GIST, Full Effort to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (President Kim Gi-seon·GIST) is making every effort to proactively prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19.

Since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, GIST has established a strong response system and manual, continuously informing its members of preventive action guidelines. It has assigned dedicated personnel and allocated additional budgets to prepare for emergencies.

Furthermore, thermal imaging cameras have been installed in major buildings, and thorough disinfection is being conducted throughout all areas.

For the first time since its opening, GIST has completely canceled the entrance ceremony and degree conferment ceremony (allowing attendance at the August degree conferment ceremony only for those who wish), postponed the start of the semester to the 13th of next month (Friday), and set its own phased management standards to strictly apply observation and quarantine methods.

About 50 students and faculty members who had contact with confirmed cases, overlapped movement paths with confirmed cases, or had any suspicion due to overseas travel were mandatorily quarantined in on-campus dormitories.

In particular, due to the large number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, a special bus between Gwangju and Daegu was urgently operated on the 29th of last month to prevent harm to GIST freshmen and enrolled students who needed to travel to Gwangju for the semester start.

Students boarding the bus wore masks and gloves, sanitized their hands, and sat one by one with a 2-meter distance between them.

These students entered single-person dormitories through controlled entrances within GIST and are subject to a 14-day quarantine.

Students who must travel separately from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions will also be admitted to dormitories after all undergoing fever and respiratory checks.

At the same time, foreign student management is being conducted thoroughly. Currently, a total of 122 foreign students are enrolled at GIST. Among the foreign freshmen for the 2020 spring semester, about 20 students from Nepal, Pakistan, China, and other countries are expected to enter the country.

Accordingly, from the early stages of the COVID-19 spread, GIST has cooperated with the Ministry of Education, Immigration, and Gwangju Metropolitan City to conduct daily status reports and management for six Chinese international students, and actively provides COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines and on-campus management plans to foreign students.

Two international students who entered from China (including Hong Kong and Macau) after December 1 of last year were quarantined for two weeks in on-campus dormitories and have completed health monitoring. The foreign freshmen orientation event was also canceled and replaced with an online video to prioritize safety while minimizing work disruptions.

Vice President Song Jong-in said, “Since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, GIST has been making its best efforts together with its members to establish a strong response system and prevent the spread. Until the COVID-19 situation ends, we will thoroughly manage campus safety by operating dedicated personnel and preparing meticulously for emergencies.”