Campus Health
The health of the LUMS students is of foremost importance. As a vibrant community where students live, learn, and grow, it is crucial to follow health guidelines to ensure their well-being.
Explore the Campus Health webpage to discover information about the health facilities available to you. Campus Health is always here to support you every step of the way.
Campus Updates
- April 29, 2024
LUMS has MOUs with the following laboratory and hospitals, providing the community with various benefits upon verifying their identity through the LUMS smart card. The benefits include:
LUMS Health Collaborations1. Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Center
- 50% discount on laboratory services
- 30% discount on radiology services
- 25% discount on dental services
- 10% discount on routine COVID PCR
- 50% discount on pre-employment and annual medicals
- Fee sample collection for the LUMS community residing within LUMS premises and in the surroundings of laboratory’s network branches in various cities.
Contact Information:
URL: https://dressalab.com/
Contact Number: 0320-4005368
2. Farooq Hospital
- Flat 20 % discounts (excluding OPD) on hospital services, e.g., in-patient, emergencies, lab, and diagnostic services, upon showing LUMS smart card.
- For priority OPD bookings, one can present a LUMS smart card on the counter or give details over the phone. However, LUMS community affiliates can get a privilege membership card on their first visit to Farooq Hospital, DHA, Lahore.
- The Psychological and Psychiatric teams’ close collaboration with LUMS counselling and psychological services (CAPS) regarding the mental health challenges.
- Twice a year, medical camps and regular awareness sessions are held (as per need and agreed schedule).
Contact Information:
URL: https://farooqhospital.com/farooq-hospital-dha-branch/
Contact Numbers: 0330-0600800 | 042-3570 9673 | 042-3570 9938 | 042-3572 9756
3. Integrated Medical Care (IMC) Hospital
- The Hospital shall provide OPD, medical services, diagnostic facilities, and treatment options to patients referred by the qualified healthcare professionals at agreed-upon discounted rate of 10% to the rack rates. Please note, no discounts will be applied on outsourced Lab tests and MRI.
- IMC hospital, in cooperation with LUMS’s healthcare professionals and students shall establish and operate free clinics at LUMS.
- IMC shall offer clinical training opportunities, internships, and rotations for the LUMS’s healthcare management and allied students, providing them with hands-on experience in a real healthcare setting.
Contact Information:
URL: https://www.imchospital.com.pk/
Contact Numbers: 042-37178904 | 0300-0341462
4. Saleem Memorial Hospital (SMH)
Saleem Memorial Hospital (SMH) shall provide OPD and medical services to the LUMS community, including their parents, spouses, and children under the age of 21 years on the discounts as follows:
Sr. # Departments Discount 1 Room/Ward Charges 20% 2 IPD Consultation 25% 3 Laboratory (IPD) 20% 4 Radiology (IPD) 20% 5 Surgical Procedure Charges 20% 6 Emergency & General Services (Accidental and Life Saving Case) 20% 7 Procedures (Short Stay & OPD) 20% 8 Pharmacy 5% 9 Laboratory (OPD) 20% 10 Radiology (OPD) 20% 11 Radiation Oncology 5% 12 Walk-In Clinic 25% 13 Consultation Fee (OPD) – Visiting Doctors 10% *The consumable surgical items shall be invoiced at their original prices, and no discounts shall be extended to such items.
- All payments shall be made by the person availing discounted services at the time of the provision of services.
- Above medical services discounts are cash discounts, hence will not be available for the patients treated under a cashless process typically supported through an insurance company.
- Non-emergency cases pertaining to LUMS community members that requires full or partial financial support will be referred by “Campus Health” or any other designated office, SMH will run it through their designated office and will share the outcome with the patient in a weeks time.
- The services for walk-in clinic from its senior registrar shall be with fee of PKR 750/- (timings: from 10 am to 4 pm).
Contact Information:
URL: https://smh.org.pk/
Contact Numbers: 042 34509999 - March 18, 2024
The health of the LUMS students is of foremost importance to us.
COVID-19 Protocols for StudentsCOVID-19 Protocols for Students
- Individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, or any other symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should immediately:
- Start wearing N95/KN95 mask.
