Coronavirus Messages 2021

Dear AUC Community,

The following are updates on the University’s ongoing pandemic response.

Automation of Contact Tracing in Classrooms

We have received several questions regarding how the contact tracing for classroom cases takes place. Click here to review the steps once a case is identified.  

Based on the results of tests of contacts in classes since the start of the semester, we know that the risk of transmission in our classrooms is very low. Out of more than 4,675 contacts in classrooms who were tested, only three cases were positive. This is a clear indication that the safety precautions inside classrooms — high vaccination rates, face masks, social distancing and sanitation — are effective in significantly reducing the risk of transmission in our classrooms. 

Start of next semester we will be launching a fully automated system to improve the efficiency and speed of the process. The new system will also ensure contact cases are automatically denied campus access until they receive a negative test. The current system depends on a manual process of the clinic following up on the contacts and their testing. 

Omicron Variant 

AUC’s Scientific Advisory Committee is closely monitoring news and recommendations by the international scientific community, CDC, WHO and the Egyptian Ministry of Health. Current guidance remains to continue to practice the same safety measures, including vaccination, face masking and social distancing. 

Vaccine Registration 

Some members of the AUC community who received their second dose on the New Cairo campus have found the online record of their vaccination incomplete on the Ministry of Health website. We are collaborating closely with the MOH to ensure all of the records are updated as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you have upcoming travel plans, send to the clinic to help expedite your online vaccine verification with MOH. Read the recently updated Q&As on vaccination requirements. 

Vaccine Proof Upload Deadline

If you have not yet uploaded the proof of vaccination for your second dose, be sure to do so by December 30 to ensure that you continue to have access to campus. Use the online Vaccine Status Update Form to submit your proof of vaccination.

COVID-19 Dashboard 

In case you missed it,click here to see responses to some of the most common questions about AUC’s dashboard. You can also watch this video of last week’s Campus Conversation about the dashboard. 

As the weather cools, remain diligent in enforcing all COVID-19 safety precautions. 

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

In response to requests from members of the community to vaccinate family members, we are pleased to announce that the University is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to facilitate vaccinations for dependents of faculty, staff and students who are not yet vaccinated.

How

Please register dependents on the AUC's vaccination registration link here, starting today Monday, November 22 until Saturday, November 27 at 4:00 pm.   

Please also ensure that you pre-register through the government system first because you will be required to enter the 20-digit vaccination code you are given from the MoHP website on the AUC registration form.

All other details about dates and the location will be announced as soon as confirmed with the MoHP. 

For further inquiries, please send an email to [email protected].  

Regards,

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear Student,

Earlier this week, Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has announced that students between the age of 15 and 18 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In collaboration with MoHP, AUC will facilitate a round of vaccinations for all current students under 18 years.

Accordingly, if you are under 18 years and have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, you may now register through the Ministry of Health and Population website and the AUC via this link.

Below are several important details:

What

As a service to only AUC students under 18 years, the University is collaborating with the MoHP to facilitate vaccinations for current students not yet vaccinated and willing to receive their vaccines.

Who

All current students under 18 years are eligible to benefit from AUC’s arrangement with the MoHP to facilitate vaccinations. The registration link will be open on a first-come, first-served basis.

When

We will be communicating further regarding dates once confirmed.

How

All current AUC students under 18 years who wish to receive their vaccine through AUC’s facilitated system must register on the University’s registration system. It is necessary to pre-register through the government system, and you will be required to enter the vaccination code you are given from the MoHP website

Confirmation SMS

Please note you will NOT receive any further SMS or any email to confirm your attendance. This vaccination stage is for current AUC students under 18 years only.

Where

AUC New Cairo Clinic. The vaccination process will be monitored and regulated by the Ministry of Health and Population. The AUC Clinic is providing the physical space.

Medical Condition

If you have any chronic medical conditions, please DO NOT forget to bring your medication or prescriptions with you on the day of vaccination.

Vaccine Type

According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the type of vaccine being provided and regulated, and it's unknown which vaccine is to be provided on each vaccination date.

Required Documents

• The Original National ID or Passport + A Printed Copy.
• AUC ID
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

For further inquiries, please send an email to [email protected]

Hussam Hassan

Chief Health and Safety Officer

Dear AUC Community,

Further to the email sent last week by Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman, we are pleased to share some of the recent measures undertaken across the University to enhance our campus-based COVID safety protocols. For further information on our campus guidelines and COVID safety measures, refer to the Campus Guidelines document.

In addition to these enhancements, we ask all members of the community to continue to strictly adhere to all safety measures on campus. While we have worked hard to keep our campus fully operational, we must continue to fully apply all measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes staying home if you are sick, wearing a mask anywhere on campus and on the bus, washing or sanitizing your hands frequently and maintaining physical distancing. As the epidemic continues to stretch, some individuals may be tempted to relax these protections, especially those in lower-risk groups. Please remember that safety precautions are your responsibility to both to respect others and to protect members of the community who are at greater risk.

Masks on Buses

In order to reinforce the importance of masking on buses, we have introduced a reporting system for bus riders to report anyone who refuses to wear a mask by emailing [email protected]. Violators of the masking requirement on buses may lose the privilege of riding AUC transportation. In addition, we have placed signage on all buses to remind riders of the necessity of masking at all times.

Elevator Safety

New signage has been put in all elevators advising riders that masks must be worn and that no more than two riders are allowed at a time. We ask all elevator users to ensure they wear masks and adhere to no more than two people at a time.

Additional Signage

Educational signs that indicate the risk of transmission in various scenarios have been placed in classrooms and across the University. These signs are an important reminder that the best protection against transmission is when all parties are masked and maintain physical distance. 

Food Venues

All vendors are required to ensure that their staff remains masked at all times and that they should refuse service to any unmasked customers. The seating areas in indoor venues (food court and cafeteria) have been reduced and we are adding shaded seated areas outdoors instead. Additional signage is now visible at all food outlets, as well as markers and posts to help ensure proper distancing while in line.

Face-Shield for Faculty

The University clinic now has face shields available for all faculty members who prefer to wear these while delivering their lectures. They are available through the dean’s office in each school.

Face Masks

Face masks are available for purchase at Quick 24.  

Vaccine Registration for Students Under 18 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, the University has opened registration for students under 18. The vaccines will be provided to them later this month.

Flu Vaccine

The seasonal flu vaccine is now available at the AUC clinic on the New Cairo and Tahrir Square campuses as part of our prevention and wellness program.  Learn more about the CDC's latest report here. To schedule an appointment, call extension 3916 at the New Cairo clinic or send an email to [email protected]; for Tahrir Campus clinic, call extension 6100.

Alumni Access to Campus

AUC alumni who are fully vaccinated are now granted access to campus. More details will be communicated with alumni later this week. 

Many of these measures are a direct response to issues that have been brought to our attention by members of the community. As always, we welcome your input so that together we can keep AUC as safe as possible. 

