Hygiene Plan for the University of Greifswald for Holding Classes at the University during the Coronavirus Pandemic
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
1 Hygiene Plan for the University of Greifswald for Holding Classes at the University during the Coronavirus Pandemic (last revised 13/04/2021) Contents Preface........................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Personal hygiene Hygiene ...................................................................................................... 2 2. Room hygiene ......................................................................................................................... 3 3. Principles for the use of rooms for specific higher ................................................................. 4 4. Persons at greater risk of experiencing a severe course of COVID-19 .................................... 7 5. Access routes ......................................................................................................................... 7 6. Contacts .................................................................................................................................. 8 7. Entry into force ........................................................................................................................ 8 8. Attachments………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Preface The Hygiene Plan defines important principles pursuant to § 36 in connection with § 33 Infektionschutzgesetz - IfSG (Protection Against Infection Act). By ensuring a hygienic environment, the University of Greifswald helps to maintain the health of the members of the university community. Furthermore, all members of the university community at the University of Greifswald are obliged to carefully observe the hygiene information issued by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). This Hygiene Plan defines the terms under which on-site teaching can take place at the University of Greifswald during the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, due to the required minimum distance of 1.5 m between persons and the resulting restricted suitability of the University’s rooms, on-site teaching can only be provided at a significantly reduced capacity. As a general rule of principle, courses with more than 72 participants cannot be taught on site. The members of teaching staff are called to urge the participants to keep at a safe distance from one another and observe the hygiene regulations immediately prior to and after the end of the class. The chains of infection must be traceable at all times! A list of the persons taking part in courses, examinations etc. on site must be produced immediately in order to enable the tracing of possible chains of infection. The better the contact persons can be traced, the faster the competent Gesundheitsamt (hereinafter Public Health Office) can categorise and narrow down the group of relevant contact persons and thus make it possible to avoid placing larger groups of persons under quarantine. The Hygiene Plan shall be updated continually. Please visit the University of Greifswald’s website regularly to find out about possible changes. The Coronavirus Crisis Team (corona@uni- greifswald.de) is happy to answer any questions.
2
1. Personal hygiene
The novel coronavirus can be transmitted from one person to another. The main form of transmission
is via droplet infection or aerosols. This mainly occurs directly via the mucous membranes in the
respiratory tract. Transmission can also occur indirectly, via the hands, which are then brought into
contact with the mucous membranes in mouth and nose, or the eyes’ conjunctiva.
Most important measures
• If you show any signs of respiratory illness, stay at home.
• Keep your distance: If possible, always keep a distance of 1.5 metres to other persons.
• Do not touch, hug or shake hands with others.
• Hand hygiene:
o wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds (see
https://www.infektionsschutz.de/haendewaschen.html [de], especially after
returning home and prior to eating.
o do not touch your face with your hands, especially the mucous membranes, i.e.
the mouth, the eyes, and the nose.
o try your best not to touch objects that might be used by other persons, such as
door handles or buttons in lifts, with your whole hand or fingers.
• It is not necessary to disinfect hands with sanitiser.
• Observe coughing and sneezing etiquette: coughing and sneezing into the inside of
the elbow are amongst the most important prevention measures. when coughing or
sneezing, keep as far away from others as possible; it is best to turn away.
• Wear a medical-grade face mask (surgical masks, or FFP2) as a textile barrier to
cover your nose and mouth: this can catch droplets emitted by coughing, sneezing and
speaking. This can reduce the risk of infecting other persons through coughing, sneezing
or speaking (protection of others), please see the information about face masks, which
has been attached as an appendix to this Hygiene Plan.
• Avoid speaking to anyone face-to-face with only a short distance between you.
Air the rooms and corridors regularly.
The hygiene provisions must be observed at all times, each and every individual is responsible for
observing corresponding personal hygiene.
Even if face masks are being used, it must be made sure that the common hygiene regulations, in
particular, the current recommendations issued by the RKI and the Federal Centre for Health
Education are observed (see appendix of this Hygiene Plan).
2. Room hygiene
Airing
Regular and thorough airing is particularly important as it replaces the air in the room. Prior to and
after every use of a room, as well as during every break, the room must be aired intensively
for several minutes, if possible by completely opening the windows and doors. A room is not
suited for teaching purposes if windows in a room cannot be opened at any time due to building
measures, unless a room ventilation system guarantees the exchange of air.
Cleaning
Cleaning must comply with DIN 77400 (analogue use: cleaning services for school buildings –
cleaning requirements). It defines the principles of an environmentally-friendly and hygienic cleaning3
of the facilities as stipulated in the contract and takes the current technological and methodological
developments for the cleaning of buildings, as well as the legal requirements pursuant to IfSG, into
consideration.
