GATING AND PHASING OF ENTRY INTO THE CAMPUS

The University has adopted this protocol to comply with applicable state and local public health orders and to be consistent with applicable Ministry of Health and Family welfare, India Guidelines.

The Covid Policy committee may issue updated protocols, which become effective upon approval from Vice Chancellors Office and frequently are being changed in response to the changes in the state and local public health orders. Please watch for updates to these protocols.

GITAM Deemed to be University COVID-19 Protocol for Campus Access

Campus personnel are designated as Category I , II and III to allow seamless operations under different alert levels and re-entry phases.

When the University is in more restrictive phases and higher alert levels, only individuals with Category I or II access are able to enter buildings, while under less restrictive phases all personnel and students may enter campus buildings.

The personnel under each category are listed in the Annexure I

The scope of each level of access and the procedures to request that level of access are described below.

• For each campus access phase the covid scenario is supervised by analysis of the weekly gating and phasing committee report and the number of covid cases on rise in local and in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnatake where the other off campuses are located. Basis on the observations of the gatings and phasing committee the campus will be noted to be under various Phases with colour coded

Gating and phasing committee:

Gating Criteria

• Gating criteria are data-driven conditions each region or state should satisfy before proceeding to a phased opening as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The locations where the three campuses are situated and also the areas from where the students are expected to arrive on campuses will be tracked as per the prescribed parameters.
• Gating and Phasing Committee will track this data in real time, provide weekly updates and modify gating criteria accordingly.
• The tracking data of each region/districts’ progress towards its reduction in symptoms and cases, health system readiness and increased test capacity will be procured on a daily basis from health dashboards of the three states where GITAM campuses are located. Based on the prevalence of the infection rates, and other parameters the Gating Committee will issue colour coding to the specified districts as follows:

The metric used here is the 14-day trend of COVID+.

• Dark Red indicates an increase (>25% change) during the 14-day period.
• Red indicates an increase (5%-25%) during the 14-day period.
• Yellow indicates flattening (<5%) during the 14-day period.
• Green indicates a decreasing trend (>5%) during the 14-day period.

Another metric calculates surfacing of positive cases from testing (positive cases/total tests).

This metric uses the rolling average of the past 7 days.

• Dark Red indicates more than 10%;
• Red indicates a 7-10% increase;
• Yellow indicates 2-7% of increase and
• Green indicates less than 2% increase.

An aggregate score will be prepared on the basis of these two criteria.

• As and when, students re-enter the campuses (Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Bengaluru) to join their respective courses, the psychiatry department at GIMSR, Visakhapatnam, in coordination with Applied Psychology department at GITAM School of Gandhian Studies, would conduct group sessions (online through Zoom/Coursera lasting for 60-90 minutes approximately), aimed at orienting the student to the new campus environment during COVID-19.
• The group sessions will be meant to assist the students learn and practice positive lifestyle approaches to managing stress, and balance study requirements alongside restrictions brought on by the pandemic.
• The group sessions will also provide students with a brief screening questionnaire to help identify stress and mental health issues, so that a pathway to seek appropriate help can be identified.
• Students and staff are to download Arogya Setu App before they start their travel to campus. Arogya Setu is to be displayed at the gate. ‘Red’ status on Arogya Setu has to be informed to the Registrar.
• The Heads of the Institutions are to get clearances from the COVID Committee with reference to the batches of students being invited to the campus.
• For other programs, online/distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching.
• Students may visit their departments in small numbers after seeking prior appointments for faculty consultations.

Mandate protocol for students

• All students arriving on campus are mandated to submit a self-declaration form. Hostel students arriving in Phase 1 will be quarantined with close monitoring.
• Zoning of the campuses with high density is done with barricading and stationing of guards to enable adherence to quarantine requirements.
• The quarantined students are to key in their vitals into the online forms on a daily basis for closer monitoring.
• For COVID-19 positive individuals, packaged meals are to be delivered to their rooms. Other individuals will be provided meals at the dining facilities in compliance with social distancing norms.
• Food from outside is not to be allowed.
• Students who are not willing to adhere to these new norms will be advised not to report to the hostel.
• Need based individual counselling sessions (through video-consultation, lasting for about 30 minutes approximately) will be provided for those identified to have any specific health issues on the screening questionnaire, or for any of the students or faculty who seek counselling.

