SINGAPORE — One of its professors has been infected with the Covid-19 virus but has not had recent contact with students, the National University of Singapore (NUS) said on Thursday (Feb 13).

The professor from the School of Design and Environment last had contact with students on Feb 5, NUS said.

“Staff who were in close contact with the professor were swiftly put on leave of absence and we are providing them with assistance and support.” 

NUS added that it immediately enhanced cleaning efforts and precautionary measures. It will implement e-learning for all classes in the School of Design and Environment from Feb 14 to 21, until the recess week kicks in from Feb 22 to March 1.

The Ministry of Health said on Thursday that there were eight more confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection, and one of them is a 54-year-old man who works at NUS and is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God church. He was identified as Case 53.

The Singaporean, who did not go to China recently, is now warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

In a memo to staff members and students that the university provided to the media, NUS president Tan Eng Chye gave more details about the infected professor’s case.

On Feb 10, the professor declared his temperature in line with NUS’ requirements, and was well and had no symptoms. He attended a meeting with colleagues at the School of Design and Environment and went straight home in the afternoon.

He developed symptoms later that night.

“I am grateful that the professor alerted us as soon as he was informed that he was suspected to be infected with Covid-19,” Professor Tan said.

“This allowed us to swiftly trace the professor’s activities and people he came into contact with, before official confirmation was received, and to immediately ask those who had been in close contact with the professor to isolate themselves at home, as a precautionary measure. None of them are students.”

Those who had been in close contact with him are now on a mandatory 14-day leave of absence. They are all well and show no symptoms, Prof Tan said.

After receiving confirmation that he had contracted the virus, NUS disinfected the areas that the professor had used or visited in the School of Design and Environment on Feb 10.

These include all high-traffic areas such as lifts and lift lobbies around the affected premises and commonly touched surfaces such as hand railings.

The professor is in stable condition and in good spirits, Prof Tan said.