Sincerely,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

As we approach the end of the  Fall 2021 semester, I would like to take this opportunity, in collaboration with President Ahmad Dallal and other senior leaders, to update you on some of the many steps we have taken – and others that we are still considering – to ensure that we continue to do everything feasible to protect the AUC community in the face of the ongoing pandemic. We are incredibly proud of the way that most members of our community have contributed to campus safety. However, we must remain diligent and acknowledge that we cannot relax our standards, and we must continue to adapt and reassess our plans. As has been the case since the start of the pandemic, our purpose is to maintain the quality of our educational offerings while at the same time keeping the community as safe as we can.  

Safety Measures in Place

The situation today is very different than it was a year and a half ago when the pandemic was new, information was scarce and the shift to online learning was clearly the right thing to do. Today we have access to a great deal of experience, research and data to inform our decisions.  We know that over 93% of our community (faculty/students/staff) are fully vaccinated. Our classes are delivered with physical distancing, and we have required masking from all students and faculty. As per the CDC, vaccination and masking are the two primary measures that a university can implement to maintain a safe environment. Along the same lines, we have limited access to our busses to only those who are vaccinated, and have restricted visitor access to campus to only those who are business-critical.  

We are also requiring unvaccinated individuals to undergo weekly testing, and are conducting contract-tracing and testing in the case of exposures. It is worth mentioning that as of October 28th, 7,333 antigen tests have been administered since the start of the semester, including unvaccinated, contact-cases and symptomatic individuals. This has allowed us to identify 43 positive cases who are immediately removed from posing a risk to the community. Of these, only 3 positive cases were of class-based contacts. This is a strong indication that the safety measures we have in our classrooms are working well. I am aware that the current system of informing faculty and managing the contact tracing in classrooms can be somewhat unclear or confusing. In addition, there are occasionally delays in informing faculty about suspected or confirmed cases in a class. These delays result either from late reporting by the individual, or from overload on the clinic’s part. We have started and continue to enhance the process in order to streamline communications. To further address these concerns, we will be sending  updated, clear procedures on how contact cases are managed, and what faculty and students should expect.

Scientific Advisory Committee and COVID Response Task Force

In addition to the CDC and other international bodies, we are also receiving guidance and advice from our own internal experts, who combine scientific knowledge with a deep awareness of the local context at AUC.  Led by Distinguished University Professor Hassan Azzazy, the Scientific Advisory Committee is a multi-disciplinary faculty committee that has been reviewing pandemic responses in higher education institutions around the world, scientific evidence, recommendations from public health authorities including the WHO and CDC as well as  AUC’s own response. The committee has written a comprehensive set of recommendations  for a 4-staged approach to decision making, whereby each stage is accompanied by specific recommendations impacting campus-based activities. Their recommendations also include a slight shift in our data analysis, moving from looking at a 7-day rolling average of new cases to a 14-day rolling average, and this will soon be reflected on our daily dashboard. 

Multi-stage approach to decision making

These recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee are now guiding the decision-making process of the COVID Response Task Force, which I chair. 

We are therefore implementing a data-driven approach to decision making, predicated on the dual-drivers of safety and educational quality. Decisions regarding any potential shift online, cancelling events and activities, or any other changes to our operations, are being made in this context. 

The COVID Response Task Force continues to meet weekly (or more) and is also in regular communication with the Scientific Committee. We are constantly re-assessing our response, collecting feedback and making any needed modifications to the action plan going forward. We have been doing this every week since the start of the pandemic, and we take every opportunity to re-evaluate. To help collect feedback from faculty and students, CLT has recently sent out  surveys and I look forward to reviewing the results. We are grateful to members of our community who helped us identify gaps in our response so that we can all ensure we do everything in our power to keep our community safe. Please continue to send your feedback and comments to the provost’s office and [email protected]. 

In light of the Scientific Committee report, the COVID Response Task Force is re-evaluating the University’s current practices and  its revisiting our action plan. Any changes in our campus plans will be shared with the community in advance. Will also continue to explore additional measures to augment the safety of members of our community, and if possible their families.

Additional Measures Being Implemented

In addition to the many precautions that have been in place since the start of the semester, we are continuing to adapt and enhance them in response to the changing situation on the ground. I trust that you understand that such diligence is not meant to cause stress or discomfort, but is in fact a reflection of our commitment to maintaining the safety of the community. Some of these updated measures include:

• Busses:  We will be implementing a reporting system for those who do not comply with our masking requirements, especially on the busses.  If violators do not adjust their behavior, they may be restricted from accessing the busses and/or the campus.
• Campus food venues: We will be setting up additional seating areas outdoors, in order to further reduce the number of people who are seated indoors in the food court and cafeteria.  Additionally, we are informing all vendors on campus that in addition to their own personnel being masked, they must refrain from providing service to any customers who are not wearing masks. We are also adding tools to ensure that physical distancing is maintained while waiting in line. 
• Face shields: We are making face-shields available through the Clinic to faculty who wish to use them, for use in their classes and lectures. 
• Visitor Access: We have recently updated the visitor process to require that visitor requests be accompanied by a vaccination proof. Please be reminded that only business-critical visitors are allowed on campus. 

Enforcement of Masks and Safety Measures

There are increasing concerns about members of the community becoming lax with pandemic safety measures. Both the Scientific Advisory Committee and our faculty-led MaskUp initiative recommend the adoption of stricter enforcement mechanisms, especially in classrooms, crowded areas, in elevators and on buses. While sanctions are always a last recourse, our care for each other as a community remains the most compelling reason to adhere to safety measures. Please remember that we have a responsibility to each other and to those we love to remain vigilant in wearing masks and physical distancing.  

When you see colleagues – be they faculty, students or staff – who are not following these safety practices, please remind them that these are required and are in place to protect us all. Our health and safety are both individual and collective responsibilities. I would like to call particular attention to the role that faculty play in ensuring that our classroom environments continue to be as safe as possible. I therefore remind all faculty that you have the responsibility and authority to require that all students in your classes remain masked at all times. Any student who does not comply with this requirement should be reported and asked to leave the class. 

Make sure you are doing your part in keeping everyone around you safe.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman

Provost

Dear AUC Community,

The seasonal flu vaccine is now available at the AUC Clinic New Cairo and Tahrir Square campuses as part of our prevention and wellness program.

While flu shots are highly recommended every year, they are now even more important in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although the flu vaccine does not prevent COVID-19, it can help impede the seasonal flu and give you some peace of mind.

For anyone who has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine and plans to do so, remember that the CDC has advised that COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots may be given simultaneously, in case you plan to take them on the same day. Learn more about the CDC's latest report here.

Any member of the AUC community wishing to take the flu vaccine is welcome to schedule an appointment from 9 am to 3 pm, Sunday to Thursday. The cost of the vaccine is EGP 170, and the brand name is INFLUVAC. Since we have only a limited number of flu vaccines available, they will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. 