The following applies in addition to these regulations:
In general, the contagiousness of coronaviruses declines rapidly on inorganic surfaces depending on
the material and environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture and UV exposure. It has
yet to be proven that a transmission has occurred due to contact with a contaminated surface in a
public area. The cleaning of surfaces is exceptionally important at the University of Greifswald. This
also applies to surfaces that have been attributed with antimicrobial characteristics, as secretions and
contamination should also be removed mechanically from these surfaces.
In contrast to cleaning, routine disinfection of all services is not recommended by the RKI, even during
the current COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate cleaning is completely sufficient.
If, in certain circumstances, it is considered necessary to disinfect surfaces, they should be wiped
down with a cold disinfection solution. Spray disinfection, i.e. covering the surface without it being
wiped, is less effective and is seen critically in terms of health and safety as disinfectant can be
inhaled (the same applies to warm, or even fuming disinfectant solutions). The time it takes for the
disinfectant to soak in or cover the surface must be observed. Depending on the type of disinfectant
used (if the dried rests have an irritant effect), it might be necessary to thoroughly clean all surfaces
following disinfection.
The following surfaces should be cleaned particularly thoroughly in areas that are used most
frequently, if possible on a daily basis:
• door handles and knobs (e.g. on drawers and windows), as well as parts of the door that
are touched when they are opened/closed
• stair railings and hand railings
• light switches
• control panels or remote controls for boards etc.
Hygiene in Sanitary Facilities
A sufficient number of liquid soap dispensers and single-use hand towels are provided in the sanitary
facilities and refilled regularly. Bins are available for disposable towels.
A clearly visible notice emphasising the valid distancing regulations must be displayed at the entrance
to the sanitary facilities. There must be an indication of how many persons are allowed to be in the
respective sanitary facilities at one time.
Toilet seats, taps, sinks and the floors are cleaned every day. If the facilities are contaminated with
faeces, blood or vomit, the surfaces are disinfected with disinfection agents by scrubbing and wiping
the surface with a soaked single-use towel.
The person cleaning the facilities must wear standard rubber gloves for work purposes and cover
his/her nose and mouth with some kind of face mask.
3. Principles for the use of rooms for specific higher education purposes
It is obligatory to wear a face mask (e.g. surgical masks, FFP2 masks) in all university buildings
unless explicit exceptions have been made.
Face coverings are not compulsory4
• for persons who are unable to cover their noses and mouths due to a medical or psychological
impairment or a disability, and are able to prove this with a medical certificate (in the form of
a qualifiziertes Attest); these persons must keep a minimum distance of 2m between
themselves and others;
• for lecturers and persons holding presentations during classes/courses as long as they are
able to keep a minimum distance of at least 3m between themselves and the other
participants;
• for members of staff who are in an office by themselves;
• for members of staff, who work in offices with several workstations, as long as there is a
minimum distance of 1.5m between the workstations and it is made sure that the rooms are
aired regularly.
The following applies for classes/courses:
As a general rule of principle, a minimum distance of 1.5 metres must be kept at all times between
the participants, unless different regulations have been made.
Tables in the seminar rooms will be spread apart to comply with the minimum distance regulations; if
possible, surplus tables and chairs shall be removed. The university administration (Division 2) sets
out the furniture to comply with the coronavirus stipulations. The way the tables and chairs have
been laid out may not be changed by lecturers or students.
In lecture halls with fixed seating arrangements, only the seats that have been correspondingly
marked can be used.
Depending on the size of the room and number of course participants, the room must be aired
thoroughly for 10 - 15 minutes prior to and after every class. The respective member of teaching
staff is responsible for sufficiently airing the rooms. Rooms that cannot be aired with fresh air or do
not have an automatic ventilation system cannot be used for on-site teaching.
There must be a period of at least 30 minutes between two classes in the same room.
Rooms in which classes are held are cleaned thoroughly everyday (including table surfaces, rails,
door handles and knobs, as well as light switches and controls).
Clearly visible notices that underline the obligation to maintain distance to others and observe the
protective measures must be displayed in the lecture hall and faculty buildings.
Room reservations
Please send your desired room reservations to raumreservierung@uni-greifswald.de. When
reserving rooms, you must indicate the date and time of the class, including the times required before
and after teaching (at least 15 minutes each due to the required airing), as well as the maximum
number of persons taking part in the class.
If more than one lecture hall is being used in the same building, efforts shall be made to stagger the
start and end times. This should help reduce the amount of people using the access routes, corridors
and stairs at the same time.
An overview of the maximum number of seats available in the lecture halls/seminar rooms, taking
into account the current social distancing regulations, can be found on Division 2’s website [de]. If
rooms are to be used that are not included in the occupancy list created by Division 2, the respective
Health and Safety Officer of the facility should be contacted to clarify how many seats can be used
in the specific room whilst maintaining the required minimum distance.5
Holding classes
The following minimum standards must be observed when holding on-site classes:
• Classes can only take place in rooms that provide sufficient space for the expected number
of participants whilst observing the social distancing requirements related to the coronavirus
crisis. If rooms are to be used that are not included in the occupancy list created by Division
2, the respective Health and Safety Officer of the facility should be contacted to clarify how
many seats can be used in the specific room whilst maintaining the required minimum
distance.
