Jan 2 COVID-19 update

Updated KAUST COVID-19 Requirements

Following the President’s message on Dec 29, 2021, KAUST will be implementing stricter vigilance and enhanced controls in response to the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.

Effective immediately, we are in Tier 1B, which closely aligns with recent Kingdom changes.

These changes include:

• Face coverings are required both inside and outside for everyone aged two and older except when eating/drinking and in private offices alone.
• Physical distancing is set at 1.5 meters. Family/household units are not required to distance.
• Tawakkalna status will be verified before entry to retail, recreation and mosques.
• Business group gatherings are limited to 50 people inside and personal gatherings are limited to 10 people inside.
• All KAUST employees, students, residents, and Research Park tenants aged two and older returning to KAUST from international travel must test within 48 hours of their return and restrict their activities to essential only until test results received.
• In addition to following the Kingdom quarantine requirements; vaccinated direct contacts of a positive case will be PCR tested, then during the quarantine period other family members must restrict their activities to essential only, and no guests are allowed in the home

Refer to the Keeping KAUST Safe guidelines for more information, including current quarantine requirements which are currently being updated to incorporate the changes noted above.

We are hopeful that many of these changes will be short term measures when the impact of Omicron diminishes.

It is important that we ALL follow the above controls as it continues to take a community effort to manage the pandemic effectively. If anyone in your household display symptoms, most notably a sore throat, runny nose or slight fever then report conditions to KAUST Health immediately following the Keeping KAUST Safe guidelines.

Booster Vaccinations

Booster vaccinations remain available in KAUST Health for those who are eligible. More appointment slots are being added regularly in January in preparation for the deadline of February 1st.  If you would like to book a vaccine at KAUST, then please do so via KAUST COVID Vaccine Booking Form. This link can be used to also book vaccine boosters for your dependents.

Please note the following

• The only vaccine booster brand administered in Saudi Arabia, including at KAUST, is Pfizer
• It is currently only available to those over 16 years old
• You do not need to book on Sehhaty for vaccines given at KAUS
• The MOH have recently made changes to the timeframe between vaccines and booster doses. Those eligible should have 3 months between the second dose and the booster dose to be able to receive the booster vaccine.

Children Aged 5-11 vaccine

KAUST is still awaiting a supply of the vaccines to administer to children aged 5 – 11.  When we are in receipt of these, the community will be made aware with booking instructions.

January 2 COVID-19 update

As of January 2, there were 64 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed at KAUST since the last bulletin on December 26.

The cases have seen a mixture of those with symptoms who presented to KAUST Health and without symptoms who were tested as part of the contact tracing or travel PCR testing process.

The cases have been a mixture of fully vaccinated and children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated

For the most up-to-date information, please check the KAUST COVID-19 Dashboard.
The 14-day positivity rate* at KAUST is currently 1.4% as of Jan 2, 2022.

We remind all community members that we are currently operating in Keeping KAUST Safe Tier 1B. If you have symptoms, please stay home and call KAUST Health at 012 808 0940.

* Positivity rate = % of positive tests returned from the total number of tests taken during a 14-day period.
Excludes where the result is still pending or the swab was rejected.
** This rate will only be displayed if the number of tests conducted achieves a given significant threshold (724 tests). Over the past 14-day period, 3,350 tests were conducted, with 46 positive cases.

Where to turn when you need to know

• Facilities Management – 012 (808) 0959 or email FMCallcenter@kaust.edu.sa
• Human Resources – 012 (808) 2055 or email HRHelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
• Health, Safety & Environment – visit the website
• Graduate Affairs – 012 (808) 3412 or schelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
• KAUST Health – 012 (808) 0940 or visit the KAUST Health website
• Wellness services – visit the Health, Safety and Environment website