- Visit LUMS Medical Center or a Healthcare provider.
- Maintain distancing from others.
- In the case of Covid-19 negative test, carefully follow the recommendations/prescription from the medical center doctor or your healthcare provider.
- In the event of a positive Covid-19 diagnosis:
- Upon receiving a positive Covid-19 test result, you will be promptly relocated to the isolation facility. However, you will have the option to return home and self-isolate, while adhering to preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
- The duration of isolation will be based on your symptoms, with a minimum requirement of 5 days. The count begins from the day you first experienced symptoms.
- If your symptoms demonstrate improvement and you have been fever-free for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, you may be eligible for certain allowances:
- Access to outdoor spaces for activities such as walking.
Consume food outdoors.
Continue with preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
- While in isolation, indoor activities including attending classes, using the gym, or swimming pool, and participating in crowded gatherings must be avoided. Failure to comply will result in your case being referred to the disciplinary committee.
- After experiencing improvement in symptoms and being fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. It is highly recommended to undergo a COVID PCR test to ascertain the disease stage, which must be arranged privately. Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Center facilitates sample collection and testing at discounted rates specifically for LUMS community members are:
- Dr. Essa Lab contact number for sample collection: 0330-5444406
- For service-related escalations, contact Faizan Fasih: 0331-2195120
- Home/Hostel Sample Collection Time: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Covid PCR: PKR 3,500
- After a negative Covid PCR result, it is necessary to obtain clearance from LUMS Medical Center before joining campus life.
- If your symptoms worsen or persist, your isolation period will be extended for an additional 5 days or until symptoms subside.
- Even after completing isolation, individuals should continue to wear masks in public settings and maintain a safe distance (at least 6 feet) from others for the next 5 days.
- LUMS provides access to medical care, and CAPS (if needed) to those who are isolated within LUMS.
- Compliance with isolation protocols is mandatory for all members of the LUMS community to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, or any other symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should immediately:
- January 29, 2024
The health of the LUMS students is of foremost importance to us.
Oladoc: Outpatient Health Coverage for StudentsOutpatient Health Coverage for Students
Outpatient coverage poses challenges worldwide. We have already established an on-campus medical center to address routine ailments essential for your well-being. However, we acknowledge the community's desire for additional options, particularly for those residing in hostels. In response to this need, Campus Health has established a partnership with Oladoc, a prominent digital healthcare platform provider, to enhance outpatient services and promote students' health and well-being.
Here are the benefits extended to students enrolled in the spring semester of 2024:
- Free video consultation with General Physicians
- Free video consultation with doctors Medical Specialists
- Free wellness video consultations (Psychologist, Nutritionist, Dietician)
- Up to 20% discount on physical/in-clinic consultations with doctors
- Up to 40% discount on lab tests booked through Oladoc
- Up to 10% discount on medicines ordered through Oladoc
7 days a week call center availability by a dedicated customer support team. For call center, dial 042 38900939.
All the above benefits are especially designed for LUMS students and their families.Sign-up Process:
- Download and open Oladoc app and select ‘login; option. Enter your LUMS official email address to proceed further.
- Select ‘Got a Health Plan’ option
- Enter your registered number and verify OTP
- Select ‘LUMS’ from the drop down list
- Enter your details and LUMS official email address and click ‘Connect’
For a visual guide, check out the details here
If still unsure, watch a step-by-step video tutorial here
- September 20, 2023
LUMS is providing health coverage to students through IGI General Insurance Pakistan.
Students' Health InsuranceStudents' Health Insurance
LUMS is providing health coverage to students through IGI General Insurance Pakistan. As per the revised policy 2023–2024 for students, the coverage for hospitalization (IPD) has been increased from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 600,000 per year per student, while room rent has been elevated from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 15,000 per day. Additionally, this year's policy includes a range of new specialized investigations and day care procedures.