To schedule an appointment, call extension 3916 at the New Cairo clinic or send an email to [email protected]; for Tahrir Campus Clinic, call extension 6100.

Office of Medical Services

Today we are bringing you a new feature on AUC mobile app to improve the accessibility of AUC health resources.  

Submitting the daily self-check, calling medical emergency contacts, keeping an eye on AUC COVID numbers, locating PCR/Antigen testing units via maps, unlocking up-to-date testing rates, and getting in touch with the testing lab, all easily accessible through our favorite channel, the mobile device. 

We invite you to scan the QR code and download the "AUC Mobile" app on App Store or Google play to explore the new health module.

Have a great day and stay safe.

AUC Mobile team

Dear AUC Students, Staff, and Faculty,

As you know, there are a number of measures in place to help keep the AUC community safe during our return to campus. We have a 90% vaccination rate across the community, which is excellent. But we must continue to maintain social distancing and masking, in order to protect ourselves, each other, and our loved ones. Unfortunately, while faculty members are enforcing the mask policy and social distancing in their classrooms, laxity in adhering to precautionary measures occurs in other parts on campus. Mainly we have observed such practices in the hallways, elevators, indoor eating areas, as well as congested areas outdoors during Assembly Hour, during class changes, and waiting in line at food outlets such as L’Aroma, Tabali, Cilantro, and TBS. Many of us have observed a lack of masking and social distancing in these spaces.

While all of us should do our best to convince others to wear masks and social distance on campus, we are soliciting volunteers to remind our fellow community members to mask up and social distance when they are not abiding by the policies.

Do you want to help keep the AUC community and our families protected? Are you concerned that too many people are still not wearing masks or maintaining proper distance? Then please join us as a volunteer for an hour a week to be present at different sites on the ground to ask those who are not wearing masks in congested areas or indoor spaces to adhere to safety measures. Please sign up here, indicating which day you are available. You will receive an invitation to a zoom session on Wednesday, September 29 at 1 pm, where we will discuss key messaging and effective engagement techniques.

Thank you in advance for volunteering to help keep AUC safe! 

Best wishes,

Hanan Sabea, associate professor of anthropology

Helen Rizzo, Associate Professor of Sociology

Dear AUC Community,

The Ministry of Health representatives will be on campus this week to provide the second doses of vaccination ONLY for those who received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine on campus three weeks ago. 

If you received the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine on campus from Monday, August 30, 2021, to September 8, 2021, go to room PO19 at the Conference and Visitor Center on Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Best regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

Ministry of Health representatives will be on campus next week to provide the second doses of vaccination ONLY for faculty, staff, and students who received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine on campus three weeks ago. 

If you received the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine the week of Saturday, August 28, 2021, to Thursday, September 2, 2021, and are now due for the second dose, please go to room PO19 at the Conference and Visitor Center at the following times:

 - Tuesday, September 21, 2021, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

- Thursday, September 23, 2021, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community,

We would like to welcome everyone and especially our students back to campus and wish you all a safe and successful semester. We are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health will be extending vaccinations on the AUC New Cairo campus throughout the first week of classes. 

Any students, faculty and staff who have not received a vaccine are welcome to come to the New Cairo campus on Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6 at Meeting Room P019 or Tuesday, September 7 to Thursday, September 9 at the AUC clinic on a walk-in basis, without receiving an email from Medical Services. The Ministry's vaccination team will be available from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the week.

Vaccinations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Thursday may have longer lines or shortages of vaccines, depending on demand. Please remember to register on the Ministry of Health website prior to heading to the vaccination location on campus.

Remember to wear a mask and make sure to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Sincerely,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to campus. I hope your first week of work back on campus went well. I know we are all excited to see each other and at the same time anxious about the big change from remote work.

As we get acclimated once again to working from campus full time, we need to remain vigilant about health and safety. Please remember that wearing masks is required anytime you are around other people — indoors or outdoors. Even when you walk around campus or inside buildings, you set an example for colleagues and students who may see you not wearing a mask. 

I urge you to strictly adhere to wearing a mask and remind other colleagues when they forget. 

The University is constantly reviewing public health guidance, the status of our campus community, trends in Egypt and at universities in the US, and updating our policies accordingly. 

Thank you again for your agility as we work together as a community to navigate our way successfully through the challenges of this global pandemic.

Sincerely, 

Sarah Refaat
Senior AVP for Human Resources

Dear AUC Community,

Thanks to all of the members of our community who have made the decision to get vaccinated, we have now achieved an 80 percent rate of vaccination. This is a huge accomplishment and a testament to the care and concern members of our community have for each other. While unvaccinated members of the community will be allowed to access the campus, they are not allowed to ride our buses nor access the sports facilities. They also are required to take a weekly antigen test.

Below are several important details:

Daily Self-Check

To access campus, every member of the community will continue to take an online self-check each day before coming to campus. The self-check has been updated to also include your vaccination status.  Each person will need to show the result of the daily self-check to access campus, buses and other services. Your vaccination status in particular will determine your access to the bus and sports facilities.

If you are vaccinated, the daily self-check will ask you to confirm your symptoms. Based on your symptoms, the self-check will display your campus access status for the day, as well as your vaccination status. If you are not vaccinated, the self-check will indicate your access to campus-based on your symptoms and the results of your weekly antigen test.

Click here for the daily self-check guide to view the possible screens you may receive and learn what each one means in terms of your ability to access campus or other services. 

Mandatory Weekly Testing

While we are proud of our vaccination rate as a community — and fully expect greater numbers in the days ahead — we know a minority of our campus community will remain unvaccinated. Regardless of the reason, all unvaccinated members of our community will participate in a weekly testing program. The purpose of the weekly testing program is to protect those who are unvaccinated who are at greater risk of severe illness, as well as the rest of the vaccinated community members. Through testing, diligent mask-wearing, social distancing and availing vaccinations on our campus, we are doing everything we can to keep our community safe.

If you are unvaccinated for any reason, click here, for more details on how to participate in the mandatory testing program in order to access campus. 

We are pleased to announce that the University has been able to negotiate a deeply discounted rate of EGP 350 per antigen test. No unvaccinated member of our community will be unable to continue to study or work as a result of an inability to pay for the weekly test.

As we embark on a new and exciting phase of our return to campus, we remain watchful of changing circumstances as the pandemic unfolds around the world. We recognize that we must continue to be agile and adapt as needed. 

To stay informed, visit the Back to Campus website.

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

As we are all in the final count down to the start of the Fall semester and the final days for vaccinations on the AUC New Cairo campus, we would like to encourage all those who wish to be vaccinated to make use of the opportunity in the coming few days.

Any students, faculty, and staff who have not received a vaccine are welcome to come to the New Cairo campus on Tuesday, August 31, Wednesday, September 1 or Thursday, September 2 at the AUC clinic without receiving a personalized email from Medical Services.  The vaccination team will be available from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the three days.