Gating and Phasing data monitored since September 2020 to till date

Campus is preparing for Phase IV Access

As the number of covid on decline and as per government of Andhra Pradesh Instructions to resume physical classes GITAM Deemed to be University is preparing for Phase IV access to all the employees and students. The following are the instructions for the Fully Vaccinated Individuals

• As soon as possible, but no later than one week before your on-campus fall campus arrival date, upload proof of COVID vaccination to the Covid help desk or to the Student life.
• You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your final dose. Please plan accordingly.
• Receive a negative PCR COVID-19 test result at or within 48 hours of your campus arrival.
• RT PCR testing is available at the on-campus testing locations of Visakhapatnam campus.
• Once either student life or covid help desk manager gives access you are authorized to resume to campus.
• The student life directorate should send a daily basis list of students to covid help desk and vice versa . A common list of the number of the students given access to the campus is sent to the chair person covid help desk daily by Covid help desk manager , Mr. Abdul Razack Naidu.
• Students must continue to monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. If any student is having symptoms of COVID-19, the students must get tested and isolate themselves.
• Fully vaccinated individuals who obtain cleared for campus access but fail to comply with the required testing schedule will have their campus.
• access suspended until they are back in compliance with the testing schedule.
• Unvaccinated or Not Fully Vaccinated Individuals should intimate their status to the covid helpdesk maanger.
• As required by the COVID-19 Protocol for Face Coverings and Social Distancing, you must continue to wear a mask on campus, and you should maintain social distancing wherever feasible while on campus.
• You must continue to monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms and complete the daily log on the Symptom Daily on health set go app.

Keeping in view the uncertainties of future due to COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the functioning of universities and colleges, To plan the opening of the campuses in a phased manner, ensuring safety, health and well-being of all students and staff there should be varius protocols in place.

Scope:

This document aims to provide interim guidance about the environmental cleaning /decontamination of common public places including offices in areas reporting COVID-19. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID -19) is an acute respiratory disease caused by a novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), transmitted in most instances through respiratory droplets, direct contact with cases and also through contaminated surfaces/objects. Though the virus survives on environmental surfaces for varied period of time, it gets easily inactivated by chemical disinfectants.

Generic Preventive Measures

These measures need to be observed by all (faculty, employees, students and visitors) in these places at all times.

These include:

1. Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet (2 gaj ki doori) in public places as far as feasible.
2. Use of face covers/masks at all times. They must be worn properly to cover nose and mouth.
3. Touching the front portion of mask/face covers to be avoided.
4. Frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be done wherever feasible.
5. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s
6. mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and
7. disposing off used tissues properly.
8. Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest.
9. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
10. Installation & use of Aarogya Setu App

Safety Measures during Working Hours

Classrooms and other Learning Sites

• Proper sanitization at all learning sites should be ensured. Cleaning and regular disinfection using 1% sodium hypochlorite) of frequently touched surfaces (door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, chairs, benches, washroom fixtures, etc.) to be made mandatory in all class rooms, laboratories, (and also) lockers, parking areas, other common areas etc. before the beginning of classes and at the end of the day.
• Teaching materials, computers, laptops, printers, shall be regularly disinfected with 70% alcohol swipe.
• Sitting places in classes, laboratories, computer labs, libraries etc. should be clearly marked, keeping in view the norms of physical distancing. At least one seat should be left vacant between two seats.
• Wearing face cover/ mask is a must at all times and at all places inside the campus.

The following guidelines are to be followed, especially in areas reporting COVID-19. For ease of implementation the guideline divided these areas into

1. indoor areas
2. outdoor areas and
3. public toilets.

1. Indoor areas including office spaces

   Office spaces, including conference rooms should be cleaned every evening after office hours or early in the morning before the rooms are occupied. If contact surface is visibly dirty, it should be cleaned with soap and water prior to disinfection. Prior to cleaning, the worker should wear disposable rubber boots, gloves (heavy duty), and a triple layer mask.