To take benefit from your health insurance, you must download IGI E-card by following the simple steps listed below:
- Click on the link: https://api.igiinsurance.com.pk/general_user_card/
- Enter your 'CNIC' with dashes/in case of foreigner write your ‘PASSPORT’ number
- Select Company Type as 'Conventional'
- Type 'Captcha'
- Click on 'Login'
- Your E-card will appear in a new window, click on 'Download/Print'
- Your E-card will appear in a browser page, depending upon the browser, you have to click the download icon and save it on your computer/mobile phone in a PDF format
You can use your IGI E-card for cashless in-patient medical treatment at any of the panel hospitals (list for panel hospitals).
For a detailed coverage policy and information on obtaining prior approval from the insurance company, please (click here). Keep in mind that prior approval from IGI is mandatory for non-panel hospitals, daycare procedures, and specialized investigations.
If you've already made a payment to the hospital for a covered medical treatment and wish to claim reimbursement, please fill out the (IPD Claim Form) and email it to studentmedicalclaims@lums.edu.pk promptly upon discharge. Ensure that you include all required supporting documents as per the checklist available on the second page of the IPD claim.
- September 20, 2023
In March 2018, LUMS signed an MOU with National Hospital and Medical Centre (NHMC) to develop and operate a “Health and Wellness Centre” on the University’s premises
LUMS Medical CenterLUMS Medical Center
In March 2018, LUMS signed an MOU with National Hospital and Medical Centre (NHMC) to develop and operate a “Health and Wellness Centre” on the University’s premises for the provision of emergency medical services to all members of the LUMS community. Later, it was renamed as “Medical Center”.
It comprises of the following exclusive features:
- Operates 24x7x365 to ensure round-the-clock medical care for the entire community
- Four-bed mini unit to cater for regular emergencies
- 24x7x365 professional doctor’s team from National Hospital & Medical Center is available
- Presence of professional male and female nursing staff
- Maintain digital record of the medical prescriptions through the Health Information Management System (HIMS)
- Medical Center is not equipped to handle serious medical conditions such as heart disorders, epilepsy, broken bones, brain hemorrhages, and similar emergencies. The primary purpose of the center is to provide medical treatment for general ailments, with a particular focus on walk-in patients. In case of severe medical emergency, only one intervention is performed, and the patient is immediately sent to the nearby hospital
Contact Numbers:
You can contact LUMS Medical Center by using following information:
- For external dialing: 042 3560 8499-8500 (direct number)
- For internal dialing: 1111 or by dialing the LUMS external number, 042 3560 8000, and then dialing the required extension
- September 20, 2023
The health of the LUMS students is of foremost importance to us.
Health GuidelinesHealth Guidelines
The health of the LUMS students is of foremost importance. As a vibrant community where students live, learn, and grow, it is crucial to follow health guidelines to ensure their well-being.
General Guidelines
- You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Keep your COVID vaccination status up to date with the required data on Zambeel.
- Take regular showers and disinfect or wash your hands before eating anything.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or use tissue paper. Never cough, or sneeze into your hands or in the open air. Dispose of used tissues properly in designated bins.
- Help keep the campus clean by avoiding littering.
- You must carry your personal hand sanitizers and use them when needed.
- Smoking is prohibited and is allowed only in designated areas on the campus. Smoking in non-designated areas will result in fines of Rs. 5,000 (first violation), Rs. 10,000 (second violation) and in case of third violation, the student will immediately be revoked of campus access privileges and hostel accommodation for the semester.
- It is highly recommended to receive a Typhoid vaccination if you intend to use the swimming pool.
As a community, it is important for us to be vigilant and observe protocols that will mitigate the risk of infection transmission to others.
Specific Guidelines in Case of Sickness
- If you experience symptoms such as fever, body aches, sore throat, frequent sneezing or coughing, blisters/red spots, or any other health issues (even milder ones), it is essential to practice social distancing, wear a mask and promptly visit the LUMS Medical Center for a checkup. If you are diagnosed as sick, please follow these guidelines:
a. You MUST wear a face mask in any enclosed premises or activities, such as lectures or training.
b. Wear a mask during outdoor gatherings as well.
c. Ensure that the face mask covers your nose and mouth completely. If you need to briefly remove it
outdoors, secure it under your chin.- If you are certain that you have been exposed to someone with a contagious viral infection, specifically COVID-19, immediately consult with the doctor at the campus Medical Center.