Try to avoid coming on the last day as queuing is expected to be longer and depending on demand we may have a shortage of vaccines. Remember that you need to register on the Ministry of Health website prior to heading to the vaccination location on campus.

Remember to wear a mask and make sure to adhere to social distancing guidelines

Sincerely,

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

The transportation office is pleased to announce that the subscription to the bus service is now available through Banner.

As previously announced, bus services will only be available for students, faculty and staff who have submitted their proof of vaccination. Members of the community who may have access to campus and are participating in the mandatory weekly testing program are still not eligible to ride the bus. Only those who have submitted proof of vaccination and have received approval will have access to the bus service. 

Effective September 5, any individual who wishes to ride the bus will need to complete the daily self-check. This is the same daily self-check required to access campus.

The result of the daily self-check is connected to the vaccine-proof system. The result of the self-check will have two icons, one indicating access to campus for that day and the other indicating your vaccination status. If you have not submitted proof of vaccination, your self-check results will indicate that you are not eligible to ride the bus, even if you are eligible to access campus for that day.

You will be required to show your mobile screen with the confirmation that you have access to the bus service to the bus driver in order to be permitted to ride the bus. 

The Fall 2021 bus schedule (September 5 - December 14, 2021) is available through this link.

If you are not eligible to ride the bus, you may wish to consider the following special offers from SWVL that will be available to members of the AUC community as of September 1.

Remember that face masks are required at all times while using AUC transportation.

For any suggestions and inquiries, call us on our hotline (01270000066) or email [email protected]. Do not hesitate to contact us, and download the AUC mobile application for easy accessible bus schedules and notifications on the subscribed routes.

The University has reached an agreement with Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population to administer vaccinations on campus for AUC community members and their dependents who are registered. The ministry will allocate specific dates during August 2021 for the second round of AUC-facilitated vaccinations, which will take place in room P019 at the Conference and Visitor Center near Bassily Auditorium. Representatives from the ministry will be giving the vaccines. 

If you haven't yet registered, make sure to do so through the government's online system, and then fill in AUC's vaccination registration form to receive your COVID-19 vaccine. AUC will also assist international students arriving in Egypt to get vaccinated if they haven't already.

“We are keen to provide this service for the AUC community because we have a responsibility to promote a healthy and protected environment for our safe return to campus in the fall.” 
 
Dr. Hussam Aldine Hassan
Chief Health and Safety Officer

Dear AUC Community,

We are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health will be commencing vaccinations on the AUC campus starting tomorrow, Thursday, August 19. Please do not come to campus for your vaccine until you have received a personalized email from the Medical Services team informing you that you should come on a specific date. Only those registered on the AUC vaccine registration site will be contacted to come to campus to receive their vaccine.

If you have not registered, you need to do the following:

• Register through the Ministry of Health & Population website
• Register through AUC vaccinations Registration Link and you will be required to enter the vaccination registration code you received from the MOH then you will receive an email from the university to confirm the date
• You can upload your vaccination proof through the AUC vaccination status form here 

We expect the MOH to offer vaccination on campus for a limited window of time next week. If you wish to access campus, please make sure you take advantage of this opportunity to be vaccinated in time for the start of the Fall 2021 semester. 

While we expect that the majority of the AUC community will be vaccinated, we can anticipate that there may be some faculty, staff, or students who did not receive their vaccination. Any individuals who are not vaccinated will be required to participate in a mandatory weekly antigen testing program at their expense. We will announce more details on the testing program shortly. 

Please remember that physical distancing and masking are required by everyone who accesses the campus. Distances of 1 meter should be maintained outdoors, and 1.5 meters in classrooms and other indoor spaces. Masks must be worn in all shared indoor spaces (including but not limited to classrooms, labs, elevators, meeting rooms, and the bookstore) and outdoors when interacting with others. 

Best Regards,

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management & Operations

The University is working with Swvl to provide prepaid packages for discounted rides for those who will not be able to access AUC buses. Click here for more details on the offered packages.

Effective Fall 2021, the bus service will only be available for faculty, staff, and students who have submitted their proof of vaccination. Those who are under 18 or have a validated medical excuse will have to arrange alternative transportation to campus. Since it is not possible to ensure sufficient social distancing inside buses, only those who are vaccinated will be permitted to ride to ensure the health and safety of all members of the community.

For more information, visit the transportation services website here. 

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

The form to submit your vaccination status or request a medical exemption is now available online. As you know, we will be fully back on campus for Fall 2021. All those who access the campus must be vaccinated or have an authorized medical exemption. To help facilitate the process of campus access, this online form will allow you to submit your vaccination certificate or medical documentation online.

Before accessing the form, we ask you to read through the following points carefully:

• This online form is for AUC students, staff and faculty (including TAs and RAs) with a valid AUC email address only.   
• Staff members who may require assistance will be able to bring their vaccination certificate for assistance in uploading it to the form at the Library Plaza P017 Lab from 10am to 1pm, on Sundays and Tuesdays, starting on July 6 and through July.   
• All students, faculty or staff who have completed either one or both doses of the vaccine must log onto the form to upload a copy of their vaccine certificate. Upon review, you will be notified of your status regarding access to campus for Fall 2021. Allow up to six business days to receive a confirmation email.   
• All students, faculty or staff who have a medical exemption from your doctor must log onto the form to upload a note from their doctor stating that they have a medical exemption from taking the vaccine. Upon review, you will be notified of your status regarding access to campus in Fall 2021. Allow up to six business days to receive a confirmation email.  
• All current or incoming students who are below 18 years of age need to do nothing. You will automatically be granted access to the campus.  
• If you have registered for the vaccine, but have not yet received the first dose, please do not log onto the form and do not submit anything at this time. Once you have received your first dose, you should then log on and submit your vaccination certificate at that point. 

If you have the needed documents ready as a scanned image or PDF, the form will take you only a minute or two to complete. 

The AUC vaccination status form can be found here.  

Thank you for doing your part to keep our community healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

We are pleased to announce that the AUC vaccination registration system will remain open until we receive confirmation from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on the dates allocated for AUC at the vaccination site in New Cairo. Registration is currently open to students, staff, faculty and their dependents. Vaccinations will be required to access campus and University housing in Fall 2021 for fully face-to-face instruction.

Meanwhile, we encourage all members of the AUC community who have not yet done so to register through the government’s online registration system. If you receive an SMS with an appointment, please proceed on the day you are assigned. 

We will announce the allocated dates for AUC as soon as we receive them. Shuttle buses will operate on those dates between AUC and the vaccination site. 

