Since the World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The Australian government, the Department of Health and every educational institution is taking every possible step to not only protect domestic students but also, ensure the safety of their overseas students.
This pandemic is spreading like a bushfire and creating a lot of fear and panic among the people around the globe. The student community is also concerned because their educational activities are affected due to this spread. But safety first and this is what the Australian government is trying to achieve by protecting the health of students who are studying in different schools, colleges and universities.
We as a student consultant understands; you must be concerned about your studies due to this impact. Below information will help you to know what is the health and safety measures advised by health experts and concerned authorize for overseas student:
1-Advice from Department of Health
DOH has issued a health alert regarding COVID-19. You can get the latest information about the changing situation. You can also take valuable information about the symptoms of this disease and how to protect yourself and others?
If you are concerned and want to know more details, DOH has created different helpline services which are mentioned below:
- If you are affected, you can call 000 for a medical emergency.
- If you are not familiar with English, you can call at 131 450 for interpreting and translating service.
- If you are looking for any kind of information call at 1800 020 080. This helpline operates 24 hours, seven days a week.
2-Travel Restrictions: How will it impact you?
In a period of three to four months, novel coronavirus has affected thousands of people around the world. So, it was essential for different countries to control their borders. Just like the USA and UK, Australia imposed travel restrictions to protect its people. What are these limitations and what is their impact? We have explained below:
- In the most recent update, the government has warned people not to travel outside Australia. In case, you are traveling to Australia, you will be staying in self-isolation for 14 days and then you can go home.
- Some countries where virus impact is vulnerable like China, Iran, Korea and Italy, the government has banned travel to these countries.
- There has been a ban of 30 days on cruise liners from foreign ports who are trying to enter Australia.
To get the latest update, it is advised to follow the DOH Australia, Ministry of Home Affairs and World Health Organization guidelines.
3-Avoid social interaction
There has been a lock down in many countries and has impacted 176 countries. Because, this new virus is spreading from human to human, therefore, avoiding interaction with others can help to control the spread.
Other than health advice WHO has also recommended avoid social interaction like:
- Avoid large gatherings like sports and other social events.
- Don’t visit restaurants, cinemas and supermarkets.
- Use personal transport if you want to travel, if you are using mass transits like taxi, train, buses or tram, you should follow public transport guidelines, an informative sheet for drivers and passengers using public transport.
4- Stay updated about your academics
Due to this pledge, most of the schools, colleges and universities are closed. Universities have announced holidays or delayed the commencement of new semesters.
In case, your semester has already started then you should get in touch with your university support department or regularly check the institution’s website. Some universities have started online classes to provide assistance and support to their students.
Photo by H Shaw on Unsplash
