Enhanced COVID-19 Control Measures at HKU SPACE
01 Mar 2022Dear colleagues and students,
HKU SPACE follows The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in introducing enhanced COVID-19 control measures in accordance with public health policies. Throughout the pandemic, a key priority for the School is to implement measures that would minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission in learning centres and offices and help keep the HKU SPACE community safe. We require all staff and students, other than those medically exempted, gaining access to School premises to be vaccinated, as it is the most effective way to safeguard our health against the COVID-19 virus. Information of the enhanced measures is provided below.
1. Who are required to observe and what are the latest enhanced COVID-19 control measures?
The enhanced control measures apply to all persons entering the HKU campus or HKU SPACE premises. Starting from 28 February 2022, except for those with a certified medical exemption or children under 5 years of age, anyone wishing to enter these venues will need to comply with the tightened measures in line with the HKU to be implemented in three phases as follows:
Phase One (from 28 February 2022)
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two doses of recognised COVID-19 vaccines plus at least 14 days) or
- Have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine plus a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the previous seven days
- Children aged from 5 to 17 are only required to receive one dose of a recognised vaccine.
Phase Two (from 25 April 2022)
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two doses of recognised COVID-19 vaccines plus at least 14 days)
- Children aged from 5 to 17 are only required to receive one dose of a recognised vaccine.
Phase Three (starting from late June 2022)
- Two doses of a recognised vaccine for those over 18 years of age; but three doses of recognised COVID-19 vaccines if the second dose has been received for more than nine months. If the person is still within nine months from receiving the second dose, they must receive the third dose before the end of the nine-month period.
- Persons aged 12 to 17 who have received the first dose of the vaccine for more than six months at the end of June 2022 must receive two doses of the vaccine. If they are still within six months from receiving the first dose, they must receive a second dose by the end of that six-month period.
*Those who have been assessed by a doctor as being medically unsuitable for vaccination will have to present a medical certificate plus a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the previous seven days to gain access to HKU campus or HKU SPACE premises throughout the above three phases.
2. What does it mean by “fully vaccinated”?
In determining whether one is “fully vaccinated”, reference should be made to the Government’s list of recognised COVID-19 vaccines and doses (here). As this list is updated, new links will be posted on the School website. One will only be considered as “fully vaccinated” 14 days after receiving the required doses of a recognised vaccine. The requirement to have the third dose for access will apply in late June 2022. See also (1) above.
3. Will there be exemptions and/or relaxations?
Yes, we will follow HKU guidelines on exemptions for children under the age of 5, and relaxations in terms of the number of doses required for persons aged between 5 and 17, and those who have recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection. (https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/faq).
4. Will there be exemptions for people who cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine?
No, there will not. People who cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine on medical grounds will still need to take a weekly self-test. Only medical certificates in the standard format (here) issued by a registered doctor or hospital will be accepted for the purpose of the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.
5. What kinds of self-test are acceptable?
All major COVID tests recognised by the Government, such as deep throat saliva, combined throat and nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) are acceptable. Useful information on various virus testing routes as well as distribution points of test packs etc. are available via the hyperlink https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.
Useful information on RAT for COVID-19 is available via the hyperlink https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html.
6. What does it mean by ‘HKU campus’?
HKU campus includes all HKU premises such as the Main Campus, the Medical Campus, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Kennedy Town Centre, all sports facilities and so on. As HKU SPACE is required to follow HKU policy, measures also extend to all HKU SPACE premises throughout Hong Kong.
Enhanced COVID-19 control measures may also be introduced at the venues of our partner institutions. The management of some of these venues may introduce modified COVID-19 control measures which they will communicate directly to key stakeholders, e.g. HPSHCC Campus and Learning Centre of PLK Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary College will implement the Government Vaccine Pass (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/vaccine-pass.html) effective from 24 February 2022.
7. How will the system work for HKU SPACE staff, teachers and students who possess a HKU SPACE user ID?
Please note that there are different protocols for access to HKU SPACE premises and the HKU campus.
