Update from College Secretary and Director, College Health Service to staff and students
30 January 2020
Dear Students/Colleagues
We refer to our email of 27 January, see copy below. The Trinity working group set up to monitor the situation regarding a potential outbreak of Novel Coronavirus in Ireland met again yesterday and decided that this further update should be circulated based on new information from 1. the Irish Government Health Authorities and 2. Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
As you will be aware, there is currently an outbreak of Novel Coronavirus disease in China. There have been no cases in Ireland to date. For the benefit of our Chinese students, there is a translation of this communication into Chinese at the end of this email. [为方便中国学生阅读，邮件后将会有全文翻译]
- Update from Irish Government Health Authorities
Advice for students returning to Ireland
If the person has not come from Wuhan, Hubei province, or has not been in contact with a
person with novel coronavirus, or has not attended a healthcare facility where patients with
novel coronavirus are being treated, then no specific measures are needed.
No symptoms
For a person with no symptoms, there is no need for quarantine (keeping a well person
separate from others) for up to 2 weeks after coming to Ireland. There are no restrictions
regarding work or other activities.
If within the last 14 days, you have come to Ireland from Wuhan OR have been in contact
with a person diagnosed with novel coronavirus OR have attended a healthcare facility
where patients with novel coronavirus are being treated, you are asked to make contact
with your local Department of Public Health by phone on 01 6352145 for further advice.
Has symptoms
If any symptoms develop suggestive of acute respiratory illness, during or up to 14 days
after travel from Wuhan, Hubei province you should:
· stay at home and do not go to college.
· Seek medical attention and share your travel history with your health care provider.
Phone the doctor in advance rather than attending in person.
Phone your GP or the student health centre, rather than turning up in person. The phone number for the College Health Service is 01 8968555.
Make sure that, when you phone, you mention your recent travel. The student health centre will
arrange for you to get medical help.
How to protect yourself from novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
2. If you are coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw the used tissue away into a closed bin, and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your flexed (bent) elbow.
3. Avoid close contact with anyone who you know has cold or flu symptoms.
4. Check the travel advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs prior to arranging travel abroad.
The link to the complete guidance issued by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre is here: https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/advice-for-third-level-students-29-jan-2020.pdf
This is the link to the HPSC web site relating to Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/frequentlyaskedquestions/
- Update from Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice on its website is as follows:
“Security status We advise you to Avoid Non Essential Travel to China.”
This is the link to the Latest Travel Alert in relation to China on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/china/
On that basis, Trinity would not recommend that any students or staff travel to China until further notice and that any travel to China which is being planned would not go ahead at this time.
- Trinity College Advisory
As regards Trinity staff or students who are in China at present, Trinity recommends that those staff or students return to Ireland, subject to any travel restrictions which may be in place in China. If any staff member is unable to return to Ireland they should contact their line manager. If any student is unable to return to Ireland or has queries about issues on their return they should contact their personal Tutor or the Senior Tutor's Office on 353-1-8962551 or stosec@tcd.ie
As the situation is evolving we advise Trinity staff and students in China to check their emails very frequently each day.
Kind regards
John Coman, Secretary to the College
Dr David McGrath, Director, College Health Service
亲爱的同学们，老师们:
请参阅下方随附的我们1月27日发送的电子邮件。圣三一大学为监控在爱尔兰可能爆发新型冠状病毒的情况而成立的大学工作小组，于昨日再次举行会议，并决定根据来自1.爱尔兰政府卫生部门和2.爱尔兰外交与贸易部门的新信息发布进一步更新。
如您所知，中国目前正在爆发新型冠状病毒。迄今为止，爱尔兰还没有发现任何病例。
1. 爱尔兰政府卫生部门更新
给返回爱尔兰的学生的建议：
如未从湖北省武汉市入境，或未与新型冠状病毒携带者接触过，或未曾到访过治疗新型冠状病毒患者治疗的医疗机构，则无需采取特殊措施。
无症状者
对于无症状者，在到达爱尔兰后无需隔离（与他人分开）长达两周时间，也没有对其工作与其他活动的限制。
如在过去的14天内，从武汉入境爱尔兰，或者与新型冠状病毒确诊患者接触过，或曾曾到访过治疗新型冠状病毒患者治疗的医疗机构，须拨打电话01 6352145与当地的公共卫生部门联系，以获取进一步建议。
有症状者
如赴湖北省武汉市旅行中或旅行后14天之内出现任何症状提示急性呼吸道疾病，则应：
- 待在家里，不要去学校。
- 就医，并告知医疗服务人员其旅行史。请在去医院就诊前，先给医生打电话。
请致电您的家庭医生或学生健康中心，而不是直接就医。大学健康服务的电话号码是01 8968555。
请确保
致电时，告知最近的旅行史。学生健康中心将安排您获得医疗帮助。
如何保护自己不受冠状病毒2019-nCoV感染
- 常用肥皂和水洗手。
- 咳嗽或者打喷嚏的时候用纸巾掩住口鼻，随后将用过的纸巾扔入闭口垃圾箱，并清洗双手。如您没有纸巾，在咳嗽或打喷嚏时用屈曲（弯曲）的手肘遮挡。
- 避免与任何出现感冒或流感症状的人密切接触。
- 在出国旅行前参阅外交部门的旅行建议。
从此链接可参阅HSE健康保护监督中心（HPSC）的完整指导方针 https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/advice-for-third-level-students-29-jan-2020.pdf
HPSC的网页上提供了常见问题解答，链接如下： https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/frequentlyaskedquestions/
2. 爱尔兰外交与贸易部门更新
外交与贸易部网站建议如下：
“安全状态
我们建议您避免不必要的中国之行”
从此链接可参详外交与贸易部门网站中关于中国的最新旅行警示：https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/china/
在此基础上，直到有进一步通知，圣三一大学不建议任何师生前往中国，目前计划前往中国的旅程都不会进行。
3. 圣三一大学的建议
对于目前在中国的圣三一大学师生，圣三一大学建议您返回爱尔兰，但须遵守中国可能的旅行限制。如有无法返回爱尔兰的雇员，请联系您的直属经理。如有学生无法返回爱尔兰，或对其返回问题存疑，请联系个人的辅导员或通过拨打电话353-1-8962551或发送邮件stosec@tcd.ie联系高级辅导员办公室。
由于形势进展，我们建议圣三一大学在中国的师生每日频繁检查邮件。
祝好，
John Coman, 校长助理
Dr David McGrath, 校园卫生服务主管