QU announced instructions for students who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19

Doha - The Higher Committee for Health and Safety at Qatar University (QU) announced a set of instructions and procedures that will be followed to preserve the safety of students most vulnerable to infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) during their attendance for mid-term and final examinations, in conjunction with the start of the university's application of the integrated education system for the semester Fall 2020, which will combine regular campus attendance with distance education.

In a statement, QU highlighted the following instructions for students who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19 and its complications.

Midterm and the final exams for all courses will be conducted on campus regardless of the teaching method of these courses (online or on campus), Qatar University will provide students who are most at risk of being infected by COVID-19 and its complications with separate premises and halls that will be prepared with all precautionary and preventative measures. The University will send those students the guidelines and instructions that should be followed during these exams.

Students who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19 and its complications and are enrolled in courses conducted on campus should request an exception from attending classes on campus and a designated committee will review each case, take the appropriate decision and notify students.

Therefore, students who are eligible to apply for the exception request, are required to fill in the online exemption from attending classes on campus, taking into consideration the following point:

• The student should attach a health certificate approved by the Ministry of Public Health, which clearly states that s/he is suffering from a chronic disease or a health condition that may make her/him more likely at risk from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) or its complications.
• All requests will be submitted to the committee which will review them and take appropriate decisions for each case.
• The approved period from which the student will be exempted from attending will be the period mentioned in the medical certificate.
• If a student from these categories decides to attend classes on campus without making arrangements with the instructor or if s/he does not disclose her/his health status, s/he will be responsible for his safety.
• No requests of exemption from attendance due to normal illnesses will be considered. All absences due to normal illnesses will be counted within the maximum limit allowed by the attendance and absence policy.
• The period of absence due to infection with the coronavirus (COVID-19) or due to quarantine after returning from travel, will be counted within the maximum limit allowed by the attendance and absence policy, not in addition to it.
• No student with an EHTERAZ status other than green will be allowed to enter the university buildings. The student must apply for exemption from the lectures.
• Students who wish to be exempted from attendance are advised to read the Frequently Asked Questions through the COVID-19 updates website to understand the study mechanism and how to compensate for the lectures they will miss.

QU will implement all precautionary or preventative measures that protect its students from coronavirus (COVID-19) inside study halls and laboratories (such as maintaining a safe distance between seats, wearing masks at all times, providing sterilizers in laboratories, and other precautionary measures).