General

Where can I have the latest number of University members confirmed or preliminarily confirmed with COVID-19 infection?
Do I need to present a Vaccine Pass upon campus access?
Can staff members and students holding amber code go back to campus?
If staff members are absent from work due to the HKSAR government's restriction on movement under infection control measures, can special work arrangements be made for them?
I have recovered from COVID-19. Do I need to take the vaccine?
I have recovered from COVID-19 recently and need not take the vaccines. How can I prove my recovery status upon entering the campus?
Am I required to produce a medical certificate if I have a condition meaning I am unable to get vaccinated?
Does the University recognize vaccines administered outside Hong Kong? Do I still need to undergo regular testing?
Who can I call or e-mail if I need more advice?
Where can I submit my new vaccination record to the Vaccination/Regular Testing Report System (VTR)?
Any measures for campus visitors?

Students

Staff

General

Where can I have the latest number of University members confirmed or preliminarily confirmed with COVID-19 infection?

The University has created a dashboard of the latest number of University members confirmed or preliminarily confirmed with COVID-19 infection, so that everyone can keep abreast of the latest situation on campus. Please visit the Confirmed COVID-19 cases in CUHK webpage.
Do I need to present a Vaccine Pass upon campus access?

Yes. As the government has launched the Vaccine Pass scheme, visitors will be required to present their Vaccine Pass for verification to show evidence of vaccination or exemption for medical reasons upon campus access. Starting from 30 November, all students, staff, alumni and visitors aged 12 or above are required to have received the third dose before they enter the campus. For details of the Vaccine Pass schedule and dosage requirements, please click here.

If you have once contracted and recovered from the virus, please download the recovery record QR code through the government's COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System. The QR code is valid within 180 days, i.e., six months from the recovery date, during which you may present it as a substitute for the vaccination record. You may save the code in the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to facilitate scanning. You are also advised to check out the dosage schedule of Vaccine Pass and take the jabs required after recovery to comply with the entry requirement.

Staff and students accessing campus via CULink cards are reminded to upload their most updated vaccination records or proof of medical exemption to the VTR portal. We urge you to upload your vaccination records to the latest version of the LeaveHomeSafe app so you can continue to access facilities such as canteens and other venues across the city covered by the government's scheme. Please contact ITSC Service Desk if you encounter problems regarding the VTR portal.

For individuals who were previously unfit for vaccination due to genuine medical reasons and hold a medical exemption certificate, if they are now considered fit for vaccination after a subsequent medical assessment and have started the vaccination course, they may have to wait up to six months before completing the three doses and therefore not be able to fulfil the requirement under the Vaccine Pass within the validity period of the medical exemption certificate. To them, the government will issue a “Transitional Vaccine Pass” starting from November 22 so that they can enter Vaccine Pass applicable premises while they are waiting to receive the next dose. The transitional pass will be valid until the recommended vaccination date for the next dose. Click here for details on how to obtain the pass.
Can staff members and students holding amber code go back to campus?

Yes. Staff and students who are amber code holders can work, study, or live on campus provided they refrain from off-mask activities and do not eat in canteens, hostel pantries or other communal eating areas.
If staff members are absent from work due to the HKSAR government's restriction on movement under infection control measures, can special work arrangements be made for them?

Staff members who cannot come to work due to isolation, quarantine or compulsory testing for restricted areas may apply for sick leave. The isolation order, quarantine order or the certificate of restriction-testing declaration issued by the Department of Health should be provided to support the leave application.

Please note that according to the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022, this does not apply to members undergoing compulsory quarantine upon arrival in Hong Kong.

If staff members subject to quarantine or compulsory testing—who are not infected—consider themselves fit and wish to continue to work during the period, they may discuss with their departments or units on alternative work arrangements. As agreed by both parties, they may work from home instead of taking sick leave.

If the infected staff members are unfit for work and have provided their medical certificates, they will be entitled to statutory sick leave.
I have recovered from COVID-19. Do I need to take the vaccine?

Depends. The recovery record QR code which recovered persons may download from the government website is seen as equivalent to one jab under the Vaccine Pass scheme. Within six months from your recovery, you are not required to take any additional doses. If you were unvaccinated before the infection, you will be required to take one dose of the vaccine six months after recovery, followed by another dose after six months. If you have received one dose before the infection, you will need to get the second dose six months after your recovery.

No additional dose is required of recovered persons (aged 5 or above) who received their second or third dose before a COVID-19 infection.

While the rule holds, considering the dosage requirement will come into effect immediately once the six-month threshold is up for recovered individuals, you are recommended to plan your vaccination ahead and take the doses soon required within the six-month window. You are advised to upload your latest vaccination record to the COVID-19 Vaccination/Regular Testing Report System to ensure continued access to the University. The CULink cards of those who fail to upload their latest record in time will be invalidated.

Please check out the government's factsheet for recommendations on doses and when you should take them. For details of the Vaccine Pass schedule and dosage requirements, please click here.
I have recovered from COVID-19 recently and need not take the vaccines. How can I prove my recovery status upon entering the campus?

You may present one of the following documents as proof of recovery: recovery record QR code downloaded through the COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System, discharge letter, isolation order, SMS, electronic or paper record of positive nucleic acid test result issued by the government or private laboratories recognized by the Department of Health, SMS or electronic record of completed declaration on the government's Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test, other recovery proofs issued by the government or the Hospital Authority, or medical exemption certificate issued by a doctor.

In compliance with the Vaccine Pass requirement, starting 1 July, only the recovery record QR code or the vaccination record QR code with your recovery status incorporated will be accepted as a proof of recovery. You are recommended to save the recovery record QR code in the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to facilitate scanning.

A photo shot of a positive rapid antigen test result will not suffice as proof of infection or recovery. Please report your positive test result to the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test, or call the Centre for Health Protection's automated system at 1836 119 if you have difficulties accessing the online platform or miss the reporting deadline.

Recovered persons are also advised to check out the dosage schedule of Vaccine Pass to take the jabs required after recovery.
Am I required to produce a medical certificate if I have a condition meaning I am unable to get vaccinated?

Yes, please upload an image of the medical certificate issued by a local registered doctor/hospital to the University's Vaccination/Regular Testing Report System (VTR). You are required also to conduct COVID-19 test every week and report the results to the VTR portal.
Does the University recognize vaccines administered outside Hong Kong? Do I still need to undergo regular testing?

Under latest Hong Kong Vaccine Pass requirements, persons aged above 12 are required to be vaccinated with full course (e.g. 3 doses for BioNTech or Sinovac). Members currently outside Hong Kong are highly recommended to have a full course plus booster of officially recognized COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to Hong Kong. Those who have done so should submit official vaccination records issued by their home country or region to the VTR portal. Otherwise, they are required to receive the full course dose after arriving to Hong Kong which may result in long delays in completing their vaccination requirements for campus access. The University recognizes all official vaccination records issued by members' home countries or regions of officially recognized COVID-19 vaccines. After submitting those records to the VTR portal, members will not be required to undergo regular testing.
Who can I call or e-mail if I need more advice?

COVID-19 hotline: 3943 6436 (office hours)
E-mail: healtheducation.uhs@cuhk.edu.hk
Where can I submit my new vaccination record to the Vaccination/Regular Testing Report System (VTR)?

Please submit your latest vaccination record to the University's COVID-19 Vaccination/Regular Testing Report System.
Any measures for campus visitors?

In keeping with the government's further relaxing of social distancing rules from 17 November, visitors holding the amber code may enter the campus. They are, however, not allowed to take off their masks, dine at canteens or other communal eating areas. Please see the government's latest announcement for more details.

All administrative units processing requests for visitor QR codes will be required to cite a vaccination record fulfilling the government's Vaccine Pass requirement prior to issuing a visitor QR code.

All visitors using a Hong Kong identity card or CUHK alumni credit card must provide security personnel a digital or printed copy of a vaccination record fulfilling the government's Vaccine Pass requirement prior to entering the campus.

All visitors, residents and contractors unable to be vaccinated due to a valid medical reason must produce a medical certificate accompanied by a negative COVID-19 result issued within the past seven days. Those unfit for vaccination due to health reasons with relevant proof from a medical practitioner will be exempted from the requirement.

Students

I am a non-local student who plans to come back to Hong Kong. What boarding, quarantine and testing requirements are in place now?

You may refer to this concise guide for the Hong Kong government's boarding and quarantine requirements for inbound travellers. Citizens from Guangdong and Macau may also consider applying for Come2hk scheme to enter the city without the need to undergo compulsory isolation.
I am a non-local student who has been offered a hostel accommodation. May I carry out the four-day home medical surveillance in hostel upon returning to Hong Kong?

Yes. After three days of mandatory hotel quarantine, you may move into your hostel accommodation to carry out the four-day home medical surveillance. You may attend classes, visit the University Health Service, or conduct masked activities on campus. However, you are not allowed to eat in canteens, hostel pantries or other communal dining areas. You can have meals in your room until the home surveillance is completed and the Vaccine Pass code is turning from amber to blue.
If I have tested positive for COVID-19 using the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), what should I do if I want to apply for absence from tests/examinations/other forms of assessment?

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please report via the “Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test” of the Government and download the Isolation/Quarantine Orders as supporting document to apply for absence.

If you have also made use of specimen collection stations for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, please submit the positive test result (e.g., SMS message) as supporting evidence to apply for absence.

If you have sought medical advice at Hospital Authority Designated Clinics for COVID-19 Confirmed Cases, please provide medical certificate to apply for absence.

The supporting document obtained in one of the above categories can be submitted to the course teachers, departments or offices concerned to apply for absence from tests/examinations/other forms of assessment.
What should I do if I am a close contact of a COVID-19 case?

Please refer to the StayHomeSafe Scheme website for home quarantine measures about close contacts.
Where can I seek mental health support in times of pandemic?

You can contact our Wellness and Counselling Centre at 3943 7208 or 3943 3493 during office hours, or our 24-hour hotline 5400 2055. You can also download our Sunshine@CUHK mobile app to access tips and information about mental wellness and related activities.
I am instructed by the Government to undertake compulsory quarantine/testing. Can I have special class arrangements?

In view of locally acquired cases of the Omicron variant and corresponding government measures, students who have been instructed to undertake quarantine by HKSAR authorities are requested to inform the teachers concerned who will make special class arrangements.

The Government may mandate persons in designated areas to undergo a series of compulsory COVID-19 testing on multiple days. In the event that any student is subject to frequent testing, s/he should report to the Department/Division concerned. In the event that any teacher is subject to frequent testing, s/he should report to and obtain approval from the head of department concerned for him/her to stay at home for online classes/teaching for an appropriate period.

Staff

What should staff members do if they test positive for COVID-19?

If employees test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), they must inform their heads of departments/units for follow-ups.

They should register the test result via the 'Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test' maintained by the Department of Health.
What should heads of departments/units do if their employees test positive for COVID-19?

They should call the University Health Service at 3943 6436 to report the case for follow-ups. The Centre for Health Protection has issued Health Advice on Prevention of COVID-19 in Workplace which contains practical measures to enhance personal and workplace hygiene and safety, such as disinfecting commonly-used equipment.
What should staff members do if they are classified as close contacts of COVID-19 cases?

They are required to undergo home quarantine as required by the government. Please refer to the StayHomeSafe Scheme website ;for home quarantine measures about close contacts.
Where can I seek support for maintaining health and well-being in times of pandemic?

University staff members can seek professional personal counselling and consultation under the University's Employee Assistance Programme. A telephone counselling support hotline (2721 3939) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More tips about coping with stress and anxiety during the pandemic can be found on https://www.hro.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/about/events-highlights/77-eap-tips-to-cope-with-health-related-anxiety.
What is expected from the staff quarters administration to handle cases of infected residents?

For handling confirmed cases in staff quarters, similar guidelines as applied by property management units in general private buildings shall be followed. Infection control guidelines given by the Department of Health to property management personnel can be viewed here.
Are there any guidelines on mass events or talks?

Departments need to adhere to the anti-epidemic measures guideline set by the Centre for Health Protection. For mass assembly events or activities, the organiser should refer to the Government Guidelines on Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Event Organiser of Mass Assembly.

Last updated: 16 November 2022