Letter to International Student on COVID-19

Letter to International Student on COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control

关于新冠肺炎疫情防控给国际学生的一封信

Dear international students,

No matter where you are, we hope you are in good health and that you are able to continue your learning as smoothly as possible through Tsinghua’s online learning platform.

In this letter we are taking the opportunity to remind you all of some important information regarding the current situation during the COVID-19 epidemic period and how this may affect you.

Below are some Questions and Answers which we hope will assist you.

亲爱的国际同学们，

无论你们身在哪里，我们都希望你们身体健康，并能够通过清华大学的在线学习平台顺利地学习。

在这封信中，我们借此机会提醒你们有关新冠肺炎流行期间同学们最关注的的重要信息。

以下问答希望对你们有所帮助。

1

Is there any indication when the Tsinghua University semester start date will be announced?

现在有清华大学会何时开学的大致日期吗？

A: Not at this stage.

答：目前还没有。

Due to the fact that the COVID-19 epidemic still in an uncertain stage, it is impossible for the University to provide an estimated university open date at this point. The delaying of the university open date and the eventual decision of the new semester start date will be made in accordance with requirements by the Chinese Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipal Government.

由于新冠肺炎疫情仍处于不确定状态，因此大学目前无法估计开学开始日期。开学延期和新学期开学日期的最终决定，将根据中国教育部和北京市政府的规定决定。

2

It seems that the epidemic situation in China has somewhat stabilized, does that mean that I can return to Beijing? 

在中国的新冠肺炎疫情好像已经有所稳定，这是否意味着我可以返回北京？

A: No, it does not. All Tsinghua students must not return to Beijing or the University until further notice.

答：不可以。收到清华大学正式通知之前，学生不得返京返校。

Although in China the epidemic situation has now somewhat stabilized, the return and mobility of individuals into other areas poses the biggest threat to curbing the epidemic. This is especially the case for those who pass through public transport hubs, especially from overseas – as the epidemic has broken out in other countries and regions. Tsinghua misses you all, and we believe you also miss Tsinghua, but for now, in the interest of the health and safety of all, it is imperative that students do not return to Beijing or to Tsinghua until further notice from the University. This is in accordance with relevant requirements from the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal Government.

尽管现在中国的疫情状况在一定程度上稳定，但是人员的流动是控制疫情的最大威胁之一。特别是通过公共交通枢纽的出行，因为目前疫情也已在其他国家和地区爆发。清华牵挂你们，我们相信你们也想念清华，但是为了所有人的健康和安全，必须等到学校进一步通知才能返京或返校。这也是中国教育部和北京市政府的相关要求。

3

I heard that my classmate has been able to return to Beijing, does that mean I can too?

听说我的同学刚返京，我是否也可以返京？

A: No, it does not. Students must seek approval from the University to return and only students with extremely special cases or in extraordinary circumstances requesting to return to Beijing will be approved to do so.

答：否。学生必须获得批准才能返京，只有极其特殊情况才能获得批准返京。

The University understands that many students are looking forward to returning to the campus to resume their studies, research, lives as usual and to access the university resources, especially for those who are soon to graduate. Yet, in light of the epidemic, only students with extremely special cases or circumstances requiring a return to Beijing will be approved to do so. Returning in order to access library resources or campus facilities for study is not a sufficient reason to return to Beijing. 

大学了解到，许多学生期望返回校园继续学习、研究、照常生活，并利用大学资源，特别是对于那些即将毕业的学生。但是，鉴于疫情，只有有特殊原因能返京的学生才能获得批准。为了图书馆资源或用校园设备返京不是充分的理由.

4

I come from a country/area with a high prevalence of COVID-19. In order to be ready for the beginning of the new semester and have enough time to complete self-quarantine, am I able to apply to come back to Beijing and the University now? Does my case count as a special circumstance? 

我来自一个疫情严重的地区或国家，为了提前隔离等开学我能否先申请返京返校，这个可以算一个特殊情况吗？

A: Currently, all Tsinghua students are required not to return to Beijing or the University. This is especially the case for those coming from Hubei province or other high prevalence COVID-19 countries or areas. 

