Dear colleagues and students,

Taiwan has taken pride in its success defending itself against the first wave of COVID-19’s attack, an achievement making it a role model of epidemic control in the global community. The epidemic-turned-pandemic, however, has now launched its second wave of attack in the form of an imported disease that is all the more aggressive with its confirmed cases rapidly increasing. In the face of this grave challenge, we need more than ever to hold on to solidarity, safeguarding this precious oasis on the pandemic battlefield and keeping its earlier efforts from going down the drain.

We fully understand the concerns of our faculty and students as well the public for the recently confirmed cases. We are thankful that NCKU has been well equipped with professional support systems that have integrated epidemic control measures already in place at all levels—including preventive class cancellation notice and full-scale disinfection—to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting everyone at NCKU step by step. 

With reference to that, I am here making an official announcement that the two students who have been house quarantined for close contact with a confirmed case have returned home safe from coronavirus infection. They have received official notice from the epidemic control authorities confirming that they are completely healthy after thorough examinations. The 110 students who have taken self-health management have thus also been immediately released from the surveillance. At present, this information is the best we can provide in compliance with epidemic prevention regulations, and your understanding is appreciated.

Despite the successful attempts thus far, it is advisable that everyone remains constantly mindful of the threat. Specifically, we are calling all NCKU members to avoid international travels, and if you have just come back from overseas, please abide by the following regulations: 

• Observing regulations concerning “home isolation,” “home quarantine,” or “self-health management” (see for detailed definitions https://www.facebook.com/TWCDC/videos/2721501801267557/).
• No entrance to the campus, including the libraries, gyms, stadiums, or other school facilities; and no participation in extracurricular activities.
• Avoiding leaving the house for non-essential purposes (no gathering, no travelling, and no going to shows or movies). 
• Always wearing your face mask and washing your hands.
   

For the others, we ask that you minimize your leisure activities or social events until the pandemic is contained or at least mitigated. If you have taken part in gatherings involving a large number of people, please implement self-health monitoring and make self-protective habits of washing hands and wearing face masks. The following precautious measures are also recommended. 

• Avoid physical contact with your family or friends having just returned from countries set at level three travel advisory. 
• Keep your face mask on whenever taking public transportation or going in and out of crowds. 
• Whenever possible, order your food for takeout instead of dine in and enjoy your food alone. 
• When shopping, make sure you are certain that you want an item before you fetch it. 
• Refrain from touching your face with your hands (especially your eyes, nose and mouth). 
• Once home, wash your hands first, then change your clothes and dispose of your face mask. 
• Sanitize on a regular basis objects constantly touched such as cell phones, keys, keyboards, mice, and doorknobs with 75% alcohol. 
• Most importantly, in case of suspicious respiratory symptoms, call 1922 to notify or to consult. You can also call for on-campus help from Campus Security Center at extension 55555 or from Health Center at 50430.  
   

Faculty or students subject to home isolation, home quarantine, or self-health management are requested to stick to the regulations. Students prevented from going to school because of the pandemic can request a leave of absence online at http://leavesys.ncku.edu.tw. By choosing the leave category “Absence due to COVID-19 Prevention” and uploading supportive documents, such absence will not be kept for grading. To ensure non-interrupted learning, we have also asked the professors to cooperate in video recording classes either synchronously or non-synchronously and place them on the Moodle for the students to watch from home. Grading criteria are also subject to change based on the instructor’s teaching plans. 

As a professional, comprehensive university, NCKU has taken a deep root in culture and taken pride in the value of “keeping a cool head yet a grateful mind” that all its students have internalized. In the face of the intimidating pandemic, let wisdom be our guide and move us forward together, on the basis of our mutual faith and our acquired power of knowledge. 

Wishing you all safe and healthy!

Yours truly,

President

2020.03.23