As the University continues to make plans for a return to face-to-face operations, the health and safety of our campus is the highest priority for all members of our community. This message is to update our Rhody community on the planning and preparations underway for a safe return to URI campuses for the fall 2020. Another message will be shared on Monday, June 15, regarding the assessments and improvements underway to physical spaces and buildings on URI’s campuses.
Health and Safety Expectations
Students, faculty and staff will be asked to comply with new policies, protocols and guidelines for all of our community members coming to URI campuses.
A Rhody public health campaign is being developed to educate the community about these health and safety expectations and to reinforce the individual responsibility every member of the Rhody community has to support the wellness of our population.
Importantly, a URI Health and Wellness Campus Compact will be created to reinforce these expectations, and a COVID-19 addendum will be drafted for the Student Handbook to educate students about these expectations, and require compliance with these community health standards for the 2020/2021 academic year. The expectations are:
Wellness/health screenings in which individuals will be asked to conduct symptom monitoring every day before coming to campus.
If you have any symptoms potentially related to COVID-19, you will not be eligible to come to campus. Faculty and staff who have symptoms will be asked to notify their supervisor and not come to campus (specifics of how to do this are still being developed).
Students will be advised they must notify Health Services (401.874.2246) for further guidance. COVID-19 symptoms currently include one of more of the following per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Personal safety practices that will also be expected include:
- Cloth face coverings/face masks should be worn by all community members, including faculty/staff and students when on campus and in the presence of others (e.g., classrooms, meeting rooms, common work spaces, etc.). Appropriate use of face coverings is critical to minimizing risks to others near you.
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol throughout the day, but particularly after you have been in public places, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or touching your face. New hand sanitizing stations are being added to many locations throughout campus.
- Physical distancing is one of the best tools we have to avoid exposure to the COVID-19 virus and slow the spread in our community. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people at all times. And, do not gather in groups based on current recommendations (15 or more people)
Cleaning and Disinfecting will be conducted routinely by the URI housekeeping staff throughout our campus based on CDC guidelines. Individuals will be encouraged to wipe down commonly used surfaces before and after use with products that will be provided and that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criteria. This will include shared spaces or equipment (e.g. copiers, printers, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, doorknobs, etc.).
COVID virus testing is considered an important element to our safe return to campus. URI Health Services is working to ensure we will have access to tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for symptomatic students and surveillance testing for the larger community. The team is also working on identifying adequate isolation/quarantine rooms for students as well as contact tracing for all close contacts of anyone who tests positive.