A video message from the President
KAUST cases
The total number of cases of COVID-19 identified at KAUST remains at 26.
We are keeping in touch with all of our active cases and monitoring their progress. We wish each of these community members well.
Changes to quarantine
Beginning Sunday, July 5, official quarantine procedures will be relaxed for people entering KAUST. Instead of the current 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for returnees to KAUST, we will replace this with the implementation of “restricted activities” for a period of 14 days after their return.
We will continue to follow MoH requirements related to quarantine of all sick or symptomatic community members, as well as anyone identified through contact tracing.
The introduction of testing
The above changes to quarantine will be used in conjunction with a program of testing at KAUST. We will use RT-qPCR testing (to detect the presence of the virus), as well as antibody testing. This will be applied both at the gate and inside the community to help best manage the risk of external transmission, as well as to establish a measure of the prevalence of the virus within the community.
It still remains vital that everyone must adhere strictly to the Keep KAUST Safe guidelines. The full details will be provided early next week as the full details of the plan are finalized. The KC3 continues to strongly recommend that people not leave campus at this time.
We have to remain vigilant to avoid moving back into lockdown. For President Chan’s perspective on the way forward, watch his most recent address to the community.
Return to work and remote working
As we enter the next phase of the KAUST Return to Work Plan, personnel providing critical support to restart research labs and buildings, as determined by research and other academic and business departments, may be asked to return to the normal place of work, while strictly adhering to the Keep KAUST Safe guidelines.
For personnel who are not part of the restart group identified above, the Emergency Management Remote Working Procedure remains available and we encourage those in vulnerable groups and individuals with approval to work remotely (including those out of Kingdom), to continue with their existing remote working arrangements.
We recognize that the last few months has been challenging for us all in many ways and for that reason, we encourage all personnel to schedule a period of leave for your own health and well-being. Please follow the normal procedures for requesting and recording leave.
Inbound flights back to KAUST
Travel and returning flights continues to be a challenge. The Kingdom did not release any new information on when expat residents currently abroad can return back to the Kingdom. However, KAUST is working closely with several government entities on finding viable solutions. We are anticipating international travel restrictions easing and commercial flights returning in the next couple of months. As flights back into the Kingdom become possible, personnel who are working remotely and who are able to return to the Kingdom, should plan to return to KAUST throughout August as they might be requested by their line manager to return to the workplace if necessary or continue to work from home at their KAUST residence. Personnel in a vulnerable group who are out of Kingdom may be requested to return back to KAUST at a later stage.
We will continue to monitor conditions in KAUST and the region and will provide you with information about travel and visa arrangements as they become available.
Outbound Saudia flights
We would like to inform KAUST residents that additional Saudia flights are now open for booking on the Saudia website:
- Riyadh to Paris on June 27 (SV127)
- Jeddah to London on June 28 (SV115)
- Riyadh to Frankfurt on June 28 (SV179)
- Riyadh to Madrid on June 30 (SV227)
- Jeddah to London on July 1 (SV115)
- Riyadh to Paris on July 1 (SV127)
- Riyadh to Frankfurt on July 1 (SV167)
- Jeddah to Washington on July 1 (SV037)
- Jeddah to London on July 2 (SV115)
- Jeddah to Washington D.C. on July 2 (SV035)
- Jeddah to Washington D.C. on July 3 (SV037)
- Riyadh to Washington D.C. on July 4 (SV037)
Recreation reopening update
We are happy to share reopening plan details for various recreation services. These can be found here.
The openings include gyms, classes, and other indoor activities. Some of these activities have specific requirements and capacity limits, please ensure you make yourself familiar.
The Keep KAUST Safe directives and service specific directives must be followed at all times.
Samba and SABB opening hours
Please note that the KAUST Samba and SABB branches will be reverting to normal hours, effective today:
- Samba – Sunday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- SABB – Sunday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
It is important to abide by all physical distancing directives and to wear a face covering at all times when visiting the branches. Please refer to the Keep KAUST Safe guidelines for additional precautions.
Featured R3T research
Since the coronavirus swept across the globe, everyone is involved in some combination of tracking, containing, treating, or preventing COVID-19.
Some of the world’s brightest scientific minds, including KAUST Associate Professor of Bioscience Samir Hamdan and his colleagues in the Rapid Research Response Team (R3T) are trying to overcome these challenges.
We spoke with Professor Hamdan recently about COVID-19 and the work he and his colleagues are doing to understand and counteract it’s spread.
Read the interview with Professor Samir Hamdan on the KAUST website.
How does contact tracing for COVID-19 work?
Because of how COVID-19 spreads, we know it is unlikely a person will catch it from someone without spending a significant amount of time with him or her. You are at higher risk of infection if you have had face-to-face contact with a confirmed case for 15 minutes or more, or you’ve shared an enclosed space with that person for more than two hours.
Once again, we’d like to thank you for your cooperation and ongoing adherence to directives. These have been designed to keep you safe and to help manage the crisis.
KAUST COVID-19 Crisis Center (KC3)
Community resources
Staying informed
- Stay informed about COVID-19 and the University’s directives here
- Contact the COVID-19 Operations Hub or call 012 808 0950 Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- For other matters please call:
- 054 470 0804 — for Emotional Support Helpline
- 012 808 0959 — for Facilities Management
- 012 808 2055 — for Human Resources
- 054 470 1111 — for Government Affairs
- Review changes to operating hours for facilities, services and programs