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

As you know, all classes in the Fall will be on campus with face-to-face instruction. A tremendous amount of work and planning is being done to ensure that we maintain stringent safety precautions in each and every class. Last week I announced a delay in Fall registration dates due to this planning. We are now extending those dates further, in order for us to finalize these plans. Fall 2021 registration will run from July 5 to July 14, and the dynamic schedule for Fall will be viewable by students as of July 1. We appreciate your patience and flexibility. These dates give us the needed time to make sure that each and every section offered in the fall will be scheduled in classrooms that allow for the required social distancing, keeping the health and safety of the community as a top priority. 

While many people and teams across the university are hard at work to make sure that everything is in place for our safe reopening, we ask that all members of the community do their part. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to register for the AUC-facilitated vaccination in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, as explained in the email from the VPMO.  Having our community members vaccinated is the most important element of our campus reopening plans.  We will be launching the platform for submitting your vaccination status by July 1. 

Please continue to check your emails regularly for important news about our reponing plans, and visit the coronavirus website (www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus) section dedicated to Fall 2021, which includes FAQs.

We are pleased to announce a second round of AUC-facilitated vaccination in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MOH) for all students, faculty and staff, and their dependents. With the return to fully face-to-face instruction for Fall 2021, vaccinations will be required to access our campuses and University housing. 

If you have previously registered on the MOH website and your status on the website shows "Registration has been made and the date for receiving the vaccine has not yet been set," we suggest that you NOT register through AUC and continue to wait for your appointment to avoid the possibility of your registration being canceled. 

If you have not already registered on the MOH website, you should register now and then through the AUC link. 

Below is guidance on how to do that:

What

As a service to the AUC community members, the University is collaborating with the Ministry of Health & Population to facilitate vaccinations for members of the AUC community.

Who

All current students, faculty, staff, and their dependents are eligible to benefit from AUC’s arrangement with the Ministry of Health & Population to facilitate vaccinations. The registration link will open to all members on a first-come, first-served basis. The minimum age to be eligible for the vaccination is 18 years - students or any dependents below that age at the time of vaccination will not be eligible.

When

AUC vaccinations Registration Link will open from Sunday, June 13, 2021, till Sunday, June 20, 2021, at 8:00 am.  The Vaccination process dates are to be announced later according to the Ministry of Health updates on the dates available.

How

Individuals who wish to receive their vaccine through AUC’s facilitated system must register on the University’s registration system. It is necessary to pre-register through the government system and you will be required to enter the vaccination registration code you received from the Health and Population website (LINK) 

For levels 1 to 6 and if you do not have an AUC email, you may reach out to your department assistant to help you with the AUC online registration and MOH registration website.

Confirmation SMS

You can not get vaccinated unless you receive an SMS from the MOH to confirm the date and location; check your request status follow up HERE.

(Sometimes your SMS could be delayed, so check the website regularly).

You are to follow the date and location set in the confirmation SMS message from the MOH.

The confirmation SMS is valid for receiving the vaccination within 48 hours from receiving it.

Where

If your vaccination location is the Nasr City convention center, it is located by Al Rashdan Mosque - Ismail El Fangary St. – Nasr City. 

AUC shuttle buses will be operating every 30 minutes from the New Cairo Campus - Pepsi Gate - from 8:45 am till 4:45 pm and from the vaccination center, from 9 am till 6 pm back to the New Cairo Campus only.

There will be an additional AUC bus from New Cairo Campus to Tahir leaving New Cairo at 6:30 pm. You may alternatively use your own method of transportation.

The working hours of the center are from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Double-check the vaccination center indicated on the SMS you receive from MOH.

There is a chance you will be assigned to a different center, especially if you had previously registered and your appointment was already being processed.

Cost

Vaccinations will be at NO cost or fees for all registering members or their dependents. 

Medical Condition

In case you have any chronic medical condition, DO NOT FORGET to bring your medication or prescriptions with you on the day of vaccination.

If you had COVID-19 recently, there should be a three months period between the infection date and vaccination date.

Vaccine Type 

The type of vaccine being provided and regulated is according to the MOH and it's unknown which vaccine is to be provided on each vaccination date. 

For questions about the AUC registration tool, contact Ms. Sherihan Salama at [email protected]. 

For questions that require a medical doctor and relate to a preexisting condition you have, consult your physician. 

For general questions about the vaccine, contact the AUC clinic at [email protected]

Stay Informed

Continue to monitor email for regular updates from the University and visit www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus. In addition to the latest updates from AUC, important numbers, and tips on staying safe, the website also has links to helpful resources. 

Dear AUC Community, 

As we continue to prepare for our return to campus for Fall 2021, we will be sending regular updates to keep you informed.

We are currently in the process of adjusting the Fall 2021 schedule of classes to ensure we can accommodate all classes while allowing for appropriate social distancing. This may include some sections being offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays. In order for us to make the needed adjustments, Fall 2021 registration will now begin on Monday, June 28. The updated Fall 2021 Dynamic Schedule will be available to students on Wednesday, June 23.  

Next week, we will be announcing the second round of AUC-allocated vaccination slots in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. We expect the dates for these slots for the AUC community to be in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, we encourage everyone to register for vaccination on the online government website and to proceed with vaccinations at the earliest available opportunity. 

Throughout the summer, we will be sending regular updates on our return to campus, including the process for uploading vaccination status or medical exemptions and other critical issues related to classes and campus safety. Please check your email regularly and visit the coronavirus website (www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus) section dedicated to Fall 2021, which includes FAQs.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost

I am pleased to share that we are planning to return to face-to-face instruction for Fall 2021. In our continued commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of our community, we will require COVID vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff who will access our campuses and University housing. More details will be shared with you in the coming weeks.

We will soon be communicating more information about how to submit your vaccination status, proof of vaccination or request for exemptions from vaccination based on medical or other required accommodations. We will also announce shortly another round of vaccinations for members of the AUC community, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. Be sure to register on the MOH website, which you will need to do in all cases.

Please continue to monitor your emails and our coronavirus website for additional information. 

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost

We are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health has informed us that all vaccinations, including those recently facilitated by AUC, are free of charge. As a result, we will not be charging fees to any members of the community or their dependents who signed up to participate in the recent vaccination drive.

We deeply appreciate and strongly support the Ministry’s national campaign to facilitate vaccinations for all. We urge all members of the AUC community – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their family members -- who have not already done so to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This is the responsibility of each of us not only to protect ourselves, but also to protect the health and safety of all those with whom we interact every day. When all of us are vaccinated, we can be confident that we will be able safely to resume full normal operations.

  Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

Based on your registration process, the Ministry of Health (MoH) will send you a message (SMS) to your mobile number confirming the date and place of vaccination. The message is valid for 48 hours to be used at the vaccination site.

No one is allowed to go to the convention center without having this message, otherwise, you will not be eligible to take the vaccination.

You are kindly requested to follow social distancing practices in all shared spaces and during the bus ride to/from the vaccination location. 

