2021-03

2021/03-1. Unanimously approved; pursuant to the consultation meeting dated 09.09.2021 between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ministry of Health - Basic Health Services Department and EMU Pandemic Board, recommending the amendment of the notions of close contact and contact in “Case and Contact Definitions” section (section 9.4.1) in EMU COVID-19 Pandemic Guide and Action Plan as specified in Att.1, addition of the contact tracking algorithm specified in Att.1 to the EMU COVID-19 Pandemic Guide and Action Plan and, doing the contact/close contact tracking algorithm as specified in Att.1 be approved.

2021/03-2. Unanimously approved; recommending the implementation of the “Waste Management” process as specified in Att.2 in Eastern Mediterranean University campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic be approved.

2021/03-3. Unanimously approved; commencing the face-to-face training sessions for cleaning/working staff members at the latest of week covering the 20-24 September 2021 be approved.

2021/03-4. Unanimously approved; preparing informative videos for students be approved.

2021/03-5. Unanimously approved; preparing a handbook for training the Academic and Administrative personnel (excluding the cleaning and working staff) be approved.

Att.1 (2021/03-01): Updated Version of Close Contact/Contact Definitions and Contact Tracking Algorithm

Close Contact (High Risk):

Persons who had contact with a COVID-19 patient without taking protective measures (where both parties are unmasked or the mask is used inappropriately) are considered to be in close contact (high risk) in the following situations:

• Persons who talk to a COVID-19 patient at a distance of less than 2 meters for more than 10 minutes at a time,
• Persons who are responsible for direct care of a COVID-19 patient,
• Students/Academic staff members who share classroom with a COVID-19 patient student/academic staff member,
• Persons who have physical contact with a COVID-19 patient (such as kissing, hugging etc.)
• Persons who are exposed to the secretion droplets (saliva, sputum etc.) of a COVID-19 patient or, who have been in an environment without being unprotected against COVID-19 patient’s sneezing-coughing,
• Persons who stay with a COVID-19 (+) patient in poorly ventilated indoor environments which are considered high risk for transmission for more than 10 minutes (even if wearing a mask),
• Persons who are traveling on the same plane with a COVID-19 patient, sitting in two front, two back and two side seats (if the person is sitting in the aisle, the closest persons sitting in the front and rear diagonal are also taken in contact), regardless of the use of masks,
• Persons who live in the same house/flat with a COVID-19 patient,
• Persons who work in the same office with a COVID-19 patient,
• Persons who share a room with a COVID-19 patient in a dormitory or hotel, regardless of the use of masks,
• Persons traveling on the same intercity bus, train compartment with a COVID-19 patient in an environment where prevention (appropriate mask use) measures have been taken for droplet infection with a COVID-19 patient.

Contact (Low Risk):

People who have contact with a COVID-19 patient by taking protective measures (by wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose) are considered contact (low risk) in the following situations.

• • Persons who have been together with a COVID-19 patient in a well ventilated indoor environment,
  • Students/Academic staff members who share classroom with a COVID-19 patient student/academic staff member,
  • Persons who live in the same house/flat with a COVID-19 patient,
  • Persons who work in the same office with a COVID-19 patient,
  • Unmasked persons who have been stand 2 meters from a COVID-19 patient for less than 10 minutes in the same indoor environment without taking precautions for droplet transmission (no mask is worn or not properly worn).

Contact Tracing Algorithm

A.) In an event of a staff members who works within the campus or a student who has COVID-19 (+) status (confirmed case),

1. The close contact criteria mentioned above should be explained to the COVID-19 (+) person and the "Eastern Mediterranean University Contact Follow-up Form" is filled in by the Pandemic Coordinator’s Office in order to identify people with suspected close contact within 2 days (48 hours) before the symptoms appear in (symptomatic) cases and, in cases without symptoms, the 2 days (48 hours) before the sample is taken for the PCR test.
2. The filled form is submitted to the TRNC Ministry of Health, Contact Tracking Unit.
3. The contact status of persons who are reported as contacts are evaluated by the TRNC Ministry of Health Contact Tracking Unit.
4. Persons who are confirmed by the TRNC Ministry of Health Contact Tracing Unit as “close contact” are put into quarantine for a duration to be recommended by the Contact Tracing Unit.
5. Persons who are not considered as close contacts by the Contact Tracking Unit continue their studies or education at the university by following the infection control measures (mask, physical distance, etc.).
6. In the event that persons whose names are not named in the "Eastern Mediterranean University Contact Tracking Form" filled in by the positive case report themselves as close contacts, the "Eastern Mediterranean University Contact Tracing Form" is also filled in and forwarded to the TRNC Ministry of Health Contact Tracing Unit. As a result of the evaluation of the contact tracing unit, persons who are considered to be close contacts are quarantined; persons who are not considered to be in close contact continue to work by following infection control measures (mask, physical distance, etc.).

B) In an event of a staff member or student reporting being a close contact of a COVID-19 (+) case outside the campus,

1. Person who reports herself/himself as a close contact are asked to fill in the “Eastern Mediterranean University Contact Tracing Form” by the EMU Pandemic Coordinator’s Office.
2. The filled form is submitted to the TRNC Ministry of Health, Contact Tracing Unit.
3. The contact status of persons who are reported as contacts are evaluated by the TRNC Ministry of Health Contact Tracing Unit.
4. Persons who are confirmed by the TRNC Ministry of Health Contact Tracing Unit as “close contact” are put into quarantine for a duration to be recommended by the Contact Tracing Unit.
5. Persons who are not considered as close contacts by the Contact Tracing Unit continue their studies or education at the university by following the infection control measures (mask, physical distance, etc.).

Att.2: Eastern Mediterranean University COVID-19 Pandemic Waste Management

Within the Eastern Mediterranean University campuses, the following matters should be adhered in the processes of collecting, transporting, storing and transmitting the wastes of disposable personal masks, gloves and other personal hygiene materials to processing facilities (e.g., municipality).

1. Waste equipment (waste box) should be placed on the floors where the building entrances and exits and common use areas are located in order to collect masks, gloves and other personal hygiene material wastes. These equipment;

• should be either in grey color or labelled with grey and, have a text/visual sign indicating that the equipment is used only for collecting masks, gloves and other personal hygiene material wastes,
• should be a pedal bin with a lid. The lid must always be closed unless it is in use,
• should have waste bags placed in (with appropriate strength to minimize the risk of tearing).

2. After three-quarters of the waste bags in the waste equipment are filled, they should be tightly closed, put into a second bag and taken to the temporary storage area.
3. Temporary storage areas should be established where the wastes in the waste bins will be stored after they are collected.

• Temporary storage areas should be kept away from places where there is heavy human use such as entrance/exit of buildings, parking lots, pavements, food storages, preparation and sale areas and should always be kept closed.
• Equipment in the temporary storage area should be covered and pedaled, and there should be texts or visuals showing that masks, gloves and other personal hygiene material wastes will be collected.

4. Transport to the temporary storage area should be carried out in a controlled manner by the cleaning personnel trained in this regard.
5. Waste bags should be kept in the temporary storage area for at least 72 hours.
6. Wastes should be removed shortly before the waste collection time and delivered to the municipality to be managed as “other waste” as domestic waste.
7. Disinfection of the equipment used in waste collection, transportation and storage, and the areas where these equipment are located should be ensured by using 1:100 diluted bleach or a suitable disinfectant after each waste discharge.

Personnel responsible for the collection, transportation and delivery of wastes to the municipality should use personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and face shields during work; must wear special work clothes during collection and transportation.