COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

INTRODUCTION

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and the virus has now spread to many countries and territories. While a lot is still unknown about the virus, we do know that it is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be infected from touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth). While COVID-19 continues to spread it is important that communities take action to prevent further transmission, reduce the impacts of the outbreak and support control measures.

The protection of students and educational facilities is particularly important. Precautions are necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in college settings; however, care must also be taken to avoid stigmatizing students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus. It is important to remember that COVID-19 does not differentiate between borders, ethnicities, disability status, age or gender. Education settings should continue to be welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and supportive environments to all. Measures taken by colleges can prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 by students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus, while minimizing disruption and protecting students and staff from discrimination.

PURPOSE

Today, students and young people are global citizens, powerful agents of change and the next generation of caregivers, scientists, and doctors. Any crisis presents the opportunity to help them learn, cultivate compassion and increase resilience while building a safer and more caring community. Having information and facts about COVID-19 will help diminish students’ fears and anxieties around the disease and support their ability to cope with any secondary impacts in their lives. This guidance provides key messages and considerations for engaging college administrators, teachers and staff, parents, caregivers and community members, as well as students themselves in promoting safe and healthy colleges.

The purpose of this document is to provide clear and actionable guidance for safe operations through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in colleges and other educational facilities. The guidance, while specific to countries that have already confirmed the transmission of COVID-19, is still relevant in all other contexts. Education can encourage students to become advocates for disease prevention and control at home, in college, and in their community by talking to others about how to prevent the spread of viruses. Maintaining safe college operations or reopening colleges after a closure requires many considerations but, if done well, can promote public health.

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY MEMBERS AND STAFF

Basic principles

Following basic principles can help keep students, teachers, and staff safe at college and help stop the spread of this disease. Recommendations to stay healthy are:

Sick students, teachers and other staff should not come to college
MIM makes regular hand washing with safe water and soap, alcohol rub/hand sanitiser or chlorine solution and, at a minimum, daily disinfection and cleaning of college surfaces mandatory.
MIM will provide water, sanitation and waste management facilities and follow environmental cleaning and decontamination procedures.
MIM promotes social distancing or rather a physical distancing (a term applied to certain actions that are taken to slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease, including limiting large groups of people coming together).

Know the latest facts

Understand basic information about CoronaVirus disease (COVID-19), including its symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission. Stay informed about COVID-19 through reputable sources such as UNICEF, WHO and national health ministry advisories. Be aware of fake information/myths that may circulate by word-of-mouth or online.

Protocol for Personal Hygiene and Safety

Everyone entering the classrooms/offices/canteen etc must ensure hand wash with soap or sanitiser provided in the washrooms.
Personal greeting of each other must be restricted to smile and there shall be no hugging or shaking hands.
Ensure to cover the nose and mouth with a handkerchief while sneezing or coughing and regularly soap washes the handkerchief.
Always keep social distancing of at least one meter and wear the face mask while using the lift and whenever meeting anyone.
Wash and dry the reusable face masks at least once a day.
Do not allow usage of one’s personal phones/laptops by another.
Always drink water using a personal water bottle.

Protocol for General Cleaning, Maintenance and Hygiene of Campus Infrastructure

The College shall ensure that its entire Campus premises of academic, administrative and other buildings including pathways, washrooms, staircases, lifts etc are well maintained with hygienic care by carrying out the following procedures.

Daily sweeping and wet mopping of all room floors with a disinfectant soap solution.
Daily cleaning of all door & window handles/knobs, railings of the staircase, lift exteriors, washbasin & closet handles/knobs with a disinfectant soap solution.
Daily cleaning of all tables/chairs/desks/benches in all rooms including offices, canteens etc with disinfectant cleaning liquid.
Daily cleaning of Gym equipment/computers/copiers/ water coolers etc with disinfectant cleaning liquid.
Daily cleaning of the transporting vehicles and spraying of its interior with disinfectants
Regular spraying of approved disinfectants on all classrooms, faculty cabins, meeting rooms, offices, canteens, lift interiors, washrooms etc and all such areas where people move about.
Regular cleaning of all Hostel Rooms and residences including spraying of approved disinfectants.
Fumigation of the interior of hostels and residences.

The protocol within the Classrooms/Library/Meeting rooms

Until full normalization of environmental safety post lockdown, classes shall be held ‘online’ through appropriate learning platform/s except for the University exams.
While holding examinations, the students shall be seated keeping a safe distance and they shall be required to follow the prescribed Protocol for Personal Hygiene and Safety to the extent applicable.
Use of the Library shall be with staggered hours to prevent overcrowding and entry shall be strictly in accordance with the schedule. All students/faculty entering the Library shall be required to follow the prescribed Protocol for Personal Hygiene and Safety to the extent applicable.
Any meeting of Staff/faculty or of Regulatory Bodies shall be held only in pre-sanitised meeting rooms and everyone attending the meeting shall follow the prescribed Protocol for Personal Hygiene and Safety to the extent applicable.