答：目前所有学生都不能返京返校，特别是来自疫情严重的地区，包括湖北，以及其他重点国家。

The return and mobility of individuals into other areas poses the biggest threat to curbing the epidemic. Students residing in high prevalence areas are especially reminded to look after their health and fitness, reduce contact with others, and maintain a high level of self-hygiene and self-protective measures, such as wearing a mask and washing hands.

人员的流动是控制疫情的最大威胁之一。提醒居住在疫情高流行地区的学保管自我健康和健身，减少与他人的接触，并保持高水平的自我卫生和自我保护措施，例如戴口罩和洗手。 

5

What happens if I enter Beijing without approval from Tsinghua University?

如果我没通过申请却返京了怎么办？

A: During the current period of epidemic prevention and control, Tsinghua University international students found to have returned to Beijing without prior approval will face serious disciplinary action by the University which may affect their studies.

答：在疫情预防和控制期间，发现有未成功申请批准的返京学生将面临严厉的纪律处分，影响在校表现记录。

6

What is the difference between ‘Return to the University’ and ‘Return to Beijing’ ?

‘返校‘和‘返京’有什么区别？

A: Return to the University is for students who will return to live on campus, return to Beijing is for students who will return to live off-campus.

答: ‘返校’是指回京住在校内，‘返京’是指回京住在校外。

Currently, no matter whether you live on campus or off campus, without approval from the University you will not be permitted to return. Regarding local living regulations for entry and exit, on-campus students must abide by Tsinghua University accommodation and campus regulations, and students off-campus must abide by the regulations in place by their local community/compound. During the epidemic period, until further notice, Tsinghua students living off-campus who are currently in Beijing are not permitted to enter the Tsinghua campus without approval.

目前，无论学生住校内还是校外，未经学校批准，都不许回京。关于清华大学校园的管理规定，住校内的同学必须遵守清华大学的住宿和校园规定。校外学生必须遵守当地社区的规定。 在疫情期间，住校外的清华学生未经批准不得进入校园。

7

If I just moved into another country or city, do I need to inform Tsinghua University?

如果我刚搬到另一个国家或城市，是否需要通知学校？

A: Yes you do.

答：是的。 

In the interest of monitoring the health and safety of all our students, since the beginning of the epidemic, the Tsinghua University International Students & Scholars Center (ISSC) has been collecting information on the whereabouts of each and every Tsinghua University international student. Survey information is checked and reported on a daily basis. If your where abouts change you should 1) notify your school/department coordinator or International Students & Scholars Center contact staff member，2) submit your updated whereabouts information through the Tsinghua daily reporting system or through the survey link provided to you. Please note that a change in whereabouts includes moving from one country or city to another, not just from an overseas destination to China. 

疫情爆发以来，为了追踪了解学生的健康和安全，清华大学国际学生学者中心在收集每位清华大学国际学生的个人信息和出行信息。学生每天需要报告个人出行和健康信息。如果你的出行情况发生变化，你需要：1）与你的院系老师或国际学生学者中心老师联系，2）通过学校填报系统每日填报出行和健康信息。请注意，所谓出行变化包括你从一个国家或城市到另一个国家或地区，不仅仅是指从中国之外到中国。

8

I am currently in Beijing living on the Tsinghua campus, can I go freely in and out of campus?

我目前在学校住，可以自由进出校园吗？

A: No, you cannot.

