Lasallians A.C.T. Bulletin

March 09, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported substantial increases in COVID-19 transmission outside of China. In this light, the following travel advisories shall be in effect as of today:

COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Students

No school-related travel to other countries will be approved until further notice

COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Administrators, Faculty and Staff

Level 4            Do Not Travel to Country

Self-quarantine required for those who have been to the country in the last 14 days

Level 3            Avoid Nonessential Travel

Self-quarantine required for those with travel history to the country since March 1

Level 2            Practice Enhanced Precautions

Take into consideration that situation may change rapidly, possibly leading to quarantine measures

Level 1            Practice Usual Precautions

All countries/territories with local transmission of the coronavirus:

COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Guests

Guests should be informed of DLSU Travel Advisories.  Guests who have been to Level 3 and Level 4 countries should be advised of the University’s 14-day self-quarantine requirement.

General Considerations

Those who have travel plans are strongly advised to factor in the possibility of extended stay due to lockdown, being quarantined in the foreign country, and another quarantine in the Philippines upon return, in making decisions about their travel plans.

For those traveling to other countries, we are emphasizing the importance of following health advisories of the country to which they are going; identifying hospitals nearest their location; and keeping themselves updated with the latest and credible information about COVID-19.

The University will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and update the community through timely release of bulletins.

We continue to seek the Lasallian community’s cooperation and shared responsibility in preventing the spread of the virus. With proper information and vigilance, we will be able to effectively maintain a healthy learning environment.

March 09, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported rising numbers of COVID-19 infections around the world, outside of China.

We hereby enjoin faculty members and staff to be judicious in making travel plans, taking into consideration transmission of the virus in the country they are thinking of visiting, the possibility of lockdowns and quarantines on both ends of the travel.

In relation to this, the self-quarantine leaves for faculty members and staff are modified as follows:

1. Self-quarantine arising from travel on official business shall not be charged to other leaves.
2. Self-quarantine arising from personal travel shall be charged to vacation leave and/or sick leave.  If no such leaves are available, self-quarantine leave due to personal travel shall be leave without pay.

March 09, 2020

The Department of Health (DOH) reported several cases of localized transmission of COVID-19 in Metro Manila since March 6, 2020.

In light of this new development, we enjoin all students who may have been in situations where contact with reported COVID-19 infected persons is possible, to inform their department chairs and/or associate deans through email or phone, and provide full details about the circumstances of possible contact.

Meanwhile, we ask these students to not come to school until they receive further advise from their associate dean.  These students shall be on special leave and take their classes online.

The department chairs and associate deans shall report these to the Vice Chancellor for Academics.

Faculty members and staff in similar situation must report their circumstances to their department chair or unit head, and go on special leave until further advice.  Department chairs and unit heads shall report these to the Vice Chancellor for Academics.

A special committee has been constituted to assess these circumstances and provide the appropriate response and/or advice.

March 09, 2020

On March 8, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that there are ten confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country and verified the localized transmission of the virus in the country.

For its part, De La Salle University is exhausting all efforts to combat the spread of the virus. We continue to enforce precautionary measures that include intensified monitoring, strengthened preparedness, and rapid response plans.

DLSU will pursue thermal scanning for all those who will enter its campuses, and medical holding areas in selected gates remain open to accommodate urgent medical concerns.

The University also maintains the disinfection and sanitation of classrooms, laboratories, and other common areas multiple times a day. Alcohol and other sanitizers will be made available in more areas on campus.

As discussed in Lasallians A.C.T. Bulletin # 4 ( https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/chancellor/announcements/list-of-countries-covered-by-travel-ban.pdf), DLSU has updated the travel guidelines for students, faculty, and staff.

The academic community is encouraged to remain calm and be vigilant. To inform our community on the current situation and to share University guidelines on how to keep safe and healthy at all times, we regularly prepare bulletins that we share via our website (https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/coronavirus-surveillance-bulletin), DLSU email, and social media channels.

We continue to seek your cooperation and co-responsibility in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

March 06, 2020

De La Salle University implemented a complete travel ban on January 31 that covers all administrators, faculty and staff leaving for China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported substantial increases in COVID-19 transmission outside of China. In this light, effective today, Italy, Republic of Korea and Iran will be included in the countries covered by the complete travel ban until further notice. Earlier approval made are also hereby withdrawn.

Effective today, the University will also not endorse student activities that shall include any foreign travel, until further notice.