• The rooms may only be used by the number of participants indicated when the room was
reserved and the participants may only use the seats that have been provided or the
correspondingly marked seats (if seating is fixed).
• Only persons who have registered previously may attend the classes. The following shall not
be granted permission to take part in the classes
o persons who are subject to compulsory quarantine in accordance with SARS-CoV2-
Quarantäneverordnung MV1 (SARS-CoV2 Quarantine Regulations) or an order from
the Public Health Office for the relevant length of time;
o persons with acute respiratory illnesses if they are unable to produce a doctor’s
certificate that confirms that they are not ill with COVID-19. This information must be
indicated on a notice at the entrance to the lecture hall/seminar room;
o Persons who have had close contact2 to a person who has tested positive for COVID-
19 for a period of 14 days following the day on which they had contact or for the
duration of the quarantine period that was ordered by a Public Health Office.
o Persons who have been ordered to take a test for COVID-19 in the period between
receiving the order and until self-isolation at home has been lifted by the Public Health
Office.
o Persons who are not allowed to wear a face covering if the course is being held
concurrently in an online format (hybrid classes).
By taking part in the class, all persons who are present confirm that the possible grounds of
exclusion do not apply.
• When entering and leaving the lecture hall/seminar room, persons must maintain a minimum
distance of 1.5 m to other persons. Persons who are not allowed to wear a face covering must
observe a minimum distance of 2 m to other persons.
• The member of teaching staff is responsible for implementing suitable measures (access
control or similar) to make sure that only persons who had registered previously actually take
part in the class and that the maximum number of participants in accordance with the
minimum distance regulations is not exceeded.
• All of the persons present must be registered on a list that must include the following minimum
requirements: First name(s) and surname, full address and telephone number, as well as the
date and time. This list must be stored for a duration of four weeks after the end of the course
and it must be handed over in full to the competent health authorities on request. The list must
be filled in and stored in such a manner that the personal data, in particular those belonging
to other participants, cannot be accessed by third parties. If it has not been requested by the
health authorities, the attendance list must be destroyed immediately after the storage period
1 cf. SARS-CoV2-Quarantäneverordnung MV of 9 April 2020 in the version as amended from time to time
2
this refers to contact persons belonging to category I, e.g. who have had at least 10 minutes of face-to-face contact during a
conversation.6
has come to an end. If possible, the contact details are to be collected using the available
electronic card-reading devices.
• Seats must be taken immediately after entering the lecture hall/seminar room.
• At the beginning of every class, the member of teaching staff must
o brief the participants on the valid hygiene regulations, in particular with regard to the
social distancing regulations and the obligation to wear a face mask, as well as
behaviour during possible breaks and when leaving the lecture hall/seminar room;
o point out to the students that they must immediately inform the member of teaching
staff and the University’s Coronavirus Crisis Team (corona@uni-greifswald.de) if they
have tested positive for the coronavirus.
• After the class, the lecture hall/seminar room must be left according to the instructions given
by the member of teaching staff and whilst observing the social-distancing regulations. The
row nearest the exit will start.
• If classes last longer than 90 minutes, there must be a 15-minute break during which the room
is aired thoroughly. During this time, students shall remain at their desks (unless they need to
visit the bathroom).
• The respective member of teaching staff is responsible for making sure the above-named
regulations are observed. The students must receive first notification of these regulations at
least one day prior to the class. If students infringe the social distancing regulations and
protective measures, lecturers are entitled to immediately ban them from the building.
• The students must leave the building immediately after the end of the class whilst observing
the social distancing regulations.
• The member of teaching staff must disinfect any microphones that s/he used with a
disinfectant wipe.
• If the member of teaching staff learns of any persons who have tested positive for COVID-19
or who have been in contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19, they must
inform the Coronavirus Crisis Team immediately.
University Library
There is an extra Hygiene Plan for the University Library.
4. Persons at greater risk of experiencing a severe course of COVID-19
Certain groups of persons are at higher risk of experiencing a severe course of COVID-19; for more
information, please see the medical information provided by the European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control.
The protection of all members of the university community has the highest priority. For this reason,
the following stipulations are issued based on the data that has been collected so far:
• Whether certain persons belong to a so-called risk group and require the employer to provide
possible protective measures must be defined by the In-House Medical Service upon request
and depending on individual circumstances. The recommendations of the In-House Medical
Service respect the employee’s obligation to fulfil his/her work duties. The corresponding
work regulations shall be determined as usual by the respective line manager/superior.
