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Friday, 25 April
2003 Dear
Student IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS:
EXAMINATION, HEALTH AND TRAVEL ADVISORY The
SARS virus has spread beyond countries declared by the World Health Organisation
as being SARS-affected. You can help stop the spread of SARS and ensure your own
well-being and the well-being of other people by exercising individual social
responsibility. For
the semestral/supplementary examinations You
are required to take and record your temperature every day before coming to campus
to sit for your examination. Note that you may be asked to show your temperature
record to the invigilator. If
you have a temperature of 38°C or higher, you are not to come to campus for
the exam. See a doctor immediately and submit the medical certificate to the Examinations
Office. Return to campus only when you are declared medically fit by the doctor
to do so. If
you visit SARS-affected countries You
will increase your risk of contracting and spreading the SARS virus if you visit
other SARS-affected countries. Do not visit countries like China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
and Canada unless it is absolutely necessary. Refer to Singapore Polytechnic website
at www.sp.edu.sg frequently
for update on the list of countries that are affected by the SARS epidemic. Should
you choose to visit any of the other SARS-affected countries despite the advice,
you will be required to impose a 10-day home-quarantine from the date of your
return to Singapore. Under such circumstances, no special arrangement will be
made if your home-quarantine period overlaps with course work, course assessments
or examinations. If
you are visiting a SARS-affected country during the term vacation, you should
return to Singapore at least 10 days before the start of the new term for the
purpose of your home-quarantine. Foreign
students not living with their relatives in Singapore are to take note that they
may face difficulties getting accommodation if landlords are aware that they have
visited a SARS-affected country. It is therefore imperative that foreign students
arrange and confirm their accommodation before they go overseas. If
you visit non-SARS-affected countries You
will be required to take and record your daily temperature for a period of 10
days from the date of your return to Singapore should you make occasional visits
during term time or during term vacation to countries that are not declared by
the World Health Organisation as being SARS-affected, like Malaysia, Indonesia,
Philippines, Thailand, etc. If
you commute daily during term time to and from a non-SARS country like Malaysia,
you are required to take and record your temperature everyday. Note
that you may be asked to show your temperature record to your School. If
you feel unwell If
you feel unwell during term time or during the term vacation, see a doctor immediately.
If at any time you need further medical attention, consult the same doctor. Do
not hop from one doctor or from one hospital to another. Return to campus only
when you are declared by the doctor to be medically fit to do so. If
you feel that you may have symptoms of SARS, call 993 for the Ministry of Health’s
24-hour Special Ambulance to take you to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for screening
at no charge. The sooner you are screened for SARS, the better you can protect
yourself, your family and others in the community. Symptoms
of SARS include: High
fever with temperature around 38 degree celcius Dry
cough Body
aches Breathing
difficulties If
someone in your house is served the Home Quarantine Order You
are required to be officially home-quarantined as well for the same period if
someone living in the same house as you has been officially served the Home Quarantine
Order by the Ministry of Health. Special
arrangement will be made for you if your official home-quarantine period overlaps
with your course work, course assessments and examinations. If
someone in your house is on self-imposed home-quarantine You
are not required to be home-quarantined if someone living in the same house as
you has been asked by his/her employer or decides on his own initiative to impose
self-quarantine at home. But it is advisable that you check your temperature frequently
to monitor your health. If
you are quarantined at home You
will be required to take and record your temperature daily for the period of your
quarantine at home and for an additional period of 10 days after the quarantine.
Note that you may be asked to show your temperature record to your School. You
can return to campus after the quarantine period if you were feeling well throughout
the quarantine period. If you felt unwell during the quarantine period, you should
only return to campus after you have been declared by the doctor to be medically
fit to do so.
If there are important campus announcements on SARS You
should visit Singapore Polytechnic website at www.sp.edu.sg frequently as the
development of the SARS epidemic worldwide may require us to inform you of changes
in circumstances on campus. If
you do not have Internet access during term vacation, call the Singapore Polytechnic
SARS Helpline at 6775-1133 for enquiry. When
you return to campus for the new term On
the first day of the new term, you will be required to complete a SARS Contact
and Travel History Declaration Form on the SPICE network before you are given
access to the campus IT services. At
any time should your circumstances change, you should submit a new Declaration
Form via the Singapore Polytechnic website at www.sp.edu.sg to keep your School
informed. We
appeal to your sense of social responsibility to help ensure that such precautionary
measures are effective in stopping the spread of SARS. But we will not hesitate
to take disciplinary action against students who do not comply with any of the
above requirements. This
is in view of the severity of the threat of SARS and the need to ensure your well-being
and the well-being of everyone who works in or who works with Singapore Polytechnic.
And for this reason, you should make it a habit to check and record your temperature
everyday just to be sure about your daily state of health. If
you need clarification, please call Corporate Communications at 6775-1133. I wish
you all the best in your examinations. Yours
sincerely Low
Wong Fook
Principal
Singapore Polytechnic (Last
updated: 2 May 2003) | 