Close contacts of infected students should take precautions such as masks and social distancing.
Definition of close contact: A close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection.
- If you have tested COVID-19 positive, immediately notify LUMS by emailing campus.health@lums.edu.pk.
- As soon as we find out that a COVID positive student has attended in-person classes, LUMS will immediately notify the instructor of the course, the HOD, and the dean.
- In case of any contagious viral infection (including COVID-19, Monkeypox, Chickenpox, etc.), students are required to promptly isolate themselves from others and immediately return to their homes. Additionally, the parents or guardians of the affected student may be notified and requested to pick them up from campus. Upon recovery and returning to campus, the student must immediately obtain clearance from the doctor at the LUMS Medical Center before joining classes.
Additional Guidelines for Resident Students
- In the case of any contagious viral infection (including COVID-19, Monkeypox, Chickenpox, etc.), students residing in the hostels will be relocated to an isolation facility. Their parents or guardian will be informed, and a choice/approach for treatment will be agreed upon depending on the changing situation, e.g., parents or guardian pickup, treatment in an agreed hospital with an attendant arranged by the family.
- If the doctor recommends a lab test while the student is in the isolation center, then the student will bear the cost. The University has made arrangements with some credible pathology labs in Lahore to pick up onsite samples.
Isolation Facilities:
- Isolation centers are available on the ground floor of M5 for males and F5 for females.
- Students will not be allowed to leave their rooms. Staff will help them access food.
- The nursing staff from the Medical Center will take your vitals and coordinate with the doctor at the Medical Center.
- Student will have telephone access to the housing staff (Ph: M5: 042 3560 8000 ext. 2641, F5: 042 3560 8000 ext. 2761 and the Medical Center (Ph: 042 3560 8000 ext. 8500).
- In case of serious symptoms, student will be moved to a hospital in consultation with their parents/guardians. Attendant and all expenses must be arranged by the student’s family and/or through student’s insurance cover. You can return to campus once you have clearance from the hospital and from the LUMS Medical Center doctor.
Health Support on Campus for all LUMS Students
- Nursing staff and doctors at the Medical Center are available 24 x 7 x 365.
- Availability of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test at the Medical Center.
- Psychological Support - Students feeling distressed are encouraged to seek help from campus counselors at 0307 024 7704 or student.counselling@lums.edu.pk. For more details, you can visit https://caps.lums.edu.pk/.
- Health insurance cover through IGI.
Guidelines for LUMS Medical Center
- The Medical Center is designed to provide medical treatment for general ailments, with a particular focus on walk-in patients. In the event of a serious medical condition requiring immediate intervention or specialized care, such as heart disorders, epilepsy, broken bones, brain hemorrhages, and similar emergencies, we strongly advise reaching out to emergency services by dialing Rescue 1122 and notifying the LUMS main gate for local assistance in directions (Ph: 042 3560 8000 ext. 2560).
- To get treatment at the Medical Center, present your LUMS smart card at the reception of the Medical Center.
- Making noise is strictly prohibited in the Medical Center.
- Only one attendant is allowed to stay with the patient in the LUMS medical center.
- The washroom in the Medical Center is only for the use of admitted patients.
- Student who requires wheelchair will fill and submit a wheelchair reservation form to the Medical Center’s staff and acknowledge to all the terms and conditions.
In case of Violation of Health Guidelines
In case of a violation of the health guidelines, fines and penalties are imposed on students.
- First violation - a fine of Rs. 10,000
- Second violation, the student will immediately be revoked of campus access privileges and hostel accommodation (if availing) for the semester.
- September 20, 2023
LUMS presently operates two free clinics at its Medical Center and has ambitious plans to broaden this service by partnering with additional free clinics.
Free Medical ClinicsFree Medical Clinics
LUMS presently operates two free clinics at its Medical Center and has ambitious plans to broaden this service by partnering with additional free clinics.
