except to seek medical attention if unwell
- They should monitor their health closely and seek medical attention. immediately if they develop any fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath.
- Other persons can share the same room/home/apartment with them but social interaction and contact should be minimised.
- They should avoid sharing food, crockery, utensils and other personal hygiene items with others.
- They should avoid having visitors and maintain a record of persons they have come into close contact with during this period.
The 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA) was an earlier precautionary measure by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for students and staff returning from mainland China on or after 14 January 2020. This applies to all MOE schools, which include MOE kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Special Education (SPED) schools, Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). NTU, like all Autonomous Universities (AUs), also adopted the implementation of LOA as a precautionary measure. Returnees from mainland China currently on LOA will continue to complete their LOA.
A person under quarantine (PUQ) is someone who is healthy but is served a Quarantine Order (QO) by the authorities because of a higher risk of exposure to the virus, such as having recently travelled to Hubei.
Quarantine usually takes place in the home but it can also be served in dedicated GQFs or hospitals. Under the law, a PUQ may face severe penalties for not complying with the Quarantine Order.
Strict safeguards are in place to ensure that the safety of the student population and wider community are not compromised. Those safeguards include:
- Persons under quarantine are required to stay in their designated rooms at all times within the allocated quarantine period. They are not allowed to use common facilities within the GQF.
- Food and all necessary supplies will be delivered to them.
- No visitors are allowed.
- Security measures are in place to ensure compliance to GQF guidelines.
- All staff working at the GQF are also provided with personal protective equipment, such as masks, as advised by MOH.
- GQFs also undergo rigorous cleansing and hygiene regimes according to MOH and NEA guidelines.
The table below illustrates the difference between SHN, LOA and QO.
| EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS ON SHN & LIVING OFF-CAMPUS | STUDENTS ON SHN & LIVING ON CAMPUS | EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS ON LOA & LIVING OFF-CAMPUS | STUDENTS ON LOA & LIVING ON CAMPUS | PERSONS UNDER
QO |
| Given a SHN by the Government as a precautionary measure to prevent transmission of disease in place of work/ education | Excused from work/school as a precautionary measure to prevent transmission of disease in place of work/ education | Compelled under the law to be quarantined at home/ GQFs to prevent potential spread to others |
Based on travel history (i.e. travelled to mainland China) | Stipulated by MOH (e.g. close contact and travel history to Hubei) |
| May continue to live with family members | Will be assigned a temporary SHN room | May continue to live with family members | Will be assigned a temporary LOA room | Controlled environment: isolated, 1 person per room with ensuite toilet |
| Unable to leave place of residence | May leave place of residence for necessities, but strongly advised to minimise time in public spaces | Minimise mixing with other people | Unable to leave place of residence |
| If unwell, refer to doctor/clinic for further assessment | If unwell, GQF will arrange for ambulance to ferry to hospital (995) |
Required to take temperature 2 times a day (morning & evening) and log in Temperature Record on Intranet | Required to take temperature 3 times a day and report to GQF Staff |
| May not leave place of residence | Food delivered to rooms (option to choose outside food delivery). | May leave place of residence to purchase food or necessities | Food delivered to rooms (option to choose outside food delivery). | Food delivered to rooms (option to choose outside food delivery)
|
10. Why is there a need to have a Government Quarantine Facility on the NTU campus?
Designating a hall of residence at NTU, alongside other Singapore universities, as a Government Quarantine Facility (GQF) is in support of the Singapore Government's response plan for emergencies, in the ongoing national effort to address the evolving COVID-19 situation in Singapore.
11. How will
theGovernment Quarantine Facility be used?
GQF may be used to quarantine our international students issued with Quarantine Orders (QO). These students are well but are served the QO by the authorities because of a higher risk of exposure to the virus, such as having recently travelled to Hubei. Individuals who later show any symptoms will not remain in Graduate Hall 1 but will be immediately transferred by ambulances to designated hospitals for further evaluation.
12. Are there any risks to those who live near the Government Quarantine Facility?
Strict safeguards are in place to ensure that the safety of the student population and wider community is not compromised. Those safeguards are:
-
Persons under quarantine are required to stay in their designated rooms at all times within the allocated quarantine period. They are not allowed to use common facilities within the GQF.
-
Food and all necessary supplies will be delivered to them.
-
No visitors are allowed.
-
Security measures are in place to ensure compliance to GQF guidelines.
-
All staff working at the GQF are also provided with personal protective equipment, such as masks, as advised by MOH.
-
GQFs also undergo rigorous cleansing and hygiene regimes according to MOH and NEA guidelines.
Visitor matters
13. I am expecting visitors from mainland China to NTU; can I still host them? What about visitors from other parts of the world?
For visitors who had travelled from China, unless they had already been in Singapore for 14 or more days, and are well with no symptoms, we suggest you politely defer their visits to NTU. For other visitors, if they are well and have no recent travel history to China, you may proceed with the visit, taking all necessary precautionary measures e.g. maintenance of good personal hygiene. This is a safety precaution to ensure the wellbeing of everyone in the community.
14. What about visitors and tourists coming to campus?
NTU is an open campus and regularly sees visitors, including tourists and nearby Jurong residents, enjoying its public facilities and open spaces. As the COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly, and in order to protect the health of our students, faculty and staff, the University is asking travel agencies to immediately suspend visits by tour groups to our campus until further notice.
