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North Sumatra University closes after lecturers test positive for COVID-19
“We’ve done our best to anticipate the contagion, yet there are still lecturers who have been exposed to the virus," says USU spokesperson.
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orth Sumatra University (USU) in Medan will suspend all activities for a week starting July 27 after five lecturers tested positive for COVID-19, while one of them has died from the coronavirus disease.
USU rector Runtung Sitepu said the late lecturer, identified as MHKS, taught at the School of Engineering’s industrial engineering department.
The four other lecturers who tested positive for the virus were Runtung himself, vice rector Rosmayati and board of trustees member Darma Bakti. They are undergoing self-isolation.
USU’s board of trustees and academic senate suggested closing the university from July 27 to Aug. 2.
“During the lockdown, all lecturers and staff must work from home and participate in free swab testing at USU Hospital. This must be done to curb the spread of the virus at the university,” Runtung told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
USU spokesperson Elvi Sumanti said the university had imposed strict health protocols, including routine disinfection and assigning different shifts for those working on campus. It also required all staff aged 45 and older to work from home.
“We’ve done our best to anticipate the contagion, yet there are still lecturers who have been exposed to the virus. These developments were out of our hands,” Elvi said.
According to the government’s official data, there were 3,320 confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Sumatra as of Friday, with 172 deaths and 879 recoveries.
Runtung, along with deputy rector Rosmayati and Darma, was confirmed by local authorities to have tested positive for COVID-19 on July 12.
“There are three USU executives who tested positive for COVID-19. To contain the spread of the virus, we urge all those who have been in close contact with them within the last 14 days to take a swab test at the USU hospital or other swab test centers located in North Sumatra,” USU hospital director Syah Mirsya Wali said in a statement on July 12.
The three confirmed cases in USU have raised concerns of a new COVID-19 cluster in the region as the campus remains open, with computer-based exams (UTBK) as part of the annual state university entrance test (SBMPTN) set to continue until the end of the month with as many as 35,794 participants.
Elvi said in an earlier statement that the matter was “still being coordinated with the executive board,” adding that all campus activities would continue normally.
“The rector tested positive, without showing any symptoms, based on the independent swab test that he took,” the university’s spokesperson told the Post.
Runtung himself confirmed his health status to the press via phone on July 12.
“I am fine and I don’t feel like I am sick,” he said.
The rector also urged anyone who had been in close contact with him to take a COVID-19 swab test immediately. “I don’t want to cover it [positive COVID-19 result] up, that is why I am asking this matter to be published.”
Meanwhile, North Sumatra COVID-19 task force spokesperson Aris Yudhariansyah called on USU to do comprehensive tracing and implement strict health protocols to curb the spread of the virus in one of the biggest and most prestigious universities in the region.
According to the government’s official data, there were 3,320 confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Sumatra as of Friday, with 172 deaths and 879 recoveries. (aly/trn)
