East Carolina University
Social Distancing Policy
I. PURPOSE:
Social distancing is a public health action that limits exposure
to highly communicable diseases by restricting person-to-person contact. A
social distancing policy suspends classes and other public gatherings and
places limits on campus business to help prevent the person-to-person spread of
influenza or other disease impacting public health. If a severe communicable disease outbreak was to occur at ECU, a
social distancing policy may be instituted for a period of time to be
determined by the ECU Infection Control Committee.
Social distancing is designed to limit the spread of a disease by
reducing the opportunities for close contact between people. It can be
accomplished by administrative and engineering controls.
Examples include:
reducing
face-to-face exposure by using conference calls and video conferencing;
avoiding
unnecessary travel;
canceling
meetings, workshops, training sessions and scheduled events;
requiring
employees to work from home to reduce exposure in the workplace;
establishing
flexible working hours to avoid mass transportation or, at least during peak
hours;
installing
protective barriers between work stations or increasing space between workers;
reinforcing
hand washing and requiring the use of protective equipment such as hand
sanitizers and masks (provided by the agency);
scheduling
employees in shifts;
controlling
access to buildings, and
requiring asymptomatic
individuals traveling to affected countries/areas not to return to work until
one incubation period has passed after returning home.
II. CAMPUS CLOSING - SUSPENSION
OF CLASSES:
In the event of Pandemic Influenza or other highly communicable
disease, the Governor, State Health Director, local Health Director and/or the
Chancellor have the authority to cancel classes. When it is decided to cancel classes,
students, faculty and staff will be notified in accordance with the Crisis
Communication Plan. Students are
expected to leave for home until campus re-opens and all departments are to
implement social distancing and Continuity of Operations in accordance with the
Pandemic Influenza and Other Highly Infectious Disease Plan.
III. CAMPUS HOUSING AND
HEALTHCARE:
Students
living on campus at the time of the campus closing would be highly encouraged
to return to their homes, where they have family and community support.
Students that cannot return home would be housed in College Hill Suites
along with Live-In Hall Staff. Students would be contacted each day for a
health check (e-mail and/or phone), and students needing care could arrange a
on-site visit from Student Health Staff. In the case a student becomes
ill their suitemate(s) would be moved to another suite if possible. All
suites would be provided a microfridge in each suite to allow students to store
their own food, and provide distancing in case one student becomes sick. Both
hot and prepackaged food would be provided to students, and sick students would
be provided appropriate “sick” meals and fresh linens (if needed) by protected
staff.
IV. STUDENTS WHO LIVE
OFF-CAMPUS:
In the event of Pandemic
Influenza or other highly communicable disease at ECU, off-campus students will
be notified in accordance with the Crisis Communication Plan. Student will be
expected to stay away from campus until the campus re-opens and all departments
are to implement social distancing and Continuity of Operations in accordance
with the Pandemic Influenza and Other Highly Infectious Disease Plan.
V. SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC
EVENTS:
In the event of Pandemic
Influenza or other highly communicable disease, the Governor, State Health
Director, local Health Director and/or the Chancellor have the authority to
cancel university associated social events including sports events. Announcements of cancellations will be made
in accordance with the Crisis Communication Plan. Announcements of the rescheduling of social events
will be made via public radio, television, and news announcements.
VI. ROLES OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS/DIVISIONS:
The following is a list of departments and units are those who
have a role in implementing and supporting social distancing at ECU.
During a CDC Severity Index of 3 or grater
Pandemic event, the University may suspend classes or close the University and
implement social distancing to reduce the spread of the illness. If such
actions are taken, the following Departments/units are considered essential in
implementing and effecting social distancing.
Each department should designate who will be essential personnel to
maintain their functions while the university is closed. Each Department is also responsible for
developing a department specific plan to implement social distancing while
completing their assigned functions according to their Pandemic Influenza
Response Plan implementation. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the
department director to advise all personnel under his/her control if they are
considered essential/critical and what their role/duties will be.
1. Chancellor
or his/her designee
Issue directive to implement the Social
Distancing Policy including suspension of classes
2. Housing
and Residential Education
Provide education to residents and students
of the social distancing procedures.
Enforce Social Distancing in residence
Halls.
3. Human
Resources
Educate Faculty & Staff pertaining to
the Social Distancing Policy.
Ensure HR policies are in place to support
the Social Distancing policy.
Develop Teleworking Policy and Teleworking
Agreement form.
Enforce Return to work policy.
4. Information
Technology Services
Maintain the technology and communication
services for essential departments and personnel.
Provide assistance to departments planning
or implementing teleworking for their staff.
5. Material
Management
Provide acquisition of goods, operate the
storerooms and provide remunerations to vendors.
6. Financial
Services
Provide accounting services, university
receivables and payroll management.
7. Student
Affairs
Support remaining students on and off campus
and provide continuing contact and communications with students and parents.
8. News
Bureau
Provide educational articles pertaining to
emergency operations and highly communicable disease plans and response.
Provide notification service to announce
class cancellation and/or the initiation of the Social Distancing Policy.
Provide communications to all internal and
external publics, including media
relations.
- Prospective Health
Serve a liaison between the Infection
Control Committee and the University Administration.
Provide information on social distancing as
requested by University departments & units.
VII General
Information:
Public health officials estimate that there MAY be a 30% reduction
in the total workforce if a severe outbreak of influenza occurs. This includes
employees who become ill, employees who stay home for self-shielding or to care
for ill family members. Every department
should determine who is considered essential/critical and if there is a
possibility for teleworking. The Pandemic
Influenza Continuity of Operations Plan should be used to assist in this
determination.
a. Definitions
1)
Essential
Personnel – Defined as those employees who support critical ECU operations that
cannot be moved and therefore must report to work, if they can. It is the responsibility of the department
director to advise all personnel at the time of hire if they are considered
essential/critical. Directors should
maintain a current roster of employees designated as essential/critical and the
associated essential/critical duties. The term Critical Personnel or essential
personnel is the same as the OSP term Mandatory Employee/s.
2)
Non-essential
Personnel – Defined as those employees whose job duties are considered as
non-essential/non-critical to the operations of the University during closure and
may be postponed until the University has re-opened. Non-essential personnel should contact their
direct supervisor in the event of suspension of classes/closing of the
University to determine if s/he should report to work.
3)
Leave
Policy – (OSP to published soon.)
4)
Teleworking
– ECU has drafted a policy regarding Teleworking and its relation to the
closing of the University due to an influenza epidemic or other significant
public health event. These documents can
be viewed at:
5)
On-Site
Office – Should it be determined that teleworking is not an option, and the
employee should report to work, every department shall determine if they will
be closed to the public and/or have available personal protection equipment
(PPE) for employees to avoid exposure.
- Human Resources:
Human Resources will be
responsible for the distribution/maintenance of applicable policies. If classes are suspended or the University is
closed, Human Resources will ensure the appropriate policies/guidelines are distributed
university-wide and be available for guidance to faculty/staff as questions may
arise.
_______________________________________ __________________
Chancellor Date
Acknowledged by:
Provost: ____________________________________
Dean of Students: ______________________________________
Chief Information Officer:
___________________________________________
Director of Financial Services:___________________________________________
Director of Human Resources: ________________________________
Executive Director of University Communications: ___________________________
Director, Prospective Health:
_____________________________________
EFFECTIVE DATE:
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY:
Communicable Disease Emergency Policy (OSP)
ECU Pandemic Influenza and Highly infectious Disease Policy
Reviewed/revised:
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