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community,

Ministry of Health has changed the venue and even though the registration tool says location New convention center by  Mosheer Tantawy mosque, the correct one is the New convention center by Al Rashdan Mosque - Ismail El Fangary St – Nasr City (Location).

AUC shuttle buses will be operating every 15 minutes from the New Cairo Campus - Pepsi Gate - from 8:45 am till 4:45 pm and from the vaccination center, from 9 am till 6 pm back to the New Cairo Campus only.

There will be an additional AUC bus from New Cairo Campus to Tahir leaving New Cairo at 6:30 pm.

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community,

Vaccination by the Ministry of Health at the convention center will commence Monday, May 17. If you have registered on the AUC tool and received a confirmation email, you should proceed to the vaccination site on the assigned day.  If you are not using AUC buses, you should head directly to the center to get vaccinated.  As a reminder,  individuals with chronic conditions should bring a sample of the medication they are using. National IDs or passports are required.

The vaccination site hours are from 9 AM till 9 PM – the location is in the new convention center by Al Rashdan Mosque - Ismail El Fangary St – Nasr City (Location).

We have extended registration until Monday, May 17  at 6 pm, while slots remain open. There are still available slots for Wednesday, May 19, Thursday, May 20, and Sunday, May 23.

The minimum age to be eligible for the vaccine is 18 years. Individuals below that age at the time of vaccination will not be eligible to register at the Ministry of Health website or the AUC registration site.

Prior to registering on the AUC Link Click here for your dependents you need to register each member on the Ministry of Health website: (Here). This step is a mandatory prerequisite before signing up on the AUC form.

You will then have to fill the form separately for each dependent (this applies to faculty and staff only). Kindly notice that 400 EGP for each dependent is to be deducted from your payroll for employee levels 7 and above.

AUC shuttle buses will be operating every 15 minutes from New Cairo Campus (Pepsi Gate) from 8:45 am till 4:45 pm and from the vaccination center, 9 am till 6 pm back to the New Cairo Campus only.

There will be an additional AUC bus from New Cairo Campus to Tahir leaving New Cairo at 6:30 pm.

For questions about the AUC registration tool, please contact Ms. Sherihan Salama at [email protected].

For questions that require a medical doctor and relate to a preexisting condition you have, please consult your physician. 

For general questions about the vaccine, please contact the AUC clinic at [email protected].

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear Faculty and Staff,

We are very pleased to announce that we are opening up registration to the AUC coordinated COVD-19 vaccine to family dependents of faculty and staff.  

As we had announced earlier, if there is additional unused capacity, as a second stage, we will open registration to family members of faculty and staff on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Finalizing the first stage of registration for the current AUC members, there are available spots on the following days: May 18, 19, 20, and 23, allowing us to directly move to stage 2 and opening the registration for faculty and staff dependents starting today 3 PM till  Saturday, May 15, 6 PM or until the maximum amount of available slots is reached, through the same link.  Faculty and staff will still be able to register on the system up until May 15.

Important to know that the minimum age to be eligible for the vaccination is 18 years - dependents below that age at the time of vaccination will not be eligible to either register to the Ministry of Health website or the AUC registration site.

Prior to registering on the AUC Link Click here for your dependents you need to register each member on the Ministry of Health website: (Here).  This step is a mandatory prerequisite before signing up on the AUC form.

You will then have to fill the form separately for each dependent. Kindly notice that 400 EGP for each dependent is to be deducted from your payroll for employee levels 7 and above.

The vaccination site hours are from 9 AM till 9 PM – the location is in the new convention center by  Mosheer Tantawy mosque

For questions about the AUC registration tool, please contact Ms. Sherihan Salama at [email protected].

For questions that require a medical doctor and relate to a preexisting condition you have, please consult your physician.

For general questions about the vaccine, please contact the AUC clinic at [email protected]

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community,

As a reminder, all current faculty, staff, and students who wish to register to receive the AUC-facilitated COVID-19 vaccine must register before Tuesday, May 11^th at 1 pm. 

Click here to go to the AUC registration link. For more information on the steps to register, please visit the website.

Slots are still available on Monday, May 17^th, 2021, are available. Feel free to register.

Registration is now open to current faculty, staff, and students only.

In the future, if there are opportunities for family members or alumni to receive the AUC-facilitated vaccines, we will announce that.

Please note that the AUC registration system will be down this evening for maintenance for one hour.

 Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community 

To follow up on Thursday's message about vaccination registration, below is a link to an online form to sign up to receive your vaccination through AUC from Monday, May 17  to Sunday, May 23 (excluding Friday and Saturday).  The service is only available to current students, faculty, and staff at this time. The vaccine is fully administered by the Ministry of Health staff at the vaccination site in the convention center on Mosheer Tantawy Road. 

Registration through AUC will be open for three days only from Sunday, May 9 to Tuesday, May 11 at 1 pm until all the available slots are taken.  

What do you need to do :

1.      Register on the Ministry of Health website : (Here). You must be 18 years of age to register. This step is a mandatory prerequisite before signing up on the AUC form.

2.      Register on the AUC vaccination site (Here), enter the VACCINATION CODE you have received in step 1, and choose from the days available. You will need your AUC email address and password to access the registration tool.

Ways to facilitate registration:

1.      This video gives instructions on how to register on the government vaccination website:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QtpkkbcAkGOZfz8nD1sNEiGYdW4-DYZW/view?usp=sharing. We will also be sending the link via SMS to levels 1 till 6.

2.      Staff levels 1 to 6 who have an AUC email address and password, may register at the computer lab P017 in the library building. Staff volunteers will be available in the lab to assist in completing the government and AUC registration process. The lab will be open at the following times:

·Sunday, May 9: from 12 to 2 pm

·Monday, May 10: from 9 am to 2 pm

·Tuesday, May 11: from 9 am to 12 pm

3.    Staff levels 1 to 6 who do not have an AUC email or have forgotten their password, should seek assistance from a colleague or their department's admin assistant who can register for them, provided they have the needed information (name, national ID number, DOB, etc.).

AUC shuttle buses will be available and operating every 15 minutes from Monday, May 17 to Sunday, May 23 to transport people back and forth between the vaccination site and campus. Buses leaving from the AUC campus will operate from 8:45 am to 4:45 pm and depart from Pepsi Gate. The buses leaving from the vaccination site to campus will operate from 9 am to 6 pm. We will be running an additional bus service time slot to leave New Cairo Campus to Tahrir (Route R12) at 6:30 pm for the vaccination days from May 17 till May 20 and on May 23.

The vaccination facility's operating hours is 9 am till 9 pm.

For questions about the AUC registration tool, please contact Ms. Sherihan Salama at [email protected]. 

For questions that require a medical doctor and relate to a preexisting condition you have, please consult your physician. 

For general questions about the vaccine, please contact the AUC clinic at [email protected]

 Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management & Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

As previously announced, AUC, in coordination with the Ministry of Health  & Population, will be facilitating vaccinations for all current students, faculty, and staff. As each of us does our part in getting vaccinated, we protect ourselves and others around us. Vaccination brings us closer to our goal of returning fully face-to-face in Fall 2021. 

