Important Announcement About the Coronavirus

Dear faculty members, students and employees,
 

It has been announced by Minister of Health of the Republic of Türkiye Dr. Fahrettin Koca that the Covid-19 (Corona) virus, which has infected a large number of people worldwide and is spreading rapidly, has also been detected in a patient in our country.

At Bahçeşehir University, a Scientific Committee has been formed under the leadership of our Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences. As Bahçeşehir University, we carry out all our decisions regarding the coronavirus process in line with the work of our Scientific Committee.

We feel it necessary to share with you the measures we have taken regarding the Covid-19 (Corona) virus, general information about the virus, and the information you need to protect yourself. So far, no cases of coronavirus have been found among our University's students, faculty members and employees, and the measures taken aim to protect all our students, faculty members and employees.

What is the Covid-19 (Corona) virus? 

The Covid-19 (Corona) virus belongs to a family of viruses that includes the coronaviruses of the MERS common cold, Middle East respiratory syndrome, SARS and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

According to research, the coronavirus is transmitted through contact via areas such as the mouth, eyes and nose. In this research, no results have been obtained showing that the virus is airborne.

The virus can be transmitted directly or indirectly when a sick individual sneezes or coughs on you or on any surface you may come into contact with. If you think you are sick, you should wear a mask to protect those around you.

Necessary Measures to Prevent the Spread of the Covid-19 (Corona) Virus 

Our current recommendations for preventing Covid-19 (Corona) and similar respiratory diseases, based on the measures recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, are as follows.

- Stay at home when you are sick.

- If you have symptoms of high fever, coughing and shortness of breath, apply to a health institution without delay.

- Wash your hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

- Cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow when sneezing and coughing.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth without washing your hands.

- Ventilate enclosed spaces frequently. Avoid close contact with the elderly and the chronically ill.

- Masks worn by people who are not infected do not provide protection against transmission of the virus.

- It is very important for people who have symptoms of illness to wear masks, even if the condition is allergic.

- Contact with external surfaces should be avoided. 

Information on Travel Abroad 

In line with the measures recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, we request that our students, faculty members and employees who have traveled to any country with infected people, or who plan to travel to any country in the near future, inform our University before going abroad, inform our University again upon returning to the country, and complete a 14-day period of rest at home. 

About the Cancellation of BAU Events and Organizations 

All major national or international events planned by all units of our University between 12 March and 30 April have been cancelled.

These events include all conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars, all events with domestic or foreign speakers and audiences from outside our university community, career events, student club events, and all concerts, performances and similar events.

Suspension of Education

In accordance with the decision taken at the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), universities have been closed for 3 weeks as of 16 March 2020.

Cleaning and Disinfection Work on Our Campuses 

- Continuous cleaning is carried out every day between 08:00 and 22:30 on all our campuses, and door handles, elevator buttons, air conditioning and light switches are disinfected.

- Hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed on floors, in stairwells and next to elevators on all campuses.

- Classrooms are ventilated between classes.

- Floors are machine-washed.

- Nanotechnological chemicals and the most effective materials are chosen for cleaning.

Our University's Spring semester classes began in February, and all our students have been in our country for about 5 weeks. No coronavirus cases have been detected at our University or among our international students, administrative staff and academics. For this reason, the utmost care should be taken to ensure that fear and anxiety about the disease do not lead to panic, that people from certain communities or nations are not seen as the source or carriers of the disease, and that they therefore do not become subject to discrimination among our academics or students.

 

Related Links:

https://bau.edu.tr/icerik/15419-korona-virusune-karsi-alinan-onlemler