Further Measures Have Been Introduced Concerning the Coronavirus at the University of Szeged
Further measures have been introduced at the University of Szeged regarding the spread of the coronavirus originating from China. In order to protect the general health of the university community of 30,000 members, the Rector and Chancellor of the SZTE issued a circular calling upon members to refrain from work and attending lectures if returning from an area affected and travelling to such areas shall be avoided.
A joint circular issued by the Rector and Chancellor of the University on the 26th February 2020 informing 8,000 employees and 21,000 students of the University. According to the directions, areas affected in the spread of the coronavirus shall be avoided and official visits are currently not possible; those who have been in the coronavirus affected areas in the last two weeks after the 12th February 2020 shall refrain from work – with payment for periods of absence – for 14 days following their return. It is also suggested that planned travels shall be suspended if possible as well as delegation visits from the areas affected shall be rescheduled.
Areas affected as indicated on the website of the National Public Health Service of Hungary on the 25th February 2020 are: China, Singapore, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea, Iran and the following regions in Italy: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Piemont, Veneto.
After having informed 140 Chinese students of the University at the end of January, all students were informed on the 26th February. Students who have been in the coronavirus affected areas in the last two weeks – or met a person who visited these territories prior to their meeting in the last two weeks, or live in a common household with such a person – shall refrain from attending lectures, visiting campus and faculty buildings, admission/academic offices, the student service office or any office with face-to-face administration. Given the above the University of Szeged provides for a degree of flexibility in terms of non-attendance, grounded and justified absence will have no effect on their studies. Therefore students were asked to notify the Study Departments of the Faculties by e-mail or telephone of the date of their departure from the affected area and the name of that area.
We call to your attention that the currently known safest way to prevent the spread of the virus is to comply with hygiene regulations. People showing any symptoms of the disease are advised to stay at home, not to visit any public spaces, seminars, or workplace and to seek immediate medical assistance by getting in contact with their GP through e-mail or telephone.
An operative professional group consisting of the colleagues of Albert Szent Györgyi Health Centre and representatives of professions concerned was set up to impose measurements in a timely and the most effective manner. It has been stated that the coronavirus has not appeared yet in Szeged and all suspected cases will be transferred to Szent László Hospital in Budapest as imposed by the National Public Health Service of Hungary. Suspected cases will be isolated at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Albert Szent Györgyi Health Centre and patients with confirmed diagnosis will immediately be transferred to Szent László Hospital. No patient has been tested positive for coronavirus so far. The operative group is continuously monitoring recommendations of WHO, the National Public Health Service of Hungary and the Hungarian Government and imposes measurements in accordance with the latest information and on the basis of an epidemiological risk assessment.
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Rector-Chancellor regarding measures in connection with the spread of the coronavirus infection
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