Administrators, faculty and staff are strongly advised to avoid traveling in places with known COVID-19 cases, especially France, Germany and Spain, where there was a spike in COVID-19 transmission in the past few days. Those who have travel plans are strongly advised to factor in the possibility of extended stay due to lockdown, being quarantined in the foreign country, and another quarantine in the Philippines upon return, in making decisions about their travel plans.

For those traveling to other countries, we are emphasizing the importance of following  health advisories of the country to which they are going; identifying hospitals nearest their location; and  keeping themselves updated with the latest and credible information about COVID-19. The University will continue monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation and update the community through timely release of bulletins.

We continue to seek the Lasallian community’s cooperation and shared responsibility in preventing the spread of the virus. With proper information and vigilance, we will be able to effectively maintain a healthy learning environment.

Thank you.

February 12, 2020

In our effort to minimize exposure to risks related to the Covid-19, departments, offices, and student groups that will organize large gatherings on campus are required to exercise due diligence and take precautionary measures.

Reminders:

1. Get a briefing from the Security Office and Safety Office on the University’s security and safety protocols.
2. Inform attendees that thermal scanning is done at the gates and that they should allocate extra time for the said procedure.
3. Guests who exhibit respiratory symptoms (cough, fever, or shortness of breath) or are recovering from sickness will not be allowed to attend the event.
4. Guests who have recent history of travel to China, Hong Kong, or Macau will not be allowed to attend the gathering.
5. Regularly monitor official university announcements on Covid-19 and reliable and official sources such as the WHO via https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019and the DOH via https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV

Thank you.

February 11, 2020

De La Salle University recently launched “Lasallians A.C.T. (Action on the Coronavirus Threat): Combat the scare. Be aware.”, a campaign that seeks to generate accurate and timely information and aid the Lasallian community to efficiently manage the 2019-nCov ARD situation.  

In our concerted effort in combatting the spread of the virus, the University will observe the following guidelines for students, faculty, and personnel. 

Please note that this supersedes all previous announcements from various offices.

1. Those who have a history of recent travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau are required to go on self-quarantine for 14 days. Should symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) occur, seek medical attention immediately. All need to present medical clearance to the Health Services Office (HSO) upon their return.
2. Those who did not travel to China but exhibited symptoms are advised to stay home and consult a doctor. They may return to the University 24 hours after they no longer have symptoms. They also need to present medical clearance to the HSO upon their return.
3. Those who have visited countries with confirmed cases but have not exhibited symptoms are advised to inform the HSO via telephone at 85244611 local 665 or email [email protected].    

We continue to seek the Lasallian community’s cooperation and shared responsibility in preventing the spread of the virus. With proper information and vigilance, we will  be able to effectively maintain a healthy learning environment.

Thank you.

February 11, 2020

Self-Quarantine Leave

In connection with the guidelines on self-quarantine for students, faculty, and personnel who had recent travel history to China, Hong Kong and Macau, please observe the following:

1. The HSO shall issue a fit-to-return slip with a remark of “underwent self-quarantine.” Students, faculty, and staff must present this to the concerned offices to secure approval of self-quarantine leave.
2. The Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) shall issue an excused absence slip to students marked as “on self-quarantine leave.”
3. Upon their return, faculty must submit a letter informing the VCA about the quarantine and provide document showing recent travel to China, Hong Kong, or Macau.
4. For their part, APSP and CAP must submit a letter informing the OPM about the quarantine and provide document showing recent travel to China, Hong Kong, or Macau.
5. Leaves incurred due to self-quarantine shall be considered excused absences. The self-quarantine leaves of ASF, APSP, and CAP shall be considered a special leave and will not be charged against other leaves.

Special Sick Leave

1. Members of the Lasallian community who did not travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau but experience respiratory symptoms are advised to consult a doctor and rest at home until after 24 hours of resolution of symptoms.
2. The HSO shall issue a fit-to-return slip with a remark of “had symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath.” Students, faculty, and staff must present this to concerned offices to secure approval of special sick leave.
3. Upon approval, this shall be considered as a special sick leave and will not be charged against other leaves of the ASF, APSP, and CAP.
4. Students must present the fit-to-return slip to secure an excused absence slip.
5. The DSA shall issue an excused absence slip marked “on special sick leave.”

Through the Lasallian community’s cooperation, we will be able to maintain an environment conducive to learning and free from the 2019-nCoV virus.

Thank you.