Information about the current free clinics is provided below:
a) Dermatology Clinic:
Keeping in view the everyday skin related problems, Dr. Qazi Hammad Ahmed; MBBS, FCPS (Derma), dermatologist consultant at the National Hospital & Medical Center, Lahore, is currently running this clinic for one hour every Tuesday.
b) Gynecology Clinic:
As per the demand and need for gynecological advice among our female community at LUMS, we therefore started a free gynecology clinic at the LUMS Medical Center in collaboration with Farooq Hospital. A qualified gynecologist is available every Friday for one to two hours.
Note: To avoid any inconvenience, individuals are advised to book a slot for the free clinic by presenting their LUMS smart card at the Medical Center desk.
- January 24, 2022
We ask you to carefully read this communique fully and should you have any questions, feel encouraged to contact us.
COVID-19 AdvisoryDear LUMS Community,
We ask you to carefully read this communique fully and should you have any questions, feel encouraged to contact us. With the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases on campus, the following steps are being implemented immediately to reduce the spread of the virus.
- Day scholar access is limited to students who have in-person classes.
- The curfew hours from 9.00 pm to 8.00 am, are being imposed on hostel students to limit off-campus access (w.e.f. 25.01.2022)
- Staff are expected to work on campus on a rotational basis as directed by their respective Heads, Directors and Deans.
With the dramatic rise of 50 cases in just one week, we are facing a hard constraint with isolation and quarantine facilities that are reaching full capacity. In order for the university to continue accommodating isolation rooms for those who test positive, we will no longer offer quarantine facilities. Instead, those who were in close contact with someone who was COVID-positive, will receive an email to immediately visit the medical center for evaluation. They will have to continue to get daily check-ups for the following three days. Based on the doctor’s evaluation on any single day, we will move those starting to become symptomatic or testing COVID-positive to the isolation facilities, while the rest must continue to self-monitor their symptoms, and visit the medical center if symptoms surface later on. They will however, no longer be sent in a quarantine room. This is the only way left to accommodate covid positive cases in isolation rooms.
We also ask everyone to strictly observe covid protocols and pay special attention to the following:- As before, if you have ANY symptoms, ask to be seen by someone at the Medical clinic.
- If your test is covid positive, inform the health and safety committee right away. Please write to (health.safety@lums.edu.pk). In your email, kindly identify all individuals you had close contact with. Note, close contact means 15 minutes of sustained contact in close proximity (< 6 ft or 2m).
- Once you are in isolation, the doctor will monitor you and as the symptoms subside, you will be asked to leave. This can take from 5 to 10 days.
There are repeated reports of several members of the community who are not masking nor distancing. Carrying drinks and food aren’t good excuses to avoid masking. Abiding by SOPs will help to ensure the campus stays open. We will be increasing monitoring and strictly enforcing SOPs.
While we hope that we rise to the challenge and overcome this wave we need to understand, what failing to do so would mean. If current trends continue, we would soon be forced to move to fully online instruction, and students could be required to stay in their rooms, except to get food or go for testing. If that isn’t successful all students will have to return to their permanent homes. Let’s do everything we can together to avoid this last resort.
Now is the time to ensure full compliance of SOPs yourselves as well as actively urging your peers to do so as well.
Please stay safe and take extra care.
Senior Management, Deans, Provost, and VC OfficeP.S. Based on current best practices, some additional recommendations to minimize the risk of infection are:
- Keep good oral hygiene by using solutions such as the Betadine antiseptic oral rinse (available in Pakistan with the name of “Pyodine gargle & mouth wash”) as recommended by one of the top medical journals in the world (JAMA), to inactivate the build-up of the virus1
- Use the more effective N95 or KN95 instead of surgical masks.
- https://journalotohns.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40463-020-00474-x
- September 7, 2021
In the past three days we have had 5 cases of students/staff test positive for COVID-19 on campus. This includes 2 resident students, one-day student in addition to 2 members of staff.
