Higher Education Institutions

13-06-2022

Guidance to prevent COVID-19 at higher education institutions and in the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation

Introduction

Creating healthy learning environment has always been a priority at all educational institutions and this will be achieved by preventing infectious disease transmission inside the educational institutions and between teaching staff and students. The basic structure of the educational institutions including the large number of staff and students required creating guidance and instructions that help in reducing the transmission of any infectious diseases in general and COVID-19 disease in particular.

The Purpose of this Guidelines

With the sustained increase in COVID-19 cases and the different prevalence rates between the regions of the Kingdom, this guidance was developed to achieve the following objectives:

• Ensure a safe return to the higher education sector, vocational and technical training, and creating a healthy environment.
• Reduce the spread of COVID-19 in universities and vocational training institutes.
• Protect higher education students and teaching staff.

About The New Corona Virus (COVID-19)

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) belongs to a large family of viruses that cause diseases ranging from common colds to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Symptoms of infection

• Fever (above 38°C)
• Dry cough
• shortness of breath
• sometimes symptoms can develop into pneumonia
• Some may loss sense of smell or taste
• It is possible for the patient to develop digestive problems – diarrhea.

How does (COVID-19) spreads?

• By direct contact through droplets from those infected during coughing, sneezing or talking: if the person is standing one meter or less away from the person infected with (COVID-19).
• Indirect contact: Touching surfaces and tools or shaking hands with the patient and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• crowded indoor places: in which groups of people are setting are considered an important source and danger of infection, especially if those places are poorly ventilated, such as classrooms.

Preventive measures against COVID-19 in universities and training institutes

Prevention

Medical and cloth masks:

• Wearing mask is not required in outdoor or indoor areas, but it is recommended to wear it indoors.
• Remind them to avoid touching the face cover and wash their hands frequently.

Hand hygiene and breathing etiquette:

• Urge students, faculty, and staff to wash their hands with water and soap for at least 40 seconds or using hand sanitizer that contain 60% of alcohol.
• Encourage students, faculty, and staff to cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or use elbow by bending the arm.
• Disposed of the used tissues and immediately disinfected hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds.

The environment

Clean environment and facility safety:

• Periodic cleaning and disinfecting of facilities with suitable disinfects, especially places that are used by more than one person such as toilets.
• Ensure to focus on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, windows, lights key, and shelves.
• Periodic cleaning and disinfection of all university or the institute facilities, with focusing on frequently touched surfaces, such as (door handles, sinks, bathroom seats).
• If the university provides transportation by bus, this vehicle must be included in the schedule of periodic disinfection and cleaning.
• Establish a cleaning and disinfection schedule and comply with it.
• Ensure good ventilation in institutions, halls and facilities and air circulation should be renewed by opening windows and doors as much as possible.
• Encouraging students and faculty members to use antibacterial wipes to wipe tables and computers before using them and to clean their tools and personal items continuously (such as mobile and other electronic devices).
• Please refer to the practical guide for cleaning and disinfection of public facilities to combat COVID-19.

Cafeteria and catering facilities:

• Adhere to the restaurants and cafes protocols for restaurants and cafes located on the campus of the university or institute, while ensuring the implementation of preventive measures in them, especially during peak times.

Reporting and monitoring

• Universities and institutions must monitor the symptoms of COVID-19 and isolate those who show symptoms from faculty members, students or employees and prevent them from entering the facility, such as:
• Encourage students and faculty members to disclose if they have any respiratory symptoms.

If there is a confirmed or suspected case in the facility

Requirements that must be available in the facility:

• Isolation room: (well ventilated, has the protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizer).
• Communication mechanism with health authorities.
• Transfer the case to the hospital or healthcare center if he can go alone after being evaluated in the health clinic.
• If the patient cannot go to the hospital, he will be isolated in the room designated for isolation until an ambulance is called to transfer him.
• Clean and disinfect the places where the patient was located.

Procedures to be followed regarding the contacts of a confirmed case inside or outside the university or the institution:

• Please refer to “The guide for dealing with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease in the workplace”

Awareness

Awareness and guidance messages:

• Provide adequate and clear awareness messages and instructions (at entrances, toilets, etc.).
• The instructions must include modes of disease transmission and prevention, social distancing, washing hands, and sneezing etiquette.
• Use of awareness messages from reliable sources (Ministry of Health and Public Health Authority).

Implementation

Assigning a unit or staff for COVID-19:

• A unit or staff must be allocated within the university or the institution to deal with everything related to COVID-19.
• This unit or staff performs the following tasks:

1. 1. Coordinating with health authorities in the if there are suspected or confirmed cases.
   2. Ensure the availability of infection control standards in the facilities.
   3. The unit should educate students and faculty members on methods of protection and prevention such as washing hands and sneezing etiquette and gives awareness lectures.

• Set the means of communication between the unit and students in prominent places.

Monitoring absence:

• The facility must monitor frequent absences among students or faculty and staff members, especially if it is due to respiratory diseases, which may herald the beginning of an outbreak of the disease inside the facility and keep records of this in case they are needed for the purpose of investigation.
• Reduce the absence controls and penalties as much as possible on students, faculty, and staff.

Supervision:

• Allocating members of the security guards to monitor the implementation of social distancing and prevent crowding.
• Assigning supervisors to monitor the implementation of protocols and prevent violations.