If you have not already received a COVID-19 vaccine, you may register through AUC. Below is guidance on how to do that

What

As a service to AUC community members, the University is collaborating with the Ministry of Health & Population to facilitate vaccinations for current students, faculty, and staff on pre-designated dates at a mass vaccination site in New Cairo. This is an additional avenue to assist members of the community. The regular government registration system is still available for members of the community who prefer to use that instead. 

Who

All current students, faculty, and staff are eligible to benefit from AUC’s arrangement with the Ministry of Health & Population to facilitate vaccinations. Vaccinations will first be allocated to students, faculty, and staff who register. If there is additional, unused capacity, we will open registration to family members of students, faculty, and staff on a first-come, first-served basis. The minimum age to be eligible for the vaccination is 18 years - students below that age at the time of vaccination will not be eligible.

When

AUC-facilitated vaccinations will take place from Monday, May 17 to Sunday, May 23. While you are registering in the AUC system, you will be selecting an available day during that week you need to come for your vaccine.

How

Individuals who wish to receive their vaccine through AUC’s facilitated system must register on the University’s registration system. It is necessary to pre-register through the government system and you will be required to enter the vaccination code you are given from the Ministry of Health & Population website (LINK) if you intend to receive the vaccine through AUC. This is an additional service but based on the government registry and will allow us to project demand and allocate enough daily shots to people who have signed up. Once you are registered in the AUC system, you will be notified of the day you need to come to the mass vaccination site in New Cairo.  Please bring with you all medications you are taking for any chronic conditions on the day of vaccination.

AUC’s vaccine registration website will be open on Sunday, May 9 until Tuesday 11.

For levels 1 to 6 and if you do not have an AUC email, you may reach out to your department assistant to help you with the AUC online registration.

Where

The vaccinations will take place at the convention center in New Cairo near Al-Musheer Tantawy mosque complex. Shuttle busses will be available from AUC New Cairo to the vaccination site throughout the day for the entire week of vaccinations. 

Cost

Vaccinations will cost LE 400 per person for both shots. The Government of Egypt is requesting this fee per person for those who wish to benefit from the special facilitated service on the predetermined dates at the mass vaccination site in New Cairo. This fee will be nonrefundable. Vaccinations are still available at no cost through the regular government registry system. When you register for the vaccine online through the AUC system, you will be given payment options. The University will cover the cost of vaccination for staff levels 1 to 6.   

Stay Informed

Please continue to monitor email for regular updates from the University and visit www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus. In addition to the latest updates from AUC, important numbers, and tips on staying safe, the website also has links to helpful resources. 

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

I hope all of our students and faculty are enjoying a pleasant Spring Break, and that you are taking some much-needed time to relax and refresh. We have been closely monitoring the health situation in Egypt and within the AUC Community, and have determined that we will continue with online learning for the remainder of the Spring 2021 Semester. As I mentioned in my email of April 15^th, Deans may grant exceptional approval for some small lab and studio courses to meet face-to-face, and your instructors will let you know the status of any previously-scheduled face-to-face exam.

Many of you have reached out asking about our plans for the Summer term and Fall 2021 semester. It is of course not possible to know exactly what the situation will be at that time. However, we are in the process of planning for an expanded hybrid model of classes. We expect this to include a higher number of partial face-to-face classes, as well as for more face-to-face sessions within these courses. As you look at the dynamic schedule for Summer and Fall 2021, you will notice a number of different designations, including “partial face-to-face,” “exams-on-campus” or “dual-delivery.”  These modalities are subject to change as we firm up our plans based on the health situation.

As Dr. Ashraf Hatem explained in last week’s Campus Conversation, vaccines will be available to members of the AUC Community following Eid El Fitr.  The administration will be sharing more information soon, but in the meantime faculty, staff and students should register via the Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccination website. And everyone must continue to practice social distancing and to wear masks, to protect yourselves and those around you. 

As more members of our community are vaccinated or if the health situation improves, we will consider coming back fully face-to-face. As we come closer to the start of our Summer term and the Fall 2021 semester, I will be able to give you a more concrete plan. As always, I appreciate your understanding and your flexibility.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman

Provost

As announced earlier today in the Campus Conversation, AUC in collaboration with the Ministry of Health will be able to arrange for faculty, staff and students who have signed up on the government registry to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at a new mass vaccination site that will open in New Cairo next month.

Since we just learned this very positive news today, there are still many details to be worked out. We should be able to share more information next week. For now, here is what we know: 

• The government will be operating a mass vaccination site in New Cairo starting next month to allow institutions like universities, businesses and tourism operators to vaccine their personnel. The site will have the capacity to vaccinate hundreds of people each day.
• Faculty, staff and students must still register through the Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccination website.
• The cost per vaccination will be EGP 200 per dose (or EGP 400 for the two-dose regimen).
• The vaccines currently offered in Egypt are the Sinopharm and Astrazeneca vaccine.
• Similar to the situation in other countries, you will be offered whatever vaccination is available at the time of your vaccination.
• The AUC community will have a pre-announced window of one week when faculty, staff and students will be able to be vaccinated at the site in New Cairo (not on campus).

Stay tuned for additional details. We recognize that there are many questions that remain unanswered, but this good news is an important first step to allowing us to resume face-to-face instruction in the fall. It is imperative for all of those who are eligible to be vaccinated to do so to ensure we protect ourselves, our families and each other. 

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

We continue to carefully monitor the pandemic and ask all members of the AUC community to remain vigilant in following all safety precautions.

Voluntary Ag (Antigen) Testing Program

The program facilities monitoring community spread of COVID-19 and early detection. As part of the program, we will be conducting free COVID-19 antigen rapid tests for about 200 volunteers each week. All faculty, students and staff who come to campus are eligible to sign up to participate in the voluntary testing program.  

Participation is on a first-come, first-serve basis through an online sign-up. If you would like to participate in the testing, sign up online here.  

The antigen rapid test will be administered onsite by Prime Speed and the results are available within 15 minutes. The program will launch on Sunday, March 21 with testing Monday through Thursday on the New Cairo campus and on Tuesdays on the Tahrir campus as follows:

New Cairo Campus:

• Tests will be performed at Prime Speed Stations; drive-thru (at Gate 2), walk-thru (at Gate 1 and 4).
• Testing is available Monday through Thursday.
• Online registration will be open every week on Sunday.

Tahrir Square Campus:

• A temporary Prime Speed testing unit is available only on Tuesdays in front of Hill House, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Registration:

Only those who have registered online may participate in the voluntary program and receive the test for free. Registration opens Sunday for each week. Click here to register.