COVID-19 Incident Report 06.09.2021Dear Students,
In the past three days we have had 5 cases of students/staff test positive for COVID-19 on campus. This includes 2 resident students, one-day student in addition to 2 members of staff. There are over ten students in quarantine in the hostels identified as close contacts of these students. We wish a complete and speedy recovery to each one of these individuals.
If you have been diagnosed with COVID or have been in touch with someone who has been diagnosed recently please follow the isolation/quarantine procedures as laid out in the attachment. If you are feeling unwell and are on-campus we encourage you to visit the Medical Center to get examined by the doctor on-duty.
Any outbreak of the highly contagious delta variant will result in a complete closure of the hostels. Taking precautions is the best defense against Covid-19, so please ensure that you wear a mask and maintain social distance at all times.
The vigilance team has started to impose fines for COVID-19, smoking and littering violations.
- First Violation: 5,000/- Rupees
- Second Violation: 10,000/- Rupees
- Third Violation: Suspension from the semester
You have been warned.
LUMS COVID-19 Incident Protocol
Regards,
Health & Safety Team
- September 3, 2021
This message is a reminder that as we resume in-person interactions, we must be cautious in dealing with the rise of new Covid variants.
COVID SOPsDear LUMS’ Community,
Welcome back! It is delightful to see the campus come to life with more students, staff and faculty. This message is a reminder that as we resume in-person interactions, we must be cautious in dealing with the rise of new Covid variants. Even if you are fully vaccinated, there is still a high risk. There have been several recent cases where fully vaccinated people have got Covid, and often these cases have not been mild. It is also well known that people who have had Covid are being reinfected.
The only way we can continue in-person interaction this semester is through vigilance in observing protocols that will mitigate risk of transmission of infection in our community. We are all responsible to ensure that we are not engaging in practices that endanger other people.
If you have any COVID-like symptoms you need to stay away from other people and visit Medical Center immediately. Please see the attached document on COVID SoPs to find out what you must do if you are symptomatic or test positive for COVID. If you test positive, you must also inform Health and Safety and isolate (health.safety@lums.edu.pk). Wilfully ignoring the symptoms because you do not want to miss teaching or attending classes or would like the chance to socialize is unethical and constitutes a violation of our COVID SOPs. The OSA and individual instructors are all prepared to accommodate students who have to miss classes due to covid related quarantine or caution. These behaviours also jeopardize our efforts to maintain the possibility of keeping LUMS open.
Many students, faculty and staff are observing SoPs and maintaining social distance, wearing masks, smoking only in designated areas, and not littering. However, some are not consistently following these rules. The rules will have to be strictly observed by anyone on campus. Anyone who violates the SoPs on COVID, smoking and littering will be fined 5,000 rupees. A second violation will result in doubling the fine and a third violation will result in suspension for the semester.
Please do watch this video put together by our advancement office on COVID SoPs.LUMS COVID-19 Incident Protocol
SOPs for Resident Students
SOPs for Faculty. Staff, and Day StudentsThe Senior Administration
Deans, Provosts and VC Offices - Vaccinations, In-person Classes and COVID Compliance UpdateJuly 7, 2021
As improved access to vaccination continues, the University is taking all measures possible to significantly increase in-class instruction.
Vaccinations, In-person Classes and COVID Compliance UpdateDear Students,
As improved access to vaccination continues, the University is taking all measures possible to significantly increase in-class instruction. In addition, we are planning for full occupancy in our campus hostels this Fall for all fully vaccinated returning students. This note provides an update on the vaccination efforts, the work underway to provide the maximum number of ventilated in-person classes and the need to continue COVID-compliance inside the campus.
Vaccination Efforts
Since the government made vaccination available for individuals 18 years and older, we recently held a vaccination camp. Currently, 82% of faculty and 81% of staff have been vaccinated. In addition, based on a recent survey, 36% of the students are partially vaccinated and 12% are fully vaccinated. We are actively working with the Punjab public health authorities to continue holding these camps on campus. Similarly, all students who have been newly admitted to LUMS are being asked to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
As vaccinations are mandatory, your vaccination status will be embedded in your Smart Card which will allow you access into the campus, the library, the sports complex, labs, hostels, offices, etc. We strongly encourage you to submit your vaccination status by early August which may allow you access to the campus before the semester begins. All day-scholars will have full access to the campus provided they are fully vaccinated. We are also collecting data on how many students are currently vaccinated and working with projections of how many will have received one or more vaccination by the end of August.
