(A student at Tsinghua University reads a poster on fighting SARS. The poster was one of the works designed by students, teachers and staff at the university put on display May 14 to help check the spread of the disease.newsphoto.com.cn)
A series of new preventative measures for combating SARS were presented to mid-level university leaders at a meeting May 12.
Vice President He Jiankun, who is also Vice Director of the Anti-SARS Leading Group, explained the steps that will be taken on campus over the next two weeks in the anti-SARS campaign.
Professor He said the university has targeted five areas for closer control.
First, the flow of people in and out of campus will be more strictly monitored, and new ID passes will be issued.
Second, all temporary workers will be required to live in a designated area on campus. Their body temperature will be taken twice a day, and their housing conditions will be improved. Any of these personnel who come into close contact with teachers and students must wear gauze masks and gloves while on the job.
Third, tighter management will be put in place for the student residential areas, and more will be done to ensure the work of SARS prevention among students. The university will increase the food supply in the student district and persuade students to reduce their activity in the faculty living areas. Graduate students will be encouraged to stop their off-campus research. Student dining halls will be better ventilated. Students will continue the system of having meals in divided areas.
Fourth, to enhance overall management of anti-SARS measures, two supervisory groups have been formed, headed by Professor Zhuang Lijun, vice secretary of the University Party Committee and Professor Sun Daoxiang, secretary of the University Discipline Commission. Both groups will be responsible for the management of the faculty living areas, rear-service departments, all the schools, departments and institutes, enterprises belonging to the university, and all the university gates. The groups have set up offices and telephone hotlines to handles reports of infection.
Fifth, every department and office should regard the work done for the prevention and cure of SARS as top priority.
President GU Binglin said that the anti-SARS campaign of Tsinghua University is in its crucial period now. The measures Tsinghua has taken may seem strict, he said, but their purpose is to guarantee the health and security of all staff and students.
President Gu also pointed out that Tsinghua should continue to concentrate on teaching and research as well as the anti-SARS campaign.
University Council President Chen Xi presided over the meeting. He required all the departments and offices to do their utmost for the success of the anti-SARS campaign. He emphasized the importance of adapting to this unprecedented situation and stressed that academic work should not be stopped.