For access to HKU SPACE premises under the direct management of the School (i.e. other than those premises under the direct management of HKU, such as TT Tsui Building and the Graduate House)
The following community of the School should register their COVID-19 status through the HKU SPACE Green Pass System (GPSys) and upload their vaccination records and, where applicable, medical certificates, and weekly COVID test reports.
- all HKU SPACE staff (academic and non-academic)
- part-time teachers
- full-time and part-time students (except for Secondary School students who study in Applied Learning courses / Summer courses)
Detailed procedures of registration through the GPSys has been posted on the School website. Upon successful completion of the registration process, the registered persons will receive a “Green Pass” generated by the GPSys which will enable them to gain access, for the purpose of the enhanced COVID-19 control measures, to all HKU SPACE premises other than those under the direct management of the HKU. Thus, for people who are fully vaccinated, it will be a simple one-off exercise and will only require further action when a third dose of the vaccine is required after late June 2022. For those medically exempted, weekly updating of the self-test records via the GPSys is required.
For access to premises under the direct management of HKU
For those who require access to the HKU premises including the Main Campus and other facilities such as the UHS and Library, persons registered under the GPSys will be able to access the campus using their HKU ID cards (staff card and/or facilities access card) as information on individual COVID-19 status captured in the GPSys will automatically be transferred to the HKU system in order to obviate the need for a further upload to the HKU system by the users in this category.
For non-registered persons or those who do not possess a valid HKU ID card (staff card and/or Facilities Access Card), they are required to show the electronic vaccination and testing records in Government mobile apps or the original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results upon request at the entrances.
8. How will the system work for people for whom the GPSys is not applicable (i.e. people who do not possess a HKU SPACE user ID, including occasional visitors)?
They are required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application in order to gain access to HKU SPACE premises, including learning centres and offices (other than those on the HKU campus). For access to premises under the direct management of HKU, they are required to show the electronic vaccination and testing records in Government mobile apps or the original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results upon request at the entrance.
9. What will registered staff, teachers and students need to do when they enter HKU or HKU SPACE premises?
A. For Access to HKU SPACE Learning Centres / Offices (other than those on the HKU campus)
Registered staff, teachers and students are required to scan their Green Pass via the scanner or present their Green Pass to the security guards / Learning Centre staff at the entrance. Random checks will be made to ensure that staff, teachers and students comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.
B. For Access to the HKU Campus
HKU has installed readers at its entrances. Registered staff, teachers and students need to tap their HKU ID cards (staff card and/or facilities access card) on one of the readers to show they comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures. Security guards are posted at major entrances to reach out to anyone in need of assistance. HKU also links their enhanced COVID-19 control measures with vehicle licence plate registration.
10. What will non-registered persons, and people not in possession of a HKU ID card (including visitors) need to do when they enter HKU or HKU SPACE premises?
A. For entering HKU SPACE Learning Centres and Offices (other than those on the HKU campus)
See (7) above. Persons under this category should make use of the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application to gain access.
B. For Access to the HKU Campus
See (7) above. HKU has installed a second set of readers (housed in eVT blue) at the entrances to HKU. Persons under this category need to scan the eVT QR code on one of the readers to show that they comply with the enhanced COVID-19 control measures.
11. Will it be possible to simply show the vaccination record or self-test results to a security guard?
Yes, this will be fine. Both HKU and HKU SPACE will accept original copies, photocopies, and screenshots of vaccination records and self-test results; but staff, teachers and students are strongly advised to register their vaccination records or self-test results under the GPSys in order to save queueing up time at the entrances.
12. Further details
A set of more detailed FAQs has been developed to address concerns from persons requiring access to HKU and HKU SPACE premises. The initial FAQs can be found at HKU SPACE COVID-19 Info Hub (https://www.hkuspace.hku.hk/collection/covid-19-info), and updates will be made from time to time to take account of possible changes in Governmental guidelines and University arrangements. For any other enquiries, please refer to the School website, Teacher Portal and Learner Portal, or contact our staff at Colleges, HKU SPACE Community College and enrolment counters at the School’s learning centres for advice.
HKU SPACE
1 Mar 2022