Announcements
4 Feb 2020
Cohort policy for close contacts of suspected cases of 2019-nCoV infection
- When a hostel resident has a fever or other related symptoms and travel history to Mainland China within 14 days, s/he will be regarded as a suspected case and need to visit UHS (during office hours) or the A&ED at PWH (after office hours) depending on the severity for immediate medical attention. If the case is identified at night, the Security Unit should be notified before calling an ambulance. Warden / Resident Tutor should inform UHS in advance for such a case.
- After initial screening by UHS or A&ED at PWH, if the suspected case has to be admitted to hospital for further respiratory 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.
- UHS would inform the Government and College once the test result is available. The close contact cohorts have to be quarantined for 14 days if the suspected case is tested positive. UHS would conduct surveillance and control of the disease such as disinfection in the affected area.
- 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.