• Pregnant women must be carefully protected. Pregnant women can only lecture if they have
volunteered to do so and teaching is in line with the health risk assessment and the
recommendations from the In-House Medical Service.7
• Students that belong to a group of persons at higher risk of experiencing a severe course of
COVID-19 in accordance with RKI can, upon request, be freed from taking part in courses
that require on-site presence. A doctor’s certificate can be demanded if there is any doubt.
5. Access routes
In order to make sure that the social-distancing regulations are observed, measures must be taken
to regulate access at the main entrances of the lecture hall buildings. Furthermore, measures must
be taken to avoid gatherings in common areas where the minimum distance of 1.5 m to other
persons cannot be observed.
It must be made sure that the students access the course/examination rooms at staggered intervals.
Prior to the start of the respective course, the member of staff responsible must inform the students
of an access route that minimises the amount of contact (if available).
Lifts can only be used by one person at a time. Persons with walking disabilities or persons carrying
heavy loads must be given priority.
In order to avoid a concentration of aerosols, lifts may only be used with a face covering that covers
the mouth and nose.
6. Contacts
In-House Medical Service/University Medicine Greifswald
In-House Medical Service
Fleischmannstr. 44
Tel.: +49 3834 86 53 55
Telephone consultation hours for members of staff with possible cases of COVID-19: +49 3834 86
53 48
Mon-Fri 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
(when calling from within the university network, you must dial a ‘0’ instead of the area code!)
email: betriebsarzt@med.uni-greifswald.de
Competent Public Health Office
Gesundheitsamt (Public Health Office) Greifswald
Feldstraße 85a
17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 3834 8760 2401
email:gesundheitsamt@kreis-vg.de
COVID-19 citizen helpline:
+49 3834 8760 2300
(Mon-Fri 8.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m., Sat/Sun
10.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.)
email: corona@kreis-vg.de
Competent Control Centre8 Integrated Control Centre Vorpommern- Greifswald Pappelallee 1 17489 Greifswald 112 (emergency calls and faxes) +49 3834 77 78 60 +49 3834 77 78 77 (bookings for patient transportation) +49 3834 77 78 78 (bookings for patient transportation) leitstelle@kreis-vg.de 7. Entry into force The Hygiene Plan enters into force following its publication.
9
Appendix: Information about Face Coverings
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends individuals wear face coverings or medical-grade face
masks (surgical masks) to cover their noses and mouths in certain situations when in public areas as
a further possibility of reducing the speed of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the population. The
University of Greifswald follows this recommendation. In general, medical-grade face masks (e.g.
surgical masks, FFP2 masks) must be used at the University.
In certain situations, in public spaces, face masks are further measures to reduce infections and the
speed with which COVID-19 is spreading among the population; and thus, they protect risk groups.
This recommendation is based on studies demonstrating that a relevant proportion of transmissions
of SARS-CoV-2 occur undetected, i.e. at a time before the first signs of illness appear.
A partial reduction of undetected transmissions of infectious droplets by wearing face masks could
further contribute to slowing down the spread among the population. This concerns transmissions in
public spaces where several people come together and spend longer periods of time (e.g. at work)
or where the physical distance of at least 1.5 m cannot always be observed (e.g. when shopping, or
when using public transport). The same applies to crowds of people gathering outside if the mini-
mum distance of 1.5 m between persons cannot be observed. Wearing face masks in public spaces
can be effective in terms of reducing transmissions if as many people as possible are using them.
Wearing face masks contributes to protecting other people from fine droplets and particles that are
emitted by speaking, coughing, or sneezing (protection of others). It is important that your mouth
and nose are covered and that your mask fits as tightly as possible.
Members of staff and students covering their noses and mouths must observe the information
provided by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM):
• Persons wearing face masks to cover their noses and mouths should still keep at a safe
distance of at least 1.5 metres from other persons as recommended by the WHO.
• Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap prior to putting the mask on.
• When putting the mask on, avoid contaminating the inside of the fabric. The mask must
be placed correctly over the mouth, nose and cheeks and fit tightly at the edges in order
to minimise the amount of air getting in at the sides.
• The first time a covering is used, it should be checked whether it lets in enough air so
that normal breathing is not significantly impaired.
• A covering that has been soaked through should be removed immediately, and, if
necessary, changed.
• Both the outside and the inside of the used covering can potentially contain pathogens.
Touching the covering should be avoided as much as possible in order to avoid
contamination of the hands.
• After removing the covering, hands should be washed thoroughly in accordance with the
general hygiene regulations (at least 20-30 seconds and with soap).
• The covering should not be worn for any longer than one day. It should be changed
more regularly if it is soaked through.
The respective user is responsible for acquiring a mask for situations in which wearing a face mask
has been determined compulsory or recommended by this Hygiene Plan. The University will not
provide face masks of any kind.You can also read
