For the purpose of countering severe domestic COVID-19 situation, implementing epidemic prevention tasks of various teaching and activities for universities and colleges (hereinafter referred to as “schools”) after the beginning of 2021 academic year while ensuring teachers and students’ health, the Ministry of Education (hereinafter referred to as “this Ministry”) hereby stipulates these guidelines which serve as references of compliance by schools.

I. Measures of Teaching and Offering Courses
Schools shall comply with the following principles when offering physical classes. Otherwise, on-line teaching shall be adopted.
(1) Safe social distancing (2.25 square meters/person) shall be maintained indoors with the limit of total 80 persons. (Limit of persons complies with Central Epidemic Control Center’s requirements.)。
(2) Measures shall be conducted with designated seats for designated members and real-name registration shall also be implemented.
(3) When in class, both teachers and students shall wear masks and ensure hands are sanitized, and drinking and eating are prohibited.
(4) Classrooms shall maintain good ventilation with regular cleaning and disinfection. Thorough disinfection shall be conducted if operation of machines or tools is implemented in classes. (Please refer to subsequent details on management of environment and disinfection.)

II. Physical Education, Swimming and Internship Courses
(1) Physical Education Class
1. Social distancing (1 meter for outdoor activity and 1.5 meters for indoor activity) shall be maintained for both indoor and outdoor Physical Education (“PE”) classes, especially for sports courses which involve body contact or groups. Teachers are required to adjust course goal, teaching contents and evaluation measures accordingly.
2. To ensure mask-wearing throughout the whole process of PE courses, teachers are required to assess intensity of sports, pay attention to students’ physical conditions and adjust contents of courses in due time.
3. Sharing of equipment or tools shall be avoided when students are using equipment. In the event of the need for students to take turn using equipment or tools, thorough cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted before rotation of users.
4. Accommodation of people for indoor and outdoor sports venues shall be limited to 50% of their most appropriate capacity. Real-name registration, whole-process mask-wearing and enhanced cleaning and disinfection of environment and equipment shall be conducted in accordance with “Management Guidelines for COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention Responding Measures by Athletics and Recreational Sports Stadium Industries.” Roll planning method will be applied to aforementioned requirements in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s requirements.
(2) Swimming Class
1. Swimming pools shall enforce limited-entry control, real-name registration, temperature measurement, social distancing, environment and facility disinfection, air ventilation and close monitoring of residual chlorine in water in accordance with requirements of “Management Guidelines for Swimming Pool’s Countering Measures on COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention.” Mask-wearing shall be enforced throughout the whole process of swimming. Roll planning method will be applied to aforementioned requirements in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s requirements.
2. Sharing of equipment or tools used by students shall be avoided. In the event of the need for students to take turn using equipment or tools, thorough cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted before rotation of users.
(3) Internship Class
Experiment or internship classes shall be conducted in designated groups and sharing of equipment or tools by students shall be avoided. In the event of the need for students to take turn using equipment or tools, thorough cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted before rotation of users.

III. Gathering Activities outside Classes
(1) Numbers of people for gathering are limited to 80 people for indoor gathering and 300 people for outdoor gathering. In the event of more attendees, an epidemic prevention plan shall be submitted to local competent authority for approval before conducting such gathering. Roll planning method will be applied to aforementioned requirements in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s requirements.
(2) During gathering activity, designated seats shall be adopted and one seat shall be spared from the next participant (with social distancing maintained). Measures of real-name registration, body temperature measuring, whole process mask-wearing and crowd flow (capacity limit) control shall be implemented. Risk assessment shall also be conducted prior to the holding of gathering. It is recommended to cancel or postpone such gathering in the event that comprehensive epidemic prevention measures cannot be established in accordance with aforementioned requirements.
(3) Participants shall always maintain hand sanitization. Schools are required to provide dry (wet) hand-washing equipment or alcohol at entrance, exit and gathering venues.
(4) Outdoor Teaching
1. When conducting activities of outdoor teaching and outdoor education, social distancing shall be maintained, mask-wearing shall be enforced and limits of people for space accommodation shall be complied. Planning on scenic spots and accommodation locations shall be careful. Real-name registration shall be enforced and crowd flow control shall be implemented without reservation.
2. In the event of utilization of transportation vehicle (for instance, tour bus), execution shall be conducted in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s “COVID-19 Responding Guidelines: Public Transportation” and Ministry of Transportation’s related requirements (limits of people and designated seats). Name list shall be established and designated seats shall be enforced accordingly.
3. Based on activity schedule, teachers and students shall be reminded to comply with related epidemic prevention management measures of “Epidemic Prevention Management Guidelines for Public and Private Social Education Institutions”, “Reference Guidelines for Staff and Travelers Provided by National Scenic Area, Tourism and Recreational Industry, Travel Industry and Accommodation Industry” and “Management Guidelines for COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention Responding Measures by Athletics and Recreational Sports Stadium Industries.”
4. Food and beverage related matters shall be conducted in accordance with “Epidemic Prevention Management Measures for Food and Beverage Industry” from the Food and Drug Administration of Ministry of Health and Welfare.
IV. Entrance Examination
(1) Alternative measures such as adjustments of assessment methods or change of assessment items are recommended to lower examinees’ risk of cluster infection and reduce examinees’ unnecessary movement.
(2) In the event that schools still maintain physical written tests after assessments, schools are hereby requested to conduct examination planning using the highest epidemic prevention standards. (It is recommended to take references from measures adopted for General Scholastic Ability Test and Advanced Subject Tests for academic year of 2021.)

