(Ver la versión en español de este comunicado)
Universidad EAFIT’s President’s Office informs it’s higher education partners that, due to the three cases of Covid-19 in Colombia, and specifically one in the city of Medellín, it is adhering to the measures promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Colombia’s Health and Social Protection, Education, and Labor Ministries, and hereby calls your attention to the following institutional decisions and recommendations aimed at mitigating the spread of Covid-19 (previously known as coronavirus) and thereby contributing to the health of the EAFIT community and the general population:
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All international academic and other work-related travel –both inbound and outbound– that was scheduled for March and April 2020, either to or from North America (including Mexico), Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, must be postponed or canceled. Where possible, we recommend using online alternatives as a substitute for in-person attendance at those scheduled activities.
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Students, professors, and administrative employees who began a work, academic, or personal trip prior to the announcement of these new preventive measures and are returning to Colombia in March and April from a country with positive Covid-19 cases must remain at home for 14 days from the date of their return, whether they have symptoms of that disease or not, and conduct their academic or work activities by telepresence in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
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Individuals who decide to proceed with personal trips scheduled between March and April to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and/or Oceania must
sign a liability waiver and, upon their return, heed the requirements set forth in the previous item.
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People with respiratory symptoms must remain at home and refrain from seeking treatment at the University’s Medical Service, hospitals, or an EPS clinic, with the goal of avoiding the spread of viral diseases.
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The Antioquia Sectional Health Directorate has set up a 24-hour hotline (3218533928) for reporting symptomatic individuals and learning appropriate courses of action. This hotline will enable the general public to:
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Clear up doubts about the case definition.
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Bolster self-care measures: frequent hand-washing, use of a face mask, proper cough and sneeze hygiene, etc.
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Identify warning signs.
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Learn the appropriate time to consult health services, if necessary.
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Solely promote information from official sources and avoid spreading WhatsApp chain messages of unknown origin.
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In the metropolitan area, the 123 line also may be used to report people with respiratory symptoms.
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In the event of self-isolation due to respiratory symptoms, we recommend that you report your condition to the University’s Medical Service via email at
servicio.medico@eafit.edu.co to ensure monitoring and support for each case.
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If people with respiratory symptoms are identified in learning spaces or workplaces, they must be instructed to use face masks and to conduct their academic or work activities from home using the Institution’s remote-work tools.
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The Human Development-University Wellbeing Division will be in contact with the organization’s leaders and encourage them to evaluate with people in their areas whether remote work or flexiwork could be implemented without any impact on the provision of services.
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The Vice Presidency of Learning and the Schools also are evaluating alternative ways for conducting some academic activities using the University’s remote-work tools.
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The Institution is gathering information about large-scale events scheduled for the first semester and evaluating whether they should be held.
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Hand sanitizers will be made available in different parts of the campus to ensure that people using the University’s spaces maintain proper hygiene at all times.
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The Communications, Medical Service and Occupational Safety and Health departments will continue their online and on-site Covid-19 prevention campaigns. We therefore ask the EAFIT community to be attentive to these messages.
We encourage the university community to receive these recommendations with openness and an attitude of prevention and heed the information concerning this situation that is provided by official institutions
like the WHO and the University. This will enable us to implement our institutional philosophy of mutual care and concern.
Sincerely,
Juan Luis Mejía Arango,
President
Medellín, March 9, 2020