APPENDIX 5 Employee Guide for On-Campus Safety During Covid-19

APPENDIX 5

Employee Guide for On-Campus Safety During Covid-19

EMPLOYEE GUIDE FOR ON-CAMPUS SAFETY DURING COVID-19

We are excited to welcome you back to campus! Things may look and feel different. Our new policies and processes for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are rooted in keeping all our community members as safe as possible and align with city, state, and federal guidance. However, we cannot eliminate the risks and need your help in preventing the spread of illness on campus. Everyone needs to participate in the prevention strategies to protect one another and we appreciate your partnership in keeping our community safe.

SYMPTOM MONITORING REQUIREMENT

On days you expect to be on campus, you MUST self-check for any symptoms suggestive of COVID. Should you have any symptoms or a known exposure, You must stay home and contact your immediate supervisor and human resources for further guidance. There are various symptom self-check apps, Johns Hopkins self-checker is a short and simple recommended app. Possible COVID symptoms could include any one of the following:

o Cough o Fever o Chills o Fatigue o Headache o Sore throat o Muscle pain o New GI symptoms o Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing o Repeated shaking with chills o Runny nose or new sinus congestion o New loss of taste or smell

FACE MASKS/CLOTH FACE COVERINGS

Face masks or face coverings must be worn by all employees while on-campus when in the presence of others and in public settings. Cloth face coverings should be worn in any public indoor setting, even when physical distancing is maintained. Cloth face masks should be washed daily and before wearing again.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

Keep at least six feet of space between you and others. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you have no symptoms. Employees on campus must follow these physical distancing practices: • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people at all times, especially if in contact for more than 15 minutes.

Avoid confined spaces, prioritize use of elevators for accessibility.

Do not gather in groups.

Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

Follow university directional and occupancy signage.

FEET

HANDWASHING

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. According to the CDC, gloves are not necessary for general use and do not replace good hand hygiene.

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE

Employees do not need to wear goggles or face shields as part of general activity on campus. Staying home when ill, physical distancing, cloth face coverings, good hand hygiene and avoiding touching your face are the most effective COVID prevention strategies.

CLEANING/DISINFECTION

Employees should avoid sharing spaces and items with others, to all extents possible. If using a shared workspace or item, you should wipe down the surface before and after use with an EPAapproved disinfectant. Examples of shared items & spaces could include copiers, printers, pens, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, desks and tables, light switches, doorknobs, etc.

GATHERINGS

Avoid large gatherings. If gathering in-person, maintain physical distancing to all extents possible. Wear cloth face coverings at all times. Understand that outdoor gatherings are safer than prolonged indoor gatherings.

TRACK ON CAMPUS ACTIVITY AND CONTACTS

• If you are identified as having been exposed to the virus or are diagnosed with COVID, you will likely be asked to share information about who you’ve been in close contact with and where you’ve been, both on and off campus. It will be easier to recall this information if you are mindful of this and keep either physical or mental notes of this information.

Don’t bring any unnecessary guests or visitors on campus. Non-SSU visitors could unknowingly bring infection to campus and increase the risk for our

SSU community.

PREVENT OTHER ILLNESS

To reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses on campus, it is strongly recommended that you receive your flu vaccine this year, as soon as you are able.

YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH

• Make sure your health insurance is active

Employees with any underlying medical condition(s) that make it difficult to adhere to any of the public health requirements or who may be at increased risk for severe COVID-19 infection if exposed, should consult with human resources to discuss possible accommodations.

TESTING

We encourage all employees, with even the mildest symptoms, to be tested for COVID-19. Testing should become the new normal, should you have any symptoms or exposures, and can help us identify the virus early in attempts to prevent spreading and outbreaks. Health services can also help connect you to off campus testing resources. Once you’ve been tested, you MUST notify human resources.

COVID-19 PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS

Symptom Self-Checks

Cloth Face Coverings

Physical Distancing

Handwashing Cleaning/Disinfecting

Avoid Large Gatherings and Track Campus Activity

Prevent Other Illness

Personal Health

STEPS THE UNIVERSITY HAS TAKEN TO MAKE CAMPUS SAFER:

De-densified campus Establish cleaning and disinfection guidelines and schedule Updates to HVAC systems to improve airflow Reconfigure spaces to encourage physical distancing Provide cloth face masks

Provide additional disinfectant supplies and hand sanitizer in classrooms and offices

Updated signage to remind all to follow public health guidance Updated Health & Safety policies for 2020-2021 And more…

ON CAMPUS CONTACT INFORMATION

HUMAN RESOURCES

978-542-7229 eholt@salemstate.edu

UNIVERSITY POLICE & SAFETY

978.542.6111 for on-campus emergency

978.542.6511 for non-emergency