V. Monitoring of Health on Campus
(1) Full scale temperature taking, real-name registration and whole-process mask wearing shall be enforced when people enter campus. Manpower needed to take temperature shall be arranged accordingly every day when campus is opened for people to enter. Schools are recommended to establish single entrance/exit and install epidemic prevention station at locations where people are entering/exiting frequently such as campus gate, side door with frequent entrance/exit, parking lot, administration building, teaching building, library, dormitory and restaurant.
(2) People with ear temperature≧38°C, or forehead temperature≧37.5°C, or acute respiratory track infection, or smell/taste disorder, diarrhea or other symptoms shall be prohibited from entering campus, comply with practices of “no work or entering campus when sick” without reservation, seek medical care immediately or stay at home for rest, and shall notify schools immediately.
(3) Freshman health examination shall enhance its examination on respiratory track symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath, or diarrhea and loss of taste/smell. Health education on epidemic prevention as well as related education on epidemic report process shall be enhanced during freshman training.
(4) For the purpose of safeguarding teacher and student’s health and safety, schools may strengthen related epidemic prevention measures when needed. However, PCR screening or rapid test shall not serve as restrictions on student’s entrance eligibility.

VI. Environment and Management of Cleaning & Disinfection
(1) Maintaining Good Indoor Ventilation
1. With respect to ventilation principles when air conditioner or central air conditioning system is utilized, classroom doors can be closed but one window each on classroom’s opposite corners should be opened. Each window shall be opened at least 15cm. Ratio of central air conditioning system’s air volume to return air volume shall be 2 to 1. Positive pressure status shall be maintained to ensure favorable air exchange with external environment (outdoor).
2. With respect to ventilation principles for indoor environment without air conditioning, exhaust fan (wall fan) and stand fan may be installed in classroom with appropriate installation position.
(2) Increase of Cleaning and Disinfection Frequency
1. Cleaning and disinfection on related air conditioning equipment on campus shall be completed prior to the opening of schools. Self-cleaning and disinfection management on campus learning space as well as student commute bus shall be enforced without reservation.
2. Depending on utilization conditions, central air conditioning system’s inlet and outlet as well as air conditioner filters shall be cleaned and disinfected at least once every week. Ceiling fan and other fans shall be disinfected regularly. Self-protection shall be enforced during cleaning and disinfection.
3. Disinfection frequency on public facilities of classroom, restroom, dormitory, restaurant and library as well as student commute bus shall be increased. In the meantime, cleaning and disinfection on the surface of objects which are touched frequently by students (for instance, door knob, surface of desk, light switch, elevator button or other public areas) shall be conducted regularly.
4. Comprehensive health education and training shall be provided to cleaning and disinfection personnel who are also requested to report health conditions each day.

VII. Opening of Campus Space
(1) Schools may assess and open up campus public space or facilities for external people to enter campus for utilization purpose. In the meantime, real-name registration, body temperature measurement and whole-process mask-wearing shall be enforced, and personal data collected from the public shall be protected accordingly.
(2) Measures of social distancing, crowd flow (capacity limit) control, real-name registration, body temperature measurement and whole-process mask-wearing shall be enforced in various indoor and outdoor venues (for instance, library, meeting hall and so on). Specifically, it is recommended that one person can be accommodated in a space of every 2.25 square meters.

VIII. Dining & Eating on Campus
(1) Masks can be taken off temporarily when having meals, and people should put on masks immediately after meals.
(2) Campus restaurant shall enforce measures of real-name registration, installation of partition in meal area, regular cleaning and disinfection on environment, masks for staff, frequent hand-washing, customer’s body temperature measurement and hand disinfection. Social distancing shall be maintained when having meals. In the event that social distancing cannot be maintained, restaurant should enforce “designated groups for designated time” during meal time, or encourage take-out food.
(3) For eating inside restaurants, in principle this shall be conducted in accordance with Ministry of Health and Welfare’s requirements of “Epidemic Prevention Management Measures for Food Service Industry.”