Vaccine Registration 

The Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) announced previously an online registration system for the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals who wish to receive the vaccine may register through the MOH website at https://egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/#/home. Registration is open to all Egyptians and foreign nationals who meet the eligibility criteria. The MOH website provides additional information for how eligible individuals may receive the vaccine. The MOH hotline for inquiries is 153335.

We will alert the AUC community in the event we have any additional information regarding vaccines. 

Stay Informed

Continue to monitor email for regular updates from the University and visit www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus. In addition to the latest updates from AUC, important numbers, and tips on staying safe, the website also has links to helpful resources, including the FAQ section from our community. 

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

As the University prepares to resume the previously planned hybrid model for the spring semester on March 1, 2021, I am pleased to share our updated COVID-19 Campus Guidelines booklet for Spring 2021. While we prepare for an increased level of campus presence, we continue to focus on ensuring the health and safety of our community throughout the pandemic. 

This updated guide outlines how our campuses will operate, which services will be available and the mitigation efforts against the spread of the virus. The guidelines are also now available on the AUC mobile app for easy reference. 

The following are key takeaways from the booklet:

Daily Self-Check

As a reminder, you will need to complete the online health check before you come to campus to be granted access. You will need to show a green face result to the security guard at the gate to be allowed on campus. A red face result means that you should NOT come to campus and should stay home. You will be contacted by the medical team for follow-up. You must complete the daily self-check not more than 3 hours before your arrival on campus. 

The link to the health check is available on the AUC website here. 

Keep yourself and others protected by strictly following these guidelines:

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others
• Stay six feet (approximately two meters) apart from others
• Avoid unsafe gatherings
• Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available

 COVID-19 Self-Reporting

All members of the community are required to report to the clinic a positive COVID-19 test result either by email at [email protected] or mobile at 01280001039. Inform the clinic even if you are not coming to campus.

Access Guidelines on AUC App

To download the AUC mobile app, go to this webpage which includes instructions on how to download the app.

Campus Access for Students 

Only students who meet one of the below criteria will have access to campus. Please make sure to carefully check which days you are allowed to come to campus, based on face-to-face classes or specific authorizations.

1. Students registered in a class that is meeting face-to-face that day
2. Graduate students enrolled in thesis courses 
3. Students residing in the AUC student residences
4. School of Sciences and Engineering graduate students who are conducting research and have permission to access a laboratory from their department chair
5. Students with pre-scheduled meetings with a faculty member, staff member or librarian (via Portal or Pepsi gate only)
6. Students authorized by the Office of Student Life to attend student organization planning meetings (via Portal or Pepsi gate only)
7. Rostered student-athletes.

Visitors

All campus visitors must be pre-registered before arriving on campus to allow the University to monitor and control the visitor’s presence on campus. The host (faculty or staff only) must submit the visitor’s information 24 hours prior to the visit by filling in the visitor registration form.

• Visitors to the New Cairo campus can only enter via Gate 1 (Portal) or Gate 4 (Pepsi)
• Visitors to the Tahrir Square campus can only enter via the Mohamed Mahmoud entrance or the Falaki main entrance
• Visitors are allowed access to both campuses until 4:00 pm ONLY. 
• Contractors are allowed to access campus only via Gate 3.  For more information, contact [email protected]

Food Outlets

Food outlets are currently limited to:

• TSEBO (the Main Cafeteria) from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm 
• L'Aroma (located in the garden behind the library) from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
• Seoudi minimarket (sports complex) from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm.   
• Cilantro (campus center) from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm,

As of March 1, 2021, the following outlets will be operating:

• Tabali outlet (Alwaleed Hall) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm   
• Quick 24 (Plaza) from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm 
• Butcher's Burger (Americana Food Court) 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

This is in addition to the delivery services that the operating food outlets offer.  Also, the working hours of the operating outlets may be extended according to the schedule of classes. Social distancing will be required at all food outlets.

Stay Informed

Continue to monitor email for regular updates from the University and visit www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus. In addition to the latest updates from AUC, important numbers, and tips on staying safe, the website also has links to helpful resources, including the FAQ section.

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,  

I am pleased to announce that the rapid three-hour PCR test is now available at Prime Speed stations on both campuses. Testing and contact tracing is a key component of keeping our community healthy and safe.  

Rates

• Regular PCR including a certificate for travel in 24 hours with Prime Speed stamp: (accepted in all countries except for Sudan, Kuwait, Jordan, and China)

1.      AUC community members: EGP 1500

2.      Non-AUCians: EGP 2000

• PCR for traveling with official government stamp (required only by these countries: Sudan, Kuwait, Jordan, and China) next day at 8:00 pm

1.      AUC community members: EGP1700

2.      Non-AUCians: EGP 2500

• PCR for traveling with official stamp (required only by these countries: Sudan, Kuwait, Jordan, and China) next day at 2:00 pm

1.      AUC community members: EGP 2100

2.      Non-AUCians: EGP 2800

• PCR Three-hours:

1.      AUC community members: EGP 1875

2.      Non-AUCians: EGP 2500 

The three-hour PCR test is only available with a Prime Speed stamp and can't be provided with an official government stamp.

Show an AUC ID to receive the discount.   

For alumni who do not have an AUC ID and wish to receive the discount, please contact the alumni office at [email protected] ahead of time for assistance.

As a reminder, AUC is not involved in any way in the administration of the test or the results, which are communicated directly from the Prime Speed lab to individuals.

For locations and hours of operation of Prime Speed testing units check the website or the directions. The hotline for Prime Speed is 19358.

Medical Services 

For full information regarding the medical services offered and appropriate procedures for handling COVID cases, click here. For medical emergencies call 0226154000 or the medical hotline on 01280001039. 

Stay Informed

Continue to monitor email for regular updates from the University and visit www.aucegypt.edu/coronavirus. In addition to the latest updates from AUC, important numbers, and tips on staying safe, the website also has links to helpful resources, including the FAQ section from our community.     

For easier access, all COVID-19 AUC guidelines are now available through the AUC Mobile App at the top red banner.  

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

With the rise of COVID-19 infection rates around the world and in Egypt, we must remain diligent in adhering to all safety precautions recommended by local and international health authorities. Every member of our community must do his or her part. 

The following are reminders of key guidelines to help us in keeping one another and our community safe. 

Keep yourself and others protected by strictly following these guidelines:

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
• Stay six feet (approximately two meters) apart from others.
• Avoid crowds.
• Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

What to do if you're feeling sick:

• Stay home except to seek medical care.
• Isolate yourself from family members to prevent infecting them; even if you don’t feel sick, you can spread COVID-19 to others.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience warning signs like trouble breathing, chest pain, or pressure.
• Do not come to campus and contact the medical services office at [email protected]

For more information regarding medical services and appropriate procedures for handling COVID cases, click here. For medical emergencies, call 0226154000 or hotline 01280001039

Be sure to review the updated AUC COVID-19 Guidelines handbook, which provides detailed information about the University’s ongoing health and safety measures. 

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations