Dear colleagues and students,
The University has been closely monitoring the unfolding Omicron outbreak in Hong Kong this weekend.
This message is to inform you that from tomorrow (Monday 24 January 2022), the University will move all learning and teaching into fully online delivery mode. Additionally, the University is strongly encouraging work-from-home arrangements where possible.
We very much hope to resume full face-to-face teaching after the Lunar New Year holiday, and a further assessment will then be made based on the infection rate in Hong Kong and any updated public health advice.
The detailed arrangements are as follows:
Learning and teaching
- All classes will be taught in online mode
- This will now include all practical, lab/clinic based and studio classes – students in these classes are asked to please contact your Department/Division for advice
- Students undertaking clinical placements will be permitted to continue and will remain subject to appropriate infection control precautions
- If you have an examination scheduled, please contact your Department for advice regarding arrangements
Work-from-home arrangements
- Unless you have been advised by your Department/Unit that you are providing an essential service, all staff should work-from-home
- All staff providing an essential service, or any staff member who requires access to campus is required to adhere to strict infection control measures (this includes using the Leave Home Safe app to enter University buildings, wearing a mask at all times and maintaining sound social distancing)
- For staff members deemed to be providing an essential service, your supervisor will give you guidance about what this means for your individual work arrangements
The University's enhanced infection control measures announced earlier remain – and we strongly recommend you get vaccinated or take your booster dose as soon as you become eligible.
All staff and students are reminded that it is a requirement to use the Leave Home Safe app when attending canteens, and where the Leave Home Safe app is available at other venues.
We strongly recommend against holding any physical events on campus and encourage all events to be held in online mode.
All staff and students are strongly recommended to minimise travel and if you do, we encourage you to make use of rapid antigen testing prior to your return to campus to ensure peace-of-mind for our community.
We will continuously review the pandemic situation and we hope that cases of local community transmission will be substantially reduced after the Lunar New Year to enable a return to face-to-face campus life.
Please click here to view our FAQs for more information about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe.
Yours sincerely,
Emergency Response Group
The Chinese University of Hong Kong |