COVID-Compliance
While a majority of vaccinated people decreases the risks posed by COVID-19 considerably, it does not eliminate the risk to everyone that comes from those who have not been vaccinated. It is realistic for us to anticipate that, by the Fall, not everyone will be vaccinated; thus, holding all in-person classes will pose significant risks of spreading the virus. There is also the presence of the new Delta variant which at this time might result in another spike in COVID cases. The university will therefore continue to be COVID-compliant until everyone is vaccinated, which we expect will be fully completed sometime this fall.
With the stated goal of having the maximum number of in-person classes this Fall, the following measures are being implemented:-
The current classroom occupancy rate is being increased from 35% to 50%.
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By adding evening class sessions, the daily teaching schedule is expanded which provides students with added flexibility in their schedules to take more in-person classes.
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Classes with large enrollments will be held online to free up spaces for more in-person classes.
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Three additional outdoor classrooms are being added to the two existing ones. All 5 outdoor classes will have internet access, fans and lighting for use in the evenings.
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The Sports Complex is also being reconfigured for large in-person classes with appropriate ventilation. The Sports Complex will include a schedule for sporting activities which we will share when this is finalized.
Appropriate COVID-19 ventilation means that a classroom has windows allowing for cross-ventilation. Where possible, windows have been installed, but this is not possible in every classroom on campus for structural reasons. All classroom participants must wear masks and practice social distancing. A full inventory of COVID-compliant classrooms is being used by the RO’s office to determine scheduling for the Fall semester. With these steps, the majority of classes are expected to be in-person.
Variants and Observing SoPs
Since March, 2020, the need for continued vigilance is an important lesson that we have learned. During the past year, as COVID conditions improved and deteriorated, the government has lurched back and forth on partially opening, closing and then re-opening school and university campuses. A fourth wave is already prevalent in some of our neighboring countries as well as in some developed countries which have significantly higher vaccinated populations. Variants cannot be ignored nor underestimated. We continue to monitor various institutional responses in these regions so that we are prepared for worst case scenarios. Continued vigilance in observing SoPs during the Summer and Fall will provide significant protection to our community which is why we all will have to continue to wear masks in public and observe social distancing.
Despite the risks that need to be mitigated if things turn for the worse, conditions might still improve as more people get vaccinated. If these conditions actually improve, we aim to have all classrooms with full capacity and a back-to-normal operation by the Spring term.
We should take pride that our students, faculty and staff who have shown tremendous resilience to overcome the constraints imposed by the pandemic and demonstrated great care to those who remain vulnerable. We will work closely with the Student Council and continue to provide updates this summer. We are also eager to welcome you back for Orientation Week. An exciting program that is being planned and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
The Senior Administration
Deans, Provosts and VC Offices -
- May 27, 2021
The LUMS COVID-19 Vaccination Policy is a necessary step towards safely opening the campus in Fall 2021.
Vaccination PolicyDear LUMS Community,
As we were about to release the new vaccination policy, we heard the possibility followed by the wonderful news yesterday that the government has extended vaccinations that would apply to the vast majority of our students – a great step forward.Please find attached the LUMS COVID-19 Vaccination Policy – a necessary step towards safely opening the campus this fall. The Vaccination Program has two important goals: (1)To ensure all staff and faculty are vaccinated by August 31st, 2021 (see 3.1 below) and (2) To encourage and facilitate vaccinations for as many students as possible and support students on financial aid by partially or fully reimbursing the cost of the vaccine.
All faculty, staff and students are required to submit their NADRA immunization certificate to HR by the 31st of August 2021. If you have underlying medical conditions and have been advised by a doctor to avoid getting a COVID-19 vaccination, you must have your doctor sign and stamp the COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form and submit directly to HR (hrdmessage@lums.edu.pk).
Wishing you the best to stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Arshad