USM PENANG, 23 May 2020 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Division of Research and Innovation (R&I) with the guidance of Pusat Sejahtera USM has come up with a set of Guidelines for Laboratory Operations Post COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO).

This is in line with the announcement made by the Senior Minister (Defense), Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on behalf of the National Security Council (MKN) on May 17 which allowed research mode postgraduate students (Masters and PhD) to return to campus to resume their academic activities there.

This move will enable postgraduate students in research mode to conduct physical and practical forms of research in laboratories which requires specialized facilities and equipment available there.

This guideline applies to all staff, students or anyone who has been granted permission from their respective Head of Department to use laboratory facilities to ensure the highest level of safety and security is observed and practiced at all times.

It was developed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition to social distancing in the laboratories, another key component of the guidelines is that each laboratory user must fill out the Daily Health Screening for COVID-19 Symptoms form.

USM would like to express our sincere thanks to the government and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) for granting this special approval.

Please refer to the GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORY OPERATIONS POST COVID-19 MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO) and the DAILY HEALTH SCREENING FOR COVID-19 SYMPTOMS FORM posted below.

Both of these documents and further details can also be found on the USM Division of Research and Innovation website: http://www.research.usm.my/default.asp?tag=42