Announcements
27 May 2020
Cohort policy for close contacts of suspected cases of COVID-19 infection in hostel
- When a hostel resident has fever or other related symptoms had consulted University clinic, clinic physician may suggest COVID-19 testing (Deep throat saliva (DTS) testing or hospital nasopharyngeal swab test) based on clinical assessment. If the case is identified at night, the Security Unit should be notified before calling an ambulance. Warden / Resident Tutor should inform Committee on Health Promotion and Protection (CHPP) coordinator at telephone number 39436436 on the next working day.
- For those students taking the DTS, CHPP coordinator will assess the risk and discuss with warden whether cohort policy needs to be implemented.
- For those students with significant symptoms and If they have to be admitted to hospital for further testing, a cohort policy would be activated before the test result comes out which would normally take up to 24 hours. The roommate of the suspected case as well as the residents on the same hostel floor would be regarded as a close contact cohort.
- Warden / Resident Tutor would need to reach out to the close contact cohorts promptly and remind them to stay in their own rooms to avoid any possible spread of the infectious disease. Those who stay outside the hostels would need to return to their own hostel rooms right away.
- The close contact cohorts should put on surgical masks at all times and keep the window of their rooms open as far as possible. The College would help to obtain bottled water and simple meals to be delivered to the cohorts until the test result is released.
- CHPP coordinator will monitor those students who had undergone COVID-19 test (both DTS & swab test at hospital) and if they test positive, would inform relevant parties and University Emergency Response Group for immediate action. If the case is tested negative, the cohort policy will be deactivated. College workmen would wear protective clothing to intensify cleaning and disinfect the particular room as well as other public areas.
- The Warden / Resident Tutor handling the case should wear surgical mask and protective eyewear whenever possible. They should remain within a safe distance when handling the suspected case.