   • Start cleaning from cleaner areas and proceed towards dirtier areas.
   • All indoor areas such as entrance lobbies, corridors and staircases, escalators, elevators, security guard booths, office rooms, meeting rooms, cafeteria should be mopped with a disinfectant with 1% sodium hypochlorite or phenolic disinfectants.
   • The guidelines for preparing fresh 1% sodium hypochlorite solution is at Annexure I
   • High contact surfaces such elevator buttons, handrails / handles and call buttons, escalator handrails, public counters, intercom systems, equipment like telephone, printers/scanners, and other office machines should be cleaned twice daily by mopping with a linen/absorbable cloth soaked in 1% sodium hypochlorite.Frequently touched areas like table tops, chair handles, pens, diary files, keyboards, mouse, mouse pad, tea/coffee dispensing machines etc. should specially be cleaned.
   • For metallic surfaces like door handles, security locks, keys etc. 70% alcohol can be used to wipe down surfaces where the use of bleach is not suitable.
   • Hand sanitizing stations should be installed in office premises (especially at the entry) and near high contact surfaces.
   • In a meeting/conference/office room, if someone is coughing, without following respiratory etiquettes or mask, the areas around his/her seat should be vacated and cleaned with 1% sodium hypochlorite.
   • Carefully clean the equipment used in cleaning at the end of the cleaning process.
   • Remove PPE, discard in a disposable PPE in yellow disposable bag and wash hands with soap and water.

   In addition, all employees should consider cleaning the work area in front of them with a disinfecting wipe prior to use and sit one seat further away from others, if possible


2. Outdoor areas

   Outdoor areas have less risk then indoor areas due to air currents and exposure to sunlight. These include bus stops, railway platforms, parks, roads, etc. Cleaning and disinfection efforts should be targeted to frequently touched/contaminated surfaces as already detailed above.

3. Public toilets

   Sanitary workers must use separate set of cleaning equipment for toilets (mops, nylon scrubber) and separate set for sink and commode).

   They should always wear disposable protective gloves while cleaning a toilet.

   Areas	Agents / Toilets Cleaner	Procedure
   Toilet pot/ commode	Sodium hypochlorite 1%/ detergent Soap powder / long handle angular brush	Inside of toilet pot/commode:
   		Scrub with the recommended agents and the long handle angular brush.
   		Outside: clean with recommended agents; use a scrubber.
   Lid / Commode	Nylon scrubber and soap powder/detergent 1% Sodium Hypochlorite	Wet and scrub with soap powder and the nylon scrubber inside and outside.
   		Wipe with 1% Sodium Hypochlorite
   Toilet floor	Soap powder /detergent and scrubbing brush/ nylon broom 1% Sodium Hypochlorite	Scrub floor with soap powder and the scrubbing brush
   		Wash with water
   		Use sodium hypochlorite1% dilution
   Sink	Soap powder / detergent and nylon scrubber 1% Sodium Hypochlorite	Scrub with the nylon scrubber.
   		Wipe with 1% sodium hypochlorite
   Showers area / Taps and fittings	Warm water Detergent powder Nylon Scrubber 1% Sodium Hypochlorite/ 70% alcohol	Thoroughly scrub the floors/tiles with warm water and detergent
   		Wipe over taps and fittings with a damp cloth and detergent.
   		Care should be taken to clean the underside of taps and fittings.
   		Wipe with 1% sodium hypochlorite/ 70% alcohol
   Soap dispensers	Detergent and water	Should be cleaned daily with detergent and water and dried

   • 70% Alcohol can be used to wipe down surfaces where the use of bleach is not suitable, e.g. metal. (Chloroxylenol (4.5-5.5%)/ Benzalkonium Chloride or any other disinfectants found to be effective against coronavirus may be used as per manufacturer’s instructions)
   • Always use freshly prepared 1% sodium hypochlorite.
   • Do not use disinfectants spray on potentially highly contaminated areas (such as toilet bowl or surrounding surfaces) as it may create splashes which can further spread the virus.
   • To prevent cross contamination, discard cleaning material made of cloth (mop and wiping cloth) in appropriate bags after cleaning and disinfecting. Wear new pair of gloves and fasten the bag.
   • Disinfect all cleaning equipment after use and before using in other area.
   • Disinfect buckets by soaking in bleach solution or rinse in hot water.
   • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear appropriate PPE which would include the following while carrying out cleaning and disinfection work
     • Wear disposable rubber boots, gloves (heavy duty), and a triple layer mask
     • Gloves should be removed and discarded damaged, and a new pair worn.
     • All disposable PPE should be removed and discarded after cleaning activities are completed.
     • Hands should be washed with soap and water immediately after each piece of PPE is removed, following completion of cleaning. (Refer to Annexure II: Steps of Hand Hygiene)

     Masks are effective if worn according to instructions and properly fitted. Masks should be discarded and changed if they become physically damaged or soaked. (Annexure-III: Guidelines for use of mask)

