JUST IN: UP Member Under Investigation for COVID-19

With the growing cases of New Coronavirus in the Philippines, people have become wary of possible cases within and near their area. Earlier today, a member of the UP Diliman community was reportedly being monitored for the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is according to the UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialUPDiliman/photos/a.640857382658085/2785646034845865/?type=3&theater

Chancellor Nemenzo adds that said constituent was reported to have a high fever and was intercepted in the University Health Screening (UHS) holding area, where people were being screened. He was then sent to another hospital for further tests and was isolated from all the other patients in the holding area.

The university has taken measures since then by disinfecting the UHS holding area and has even created a COVID-19 Task Force that implements protocols and mechanisms against the coronavirus disease within the UP community. These protocols include the following:

1. Banning all forms of official travel, both local and international. Those with plans for personal travel are highly encouraged to reschedule, and in the event that they still choose to proceed, they must self-quarantine for 14 days.
2. Big events within the campus are canceled until further notice.
3. Instead of classroom lectures within the campus, professors are encouraged to shift to online lectures. The Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, along with the deans will be disseminating instructions to both faculty and students.
4. UP strongly emphasizes that proper hygiene and social etiquette are to be enforced by faculty, personnel, and students.

To date, classes in UP have been suspended from March 10 to 14, as per President Duterte’s order. Students are encouraged to stay at home to contain the spread of this COVID-19 virus. Despite that, the campus maintains what Nemenzo calls “a skeletal force to ensure that essential services are continued”.

Cover Photo from the UP Diliman Website

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