IX. School Dormitories
(1) Dormitories shall enforce related health management measures of dormitory access control, body temperature measurement, designated caring personnel, health education promotion, supplement of epidemic prevention materials, regular disinfection, maintenance of ventilation, maintenance of social distancing and mask-wearing.
(2) Under consideration that students living in dormitory are leading a group life, schools may request students to have PCR screening or rapid test prior to moving into dormitory for purpose of avoiding cluster infection risks. Schools shall assist students with positive results in notifying 1922 or Department of Health and seeking medical care.
(3) Epidemic prevention measures in dormitory shall be conducted in accordance with requirements of “Epidemic Prevention Guidelines for Accommodations in Colleges and Universities” and “Operations of Cleaning and Disinfection under Epidemic Prevention Guidelines for Accommodations in Colleges and Universities.”

X. Faculty and Student’s Travelling Abroad
(1) For cases of school’s travelling abroad, alternative measures shall be adopted first and travelling shall be conducted after epidemic is under control. For cases with necessity and urgency, principals shall therefore conduct prudent assessments accordingly.
(2) After returning back, teachers or students who travelled abroad shall conduct health monitoring matters in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s related epidemic prevention requirements.
(3) In cases of student’s offshore internship, schools shall assess alternative measures or necessity in processing such cases.

XI. Absence Request by Students having Symptoms during Epidemic Prevention Period
School faculty or students shall seek medical care immediately or stay at home for rest in the event of respiratory track symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath, or related symptoms of diarrhea and loss of taste/smell. Going out or attending classes in schools or going to work shall be avoided, and schools will not include these in absence records.

XII. Self-Health Management after Expiration of Self-Quarantine Period
(1) During the 7-day self-health management period after self-quarantine period, it is not recommended to enter campus or go to places where people gather around. Personal protection measures shall be enforced without reservation. In the event of living in campus dormitory, schools shall arrange one-man one-room dormitory in separate floor accordingly. Designated flow of users with designated time for bathroom equipment utilization shall be arranged in the event of shared bathroom equipment. Cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted completely after each utilization by students. For students unable to enter campus to attend classes because of self-quarantine or self-health management, schools shall provide online learning and appropriate learning connection mechanisms in order to maintain students’ rights for education.
(2) During self-health management period, hands shall be kept clean and habits of washing hands constantly shall be maintained. Be careful not to touch eyes, nose or mouth directly with hands as much as possible.
(3) Body temperature shall be measured once in the morning and during the night for each day. Body temperature, health conditions and history of activities shall be recorded in details. Students are requested to respond to two-way text message or receive telephone enquiry of health conditions.
(4) Students may lead a normal life if there are no signs of any symptom. However, students shall avoid going to venues where social distancing cannot be maintained or where it is easy to contact unspecified individuals in close range. Engagement of activities with others in close range or in cluster of people is prohibited. Non-urgent medical care or examination shall be postponed.
(5) In the event of fever, smell/taste disorder, diarrhea or respiratory track symptoms, individuals shall put on mask immediately, stay at home for rest and avoid going out. Social distancing shall be maintained when talking with others. Please call 1922 or contact Department of Health and seek medical care in designated community test institutions in accordance with instructions. Taking public transportation vehicle is prohibited.

