UNS – the Rector of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, issued a circular in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has hit dozens of countries in the world. In the circular Number 1231/UN27/HK/2020 on ‘Early Precautions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak,’ there are five important appeals, one of them is the Rector appeals to the Civitas Academics to postpone overseas travel.
“We call on the whole UNS academician to suspend overseas travel for any purpose that can be postponed, especially to the countries affected by COVID-19,” explains Prof. Jamal, Monday (2/3/2020) in UNS Public Relation Office.
In the circular, it is mentioned that for important travel that must be conducted, written permission from the Rector of UNS or other officials appointed by the Rector, is needed.
Based on the data collected from various sources, currently, there are 54 countries in the world that already confirmed COVID-19 infection in their country. In the newest case, the number of COVID-19 patients keeps increasing especially in South Korea and Italy. Based on the data, UNS as one of the educational institutions is striving to protect its academic members from the threat of COVID-19 and also took part in preventing the entry of COVID-19 outbreaks into Indonesia.
In addition to appealing for foreign trips temporary postpone, the Rector of UNS also appeals to its academic members who are just returned from their trip to COVID-19 affected countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, and Italy to reduce their interaction with other people, including their family members for the time being.
“Those who just returned from their overseas visit, especially China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, England, Iran, UEA, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Netherland, please proceed to do a self-isolation with the other UNS academics as well as with family members/household for 14 days since their return to Indonesia,” added Prof. Jamal.
If during those 14 days the academic members have a fever, cough, runny nose, and other COVID-19 symptoms, the Rector encourages them to visit immediately to UNS Hospital or RSUD dr. Moewardi Surakarta to get further intensive care and examination.
This Rector appeal is not only applied to academic members who are about to do an overseas trip and those who just returned from overseas but also applied to all work units and students on the UNS campus. Rector appeals the all UNS Civitas Academic to familiarize a Healthy and Clean Lifestyle, such as washing hands using soap (alcohol-based hand rub/hand sanitizers), consuming healthy food, wearing a mask, and minimizing less-necessary activities that involving crowds. Humas UNS/Yefta
