Abstract

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Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic threat. Although there are huge impacts on health care, the influences of medical educations are less discussed. Our brief communication is the first-hand discussions of the measures of medical schools of Taiwan facing COVID-19 and the influences of medical education.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has raised global awareness on the need for epidemic control and has significantly affected people’s lifestyles. The effects of COVID-19 on college education have been well discussed.1, 2, 3, 4 However, there is a lack of discussion on COVID-19 influence on medical education and corresponding plans to gradually lift restrictions on in-person interactions. Herein, we present the strategies taken by Taiwanese medical schools to continue in-person medical education on campus when COVID-19 first occurred.

Taiwanese medical schools defended themselves against COVID-19 in three ways. First, social distancing was implemented. To do this, seating arrangements were adjusted in most indoor spaces on campus, including classrooms, library study rooms, and food courts. Seats were marked as available with stickers, a constant reminder of social distancing. In addition, some events, including performance events, service-learning, and medical camp preparation meetings, were canceled to avoid large crowds.

Second, school authorities helped students and staff to keep track of their health conditions. Upon entering campus, students and the faculty members had their temperatures taken and hands sanitized with alcohol. Temperature measures served as a filter to prevent those with abnormal temperatures from coming into contact with others. As a new implemented daily routine, this also reminded people of the normal body temperature range, raising awareness on the disease. Alcohol sanitization kept hands and various surfaces clean. Furthermore, students and staff members were required to fill out online questionnaires concerning recent travel and exposure history. These mandatory measures kept everyone on their toes, attentive to health and hygiene at all times.