Bulletin No. 1, 2020

36 Chinese University Bulletin No.1, 2020 Even when in-person classes and other activities are resumed on campus, the University will embrace the overarching principle of physical distancing that informs all academic and non- academic undertakings. Physical distancing will be enforced in all places on campus and at all times to prevent infection, and to contain any outbreak if the intractable virus ever finds its way onto the campus. There are already plans to implement measures to ensure students can pursue their studies and staff their work as safely and effectively as possible, including: ⊲ Face masks have to be worn at all times on campus, particularly on school buses and in indoor areas. ⊲ There are body temperature checkpoints at key University venues, together with supplies of hand sanitizers and face mask vending machines. ⊲ Cleaning and sanitizing regimes have been instituted in common areas, including classrooms, libraries, and sports grounds, and in facilities such as elevators and buses. ⊲ There are protocols of entry to and exit from classrooms and laboratories as well as of seating arrangement to achieve the optimal level of physical distancing in both lectures and tutorials. A task force under the Emergency Response Group has issued the ‘Referencing Guidelines for Social and Non-academic Events during COVID-19’ to provide guidance on the planning and operation of on-campus events. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus, all units of the University are strongly advised not to organize any large-scale events and events involving catering. If it is necessary to host an event, the organizers are strongly advised to consider alternative ways or formats to avoid the clustering of people. Group dining activities should be avoided as far as possible. The organizers of large-scale events should implement effective preventive measures to control and limit the transmission of the virus by applying measures such as social distancing, crowd and environmental control, arranging body temperature checks and requiring participants to wear face masks. As this issue goes to print, there’s still no sign of the COVID-19 pandemic easing up, let alone dying down. The pandemic has taught us how little we know of this disease and that one can never be overcautious. There may be more false dawns ahead in the fight against COVID-19, but that does not daunt or impede the University’s resolve to pursue its educational objectives to the highest standards as always. CUHK members have, collectively and individually, weathered the storm, gone beyond their call of duty during the intervening calm, and look forward to seeing a new dawn break. Photo by Keith Hiro