Work and Learning Continuity in the Wake of Covid-19 at MUST
COVID-19 cases in Kenya and specifically Meru County are accelerating. New cases have increased 300% month-over-month since April of this year.
The safety of our students and staff is paramount. The University management board urges you to keep vigil, acquaint yourself with the correct information and facts about COVID-19 and follow the regulations set by the Government of Kenya and health officials to safeguard your health and safety and that of the people around you.
These being unsettling times, we advise you not to panic but simply follow all the applicable regulations. We encourage you to reduce any chances of exposure to infection by observing cautionary measures communicated from credible sources.
MUST is committed to ensure continuity in teaching, learning, governance and delivery of services.
Lastly, the University Management Board will use every measure to ensure you are safe. To this end, the University has requested the Ministry of interior to help enforce Covid-19 prevention best practices.
By a copy of this letter, the OCS Nchiru, is requested to enforce proper mask wearing within the University.
Stay safe!
Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, PhD
VICE CHANCELLOR
MUST COVID-19 INITIATIVE
READY TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS TO PROTECT YOU, YOUR FAMILY & THE COMMUNITY
READY TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS?
BE READY
BE INFORMED
BE SMART
BE SAFE
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
MUST COVID-19 INITIATIVE
WHAT IS COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.
BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE NEW CORONAVIRUS
Wash your hands frequently
• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
• Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
• Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
• Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Use of face masks
• Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Wear face mask if you are coughing and or sneezing.
• Everyone should consider wearing masks when going to public places.
• The government of Kenya has directed public transport crew and commuters to wear face masks to prevent transmission.
• Why wear Masks? Masks are “a physical barrier” that keeps away tiny organisms or microbes that a sick person might expel to the environment.
• They also protect healthy people from inhaling those microbes.
• If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
• Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of Ministry of Health (MoH), the National and County governments.
• Why? MoH, National and local authorities will have the most up to date
information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your
health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
SELF QUARANTINE
What is Self Quarantine?
Self-quarantine is an act of individual’s who may have been exposed to COVID-19 separating themselves for 14 days to monitor if they develop symptoms.
Who Should Self Quarantine?
Anyone who has traveled within the past 14 days to a country with sustained reported COVID-19 cases or has had close contact with a person showing COVID- 19 symptoms.
What Does Self Quarantine Entail?
1. Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if available. Disinfect
surfaces and clothing.
2. Ensure surfaces in the household are cleaned and disinfected.
3. Avoid sharing household items. Wash these items thoroughly after use.
4. Clean your hands with soap and running water for up to 20 seconds. If that is not available, clean with alcohol based hand sanitizer.
5. No visitors unless the person needs to be in your home.
6. Wear a facemask if you must be around other people.
Advice to visitors from countries reporting COVID-19
If you are arriving from a country reporting COVID-19 case(s), provide details of your residence and telephone contact to port health desk. you will be required to selfquarantine for 14 days.
Should you develop any of the symptoms, contact Ministry of Health emergency teams on 0729471414 and 0732353535. Dial *265# to receive updates from Safaricom.
GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING HOME CARE OF PEOPLE NOT
REQUIRING
Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)
This interim guidance is for staff at local and county health departments, infection prevention and control teams, and healthcare personnel who are coordinating the home care and isolation of people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection presenting with mild symptoms and when managing contacts, including persons under investigation. For the purpose of this document, caregivers refer to parents, spouses, other family members or friends without formal healthcare training.
Refer to www.health.go.ke for complete information on Home care for people not requiring hospitalization
What actions can other sectors take to contain COVID-19?
1. Suspend all public gatherings, face to face meetings and events.
2. Suspend all inter school events.
3. All public transport providers to provide hand sanitizers to clients and regular cleaning of the vehicles.
4. Suspend visit to prisons for the next 30 days.
5. Avoid use of social media to spread misinformation. All official communication that will circulate will have government logo.
Refer to www.health.go.ke on all updates on covid-19
Adopted from: Email: dghealth2019@gmail.com Website: www.health.go.ke
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HOTLINE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: 0743797565
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MUST COVID-19 INITIATIVE
