‘U Residence’ students uncertain about the hostel’s isolation guidelines

The sign in the main lobby of U Residence

The coronavirus pandemic has brought plenty of new measures to Taylor’s University campus, including social distancing, mask usage, and prevention of large in-person gatherings.

Among the most crucial is the university hostel’s isolation guidelines for residents infected with the coronavirus.

Nonetheless, students living at Taylor University’s on-campus housing facility, ‘U Residence’, have expressed uncertainty about the hostel’s isolation measures.

The hostel residents claim that they are unsure of what would happen if they tested positive for COVID-19 since they did not receive any further instructions from Taylor’s Hostel Management beyond avoiding physical contact, seeking medical treatment and alerting the housemasters.

“I think we have to inform the housemasters, and they’ll figure it out,” said Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra, a final-year design student.

According to the official website of Taylor’s Hostel Management, housemasters are tasked with the responsibility of assisting and supporting residents.

The hostel management’s standard operating procedures (SOP) & social distancing guidelines stated that if a student is found to have Covid-19, they would be “cordoned off the area,” but the guidelines did not specify where and for how long the infected student would be isolated.

The section of the U Residence SOP and Social Distancing guidelines that emphasises the steps a resident should take if they have been confirmed for Covid-19.

The lack of information regarding the hostel’s isolation procedures has led residents to form assumptions about what would happen if they tested positive for COVID-19.

“I’m pretty sure we will still be isolated in our own room,” said Kimberly Octaviani Setiana, who moved into the hostel last year.

“I think people who got COVID-19 will be transferred to a hospital for isolation,” Jocelin Agustia, a final-year bachelor’s student, countered.

Denise Chang, a sophomore student, echoed the former assertion and added that infected students would be isolated along with their housemates.

In addition to this uncertainty, residents have voiced concern over the lack of COVID-19 monitoring procedure implemented by the hostel administration.

“It would be safer if the management conducted scheduled COVID-19 testing on residents once a month, especially now that we have started physical classes and are visiting campus more often,” said Caitlyn.

Despite her concerns, Caitlyn asserts that the hostel’s guidelines are in the best interests of the students.

“I think the management is doing their best,” she said.

“They are enforcing restrictions like mask-wearing and social distancing, and they are also disinfecting a lot of common areas, elevators, and even door handles, which I think is really important.”