XIII. Report and Responding Measures for Suspected and Confirmed Cases
(1) Responding Measures upon Appearance of Cases with Suspected Infection Risks
1. Individuals with positive result from antigen rapid test belong to COVID-19 suspected cases.
2. Monitoring and Report
(i) Schools may install “Self-Report System for None 14-Day Health Monitoring Individuals with Fever or Other Symptoms” (cloud system). Individuals from screening (PCR, rapid test of nucleic acid or antigen at home) or those who discover symptoms such as fever may utilize this system to report back to schools.
(ii) In the event that individuals have suspected infection symptoms of fever, respiratory track symptoms, smell/taste disorder or diarrhea from unknown reasons, medical care shall be arranged as soon as possible. Upon hospitalization, individuals shall actively notify doctor of their related travel, occupation, contact and cluster in order to provide doctor with real-time diagnosis notification.
(iii) In the event of learning or discovery of cases of positive result for antigen rapid test, schools shall notify local health competent authority within 24 hours and conduct Ministry of Education’s campus safety report accordingly.
(iv) Report shall be conducted in accordance with “Handling Process for Colleges and Universities’ Appearances of Reported Cases, Suspected Cases or Confirmed Cases” (Appendix 1).
3. Transfer of Suspected Cases to Hospitalization
(i) Please contact Department of Health or call 1922, and seek medical care in designated community test institutions in accordance with instructions or go back home and wait. Taking public transportation vehicle is prohibited.
(ii) Before sending suspected cases to hospitals or sending them back home, schools shall assist in arranging temporary accommodation of designated independent and isolated space in the venue.
(iii) Cleaning and disinfection on aforementioned independent and isolated space shall be conducted after suspected cases are transferred for hospitalization. Personnel responsible for cleaning and disinfection shall have appropriate training and shall wear appropriate personal protection equipment during operation.
(iv) In the event of need to utilize ambulance, both ambulance delivering personnel and the hospital for transferred individual shall be notified in advance of symptoms and travel history of suspected cases so that handling measures and personal protection equipment can be arranged accordingly.
(v) Individual of suspected case shall not return to school. In the event that self-quarantine notification or self-health management notification has been issued by health competent authority or quarantine personnel, please comply with related requirements accordingly.
(vi) Pursuant to this Ministry’s requirements from “Class Suspension Standards for Schools Responding to COVID-19 (Wuhan Pneumonia)” and “Guidelines for School’s Class Suspension/Resumption Responding to COVID-19 and Teaching Adjustments from Epidemic Prevention Drill” prescribed based on communication mail dated April 6th, 2020, school’s activation of class suspension shall be conducted in accordance with Central Epidemic Control Center’s instructions. However, planning of adjustments on teaching methods, which include suspend physical classes and transfer to online teaching, can be conducted under school’s supervision, and execution can be implemented immediately without the need of submission to this Ministry for approval in order to ensure real-time response to epidemic.
(2) Responding Measures on Appearance of Confirmed Cases
Schools shall strengthen their daily management. In the event of COVID-19 confirmed cases for personnel, local health competent authority shall be notified, and schools shall collaborate with epidemic investigation and execute the following epidemic prevention measures without reservation:
1. Handling Measures When Confirmed Cases are Campus Personnel
(i) A list of all related personnel shall be made and delivered to health competent authority actively. Promotion of collaboration with epidemic investigation will be conducted to related personnel. In the meantime, based on currently available information (such as teaching or attendance situation and time for confirmed cases), confirmed cases and individuals who may have contact with confirmed cases will be notified that they should suspend going out (schools shall pay attention to confirmed cases’ privacy when contacting such individuals) and they should stay at home waiting for health authority’s investigation and contact. Taking public transportation to hospital or screening stations is prohibited.
(ii) In the event of appearance of footprints from COVID-19 confirmed cases in schools, whole-school cleaning and disinfection shall be conducted immediately. Curtains and weather screens in respective teaching areas shall be dismantled and washed. Cleaning and disinfection on space contacted by confirmed cases shall be enhanced. Classes can only be resumed after health competent authority’s approval.
(iii) Individuals identified as close contacts should have self-quarantine and be tested.
2. During confirmed cases’ period of communicability, faculty and staff (non-close contacts) engaged in campus activities with confirmed cases shall have one SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid test or PCR screening (rapid test at home or test at laboratory) every 3 to 7 days following health competent authority’s instruction and arrangement. This should last until 14 days after the next day when the last confirmed case leaves school.
3. Operation frequency of cleaning and disinfection on learning venue environments shall be increased until 14 days after the next day when the last confirmed case leaves school.
4. Schools shall still enhance their reminding to identified individuals of non-close contacts that they shall conduct health monitoring. Schools shall actively notify health and education competent authorities when they learn that suspected related symptoms appear on identified individuals.
5. The need to enter campus by individuals of previous confirmed cases shall meet with Central Epidemic Control Center’s treatment terms for quarantine cancellation prescribed in “Terms of Disposition and Treatment for Cancellation of Quarantine on COVID-19 Cases.”
6. Report shall be conducted in accordance with “Handling Process for Colleges and Universities’ Appearances of Reported Cases, Suspected Cases or Confirmed Cases” (Appendix 1).

XIV. Standards for Class Suspension
(1) In the event of appearance of confirmed cases in schools, handling shall be conducted in accordance with Ministry of Education’s “Class Suspension Standards for Schools Responding to COVID-19 (Wuhan Pneumonia)” (appendix 2) and epidemic investigation result from health competent authority.
(2) For class suspension, appropriate adjustments shall be made based on actual epidemic investigation result and instructions made by Central Epidemic Control Center. Supplement of classes shall be made through offering of online classes or during weekday after resumption of classes.
(3) Campus disinfection shall be conducted prior to resumption of classes or schools.
(4) Disinfection frequency on school dormitory during class suspension shall be increased in order to maintain environment sanitization for teachers and students living on campus.

XV. Schools may enhance related epidemic prevention measures depending on actual needs. Meanwhile, this Ministry will apply roll planning method to these management guidelines based on epidemic development situations released by Central Epidemic Control Center. This Ministry shall also conduct random check on school’s execution of related epidemic management.