答：不可以。

For the small group of students remaining on campus, they are required to strictly abide by University regulations and health and safety measures, which includes applying in advance to exit and enter the campus. Students who exit or enter the campus without prior approval will be subject to serious disciplinary action. All daily living necessities can be obtained on campus, and thus going shopping or seeing friends is not an adequate reason to exit the campus. Applications will be treated on a case by case basis. To apply, students must submit an application to their school/department which will then be forwarded to relevant student affairs department for approval. Only if their application is approved can students enter or exit the University.
在校学生必须严格遵守大学的规定以及健康和安全措施，其中包括提前申请出入校园。未经事先批准而离开或进入校园的学生将受到严厉的纪律处分。所有生活必需品均可以在校内买，因此去购物或会友不是离开校园的充分理由。申请将视情况而定，一事一议。如果申请，学生首先要向其所在院系提交申请表，院系审批后发送至学校学生部门。只有申请批准成功的学生才能进入或离开校园。

9

There is so much information about the epidemic and also about when the beginning of the semester will be, how do I know what is accurate?

疫情的信息很多，包括什么时候开学的信息，我怎么知道什么是准确的？

A: Only ever trust official information sources.

答：请只相信官方信息来源。

Regarding when students can return to Tsinghua, you should await the official notice released by the University. In today’s world there is a wealth of information sources and resources, where you can find an infinite amount of news, but not all of them are reliable. During an epidemic, such inaccurate and even fabricated news can cause unnecessary panic and stress for the whole society. It is important to only trust official sources and do not spread false or misleading information.

关于学生何时可以返回清华，请以学校官方通知和推送为准，请不要相信开学或返校的谣传。在当今世界上，有大量的信息资源和资源，有各种渠道可以获得信息，但并非所有信息源都是可靠的。疫情期间，那些不准确甚至编造的新闻可能会引起社会不必要的恐慌和紧张。重要的是仅相信官方信息来源，不要散布虚假或误导性信息。

10

How can I stay up to date on Tsinghua policies and official notices?

我们如何了解清华政策和官方通告？

A: Regularly check your Tsinghua email, contact your school/department fudaoyuan (coordinator), follow portals www.tsinghua.edu.cn, http://info.tsinghua.edu.cn/) and WeChat accounts (account name: Tsinghua), and follow the WeChat account of the International Students & Scholars Center.

答：定期查看清华电子邮件、联系院系辅导员或老师、关注学校官方门户网站和微信公众号(清华大学，TSINGHUA）、关注“清华大学国际学生学者中心”微信公众号。

In order to be updated with notices and information, please check your Tsinghua email regularly. If you need to update your email address or if you are unable to receive information from Tsinghua, please send an email to ISSC ([e-mail]), including your updated email address. Check your WeChat regularly to keep in touch with your school/department fudaoyuan (coordinator) and classmates, and follow the WeChat account of the International Students & Scholars Center  (account name: issc2016) for frequent posts and information for all international students and scholars.

为了了解最新的通知和信息，请定期查看你的清华电子邮件。如果你需要更新电子邮箱或无法接收学校信息，请发送电子邮件到[e-mail]通知ISSC，包括更新后的电子邮件地址。定期检查你的微信，与你的院系辅导员和同学保持联系，并关注“清华大学国际学生学者中心”微信公众号（帐户名称：issc2016），获取所有国际学生学者中心推送的信息。

The International Students & Scholars Center thanks you all for your cooperation and understanding during this time, which is special in the history of not only Tsinghua and China but also for the world. Only through our joint efforts, support and understanding can we prevent the COVID-19 epidemic from spreading.

在此，国际学生学者中心感谢所有同学们的合作与理解。在这个不仅是清华、中国乃至世界历史上的特殊时刻，相信通过大家共同的努力、支持和理解，我们最终会控制住新冠肺炎疫情的传播。

Please remain patient, stay safe and look forward to when we all can return to campus to enjoy life at Tsinghua once again as before.

希望大家保持耐心、安全和信心。让我们共同期待重聚清华园的那一天尽快到来。

If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below or email ISSC on: [e-mail]

如果你还有其他问题，请随时在下面发表评论，或给国际学生学者中心发送电子邮件至[e-mail]。

International Students & Scholars Center

Tsinghua University

清华大学国际学生学者中心

March 5th, 2020

2020年3月5日

Source | ISSC

Editor | Qihang ZHAO

Reviewers | Jiabei LI, Chen LIN, Zhongyuan ZENG