University prepares for students' return
Students take part in a drill at East China University of Science and Technology in preparation for the school's reopening.
Though authorities have not yet decided when schools will reopen, East China University of Science and Technology carried out a drill on campus activities and emergency management at its Fengxian District campus.
“The drill is to check our plans on epidemic control and prevention, as well as emergency management, to prepare for the reopening of our university,” said Li Tao, vice president of the university.
Before the drill, Wang Zhi, a deputy director of the infectious disease division at Fengxian’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told teachers and students of the different categories of masks needed for different scenarios and the correct ways to wash hands and put on or take off protective suits.
The drill was at five locations – the university’s north gate, a student dorm, a canteen, the university hospital and the teachers’ apartment building. All participants simulated emergencies that may arise when students return.
Students were required to enter the university from the north gate where they had their identities and temperatures checked. Those with a temperature of 37.3 Celsius degrees or higher would be guided to a recheck point and, if their temperatures didn’t change, would be asked to put on surgical masks and wait for an ambulance to take them to hospital for further examination. The university would arrange staff to accompany them.
Students have their identities and temperature taken when entering campus via the university's north gate.
A scenario where a student with a fever waits for an ambulance to take her to hospital.
Students also had their identities and temperatures checked when entering the dorm compound. They were given a timetable to use the bathroom to take showers in turn and also a dorm convention on virus control and prevention. They were also reminded to maintain good personal hygiene and ventilation in the room.
When a student had a fever, he or she would be accompanied by a counselor to the university hospital for another check. If the student is identified as a suspected coronavirus case, the university would work with the local CDC to carry out an epidemiological investigation, screen out and quarantine close contacts, and disinfect locations.
At the canteen, teachers and students waited in line to have their temperatures taken before entry. They were guided into several lines to avoid crowding and take packed food back to the dorm.
Students enter the canteen in line as part of the drill.
Students are guided into several lines to take away packed food.
At the university hospital, medical staff would recheck temperatures, register information of those with high temperatures, ask questions as part of an epidemiological investigation and guide them to a designated waiting area. Medical staff would call the local CDC for vehicles to take them to fever clinic at a designated hospital for further examination and treatment. They would also arrange for staff to accompany them.
Medical staff at the university hospital wait for students taking part in the drill.
Those ruled free of infection would be put into 14-day quarantine at a designated place after returning to campus.
After being told about the quarantine rules by medical staff from the university hospital, the students would go into a room via a channel exclusively for fever patients.
There were basic articles for daily use and disinfectants in the room, as well as notes telling them about rules for disinfection, dining and garbage disposal during quarantine.
According to the rules, meals would be dropped at the door by service staff while quarantined students have to drop their waste at the door to avoid direct contact with each other. The corridors and other public areas would be disinfected regularly.
An ambulance stands by during the drill which would be used to take students to hospital if necessary.