     Annexure-I

     Guidelines for Preparation of 1% sodium hypochlorite solution

     Product	Available chlorine	1percent
     Sodium hypochlorite– liquid bleach	3.50%	1 part bleach to 2.5 parts water
     Sodium hypochlorite – liquid	5%	1 part bleach to 4 parts water
     NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) powder	60%	17 grams to 1 litre water
     NaDCC (1.5 g/ tablet) – tablets	60%	11 tablets to 1 litre water
     Chloramine – powder	25%	80 g to 1 litre water
     Bleaching powder	70%	7g g to 1 litre water
     Any other	As per manufacturer’s Instructions

     Annexure II

     Steps of Hand Hygiene

     

     Annexure III

     Guidelines for use of mask

     The correct procedure of wearing triple layer surgical mask

     1. Perform hand hygiene
     2. Unfold the pleats; make sure that they are facing down.
     3. Place over nose, mouth and chin.
     4. Fit flexible nose piece over nose bridge.
     5. Secure with tie strings (upper string to be tied on top of head above the ears –lower string at the back of the neck.)
     6. Ensure there are no gaps on either side of the mask, adjust to fit.
     7. Do not let the mask hanging from the neck.
     8. Change the mask after six hours or as soon as they become wet.
     9. Disposable masks are never to be reused and should be disposed off.
     10. While removing the mask great care must be taken not to touch the potentially infected outer surface of the mask.
     11. To remove mask first untie the string below and then the string above and handle the mask using the upper strings.
     12. Disposal of used masks: Used mask should be considered as potentially infected medical waste. Discard the mask in a closed bin immediately after used eatables be discouraged.

Face Coverings

• All unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated University personnel, students and visitors must wear a face covering at all times while indoors on campus, except as provided below.
• All fully vaccinated University personnel, students, and visitors must wear a face covering indoors for all classes and all in-person meetings/events with 5 or more people, except while actively speaking/performing at 6 feet or more distance from others or while actively eating and drinking, provided that they replace the face covering when not actively speaking/performing, eating or drinking.

General Exceptions:

Individuals otherwise required to wear a face covering pursuant to this protocol may remove their face covering when:

• They are alone in a single office or study room
• They are students alone in their own residential room
• They are actively eating and drinking, provided that they replace the face covering when not actively eating or drinking

Face coverings:

• Must cover the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face at all times
• Should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Should include multiple layers of fabric
• Should allow for breathing without restriction
• If not single use, should be washable and machine dryable without being damaged or changing shape
• Should be looped around the ears or tied behind the head and neck
• Should remain in place until taken off safely
• Should be replaced with one that does not need to be frequently adjusted if the initial face covering moves during work
• Should be replaced when they become dirty, wet, and/or difficult to breathe through

Social Distancing

All unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated university personnel, students, and visitors should maintain social distancing (6-foot distancing from others not in their household) wherever feasible while on campus.

All unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated University personnel and students, participating in any activities on campus at the GITAM Deemed to be University campuses of Visakhapatnam Bengaluru and Hyderabad must participate in COVID- 19 daily symptom monitoring program.

This includes University personnel and students who live, work, and/or attend classes on campus.

1. Before unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated individuals (employees & students) report to campus for work or college each day (and daily if living on campus), the University will require all individuals coming to campus to complete a daily symptom monitoring using the health set go app or Arogya Setu APP
   
2. Visitors will have a separate symptom monitoring check at the entrances of every office.
3. If an unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated employee or student or contractor is unable to complete the symptom monitoring self-assessment survey online or cannot check their temperature prior to arrival on campus, they should make arrangements with their supervisor.
   
4. For vaccinated, unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated individuals who report symptoms of COVID-19, the University will:
   1. inform them to not report to work;
   2. notify them to contact their primary care physician;
   3. inform them that they should get tested and self-isolate; and
   4. inform the individual that they must not return to work until
      1. 24 hours have passed
      2. a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result is obtained; and
      3. the individual is fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication; and
      4. the individual’s other symptoms are improving.
5. For unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated individuals who report being in close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period) with any person who has tested positive for COVID-19, the University will:
   1. inform them to not report to work; for a period of four days and return with a co
6. If an employee, student, visitor or contractor reports any symptoms of COVID-19 while at, the University will take all of the following steps:
   1. send the individual home immediately;
   2. inform them that they should get tested and self-isolate
   3. inform the individual that they must not return to work until
      1. 24 hours have passed
      2. negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result is obtained; and
      3. the individual is fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication; and
      4. the individual’s other symptoms are improving.