As the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in many countries around the world, Asia University (AU) has taken measures to prevent the virus from spreading among people. Firstly, AU sets up epidemic prevention stations at the entrance of each building, including the Administration Center and Library; the buildings of the Colleges of Management, Medical and Health Sciences, Information and Electrical Engineering; the Gratitude Hall and the Museum of Modern Art. In addition, during the working or class hours, all people are required to take their body temperatures before entering a building, and then put on a ‘temperature-OK tag’ to ensure the safety and health of others on campus.

For the international students from Hong Kong and Macau, AU has arranged shuttle services to bring them from the airport, and in the meantime, AU has also required the shuttle crews to wear protective clothes on duty due to the urgency of the COVID-19 epidemic condition. After arriving at the school, the students were met by AU staff members, including Ms. Shiu-Min Cheng, the Deputy Dean for Student Affairs; Ms. Hsiu-Chin Wang, the Section Chief of the Residential Colleges and Housing Services Section; and Mr. Ting-Hsi Chou, the Section Chief of the Student Assistance Section. Afterwards, the students from Hong Kong and Macau were arranged to stay in isolated rooms for the next 14 days of quarantine.

“Now is a crucial time to establish an epidemic prevention network against coronavirus,” said AU President Jeffrey J.P. Tsai in a meeting regarding prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak. President Tsai recommended that people should try not to go abroad or enter public places to avoid being exposed to the virus. Furthermore, the people who transited through China, Hong Kong, and Macau to Taiwan are required to be under home quarantine for 14 days, as announced by the Taiwan Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

For people’s health on campus, a new website on epidemic preparedness was developed by AU with its link being put on the homepage of the AU website after the 2020 Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. On this website, AU provided information and guidance on epidemic prevention, and also offered a ‘self-assessed health status form’ that can be used to access your personal and health information. People with possible symptoms of infections should go to a hospital for medical evaluations. If any concealment of material facts which endangers the safety and health of others is found, people will be punished by fines or quarantine in accordance with the Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

“The novel coronavirus is spreading throughout China and across the world,” stressed Prof. Shao-Liang Chang, the Dean of Student Affairs at AU, “and in order to maintain a healthy and safe environment, everyone appearing in the campus must have a temperature-OK tag; if you find someone who does not have one, please contact the quarantine station and ask her or him to take body temperature.” Moreover, Prof. Chang emphasized that once anyone shows possible symptoms of infections, he/she should contact the Health Center (Tel.: 04-23323456 ext. 3250 ~ 3253) or the Security Center (Tel.: 04-23321053 or 0919-555-445) as soon as possible. As the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Wuhan has escalated rapidly over the past weeks, AU requires all the faculty and staff members, and students to follow the required procedures to prevent the COVID-19 disease from spreading.