HU Advice, Protocols, and Policies

The University expects all community members to follow the following guidelines.

• Maintain Cleanliness
  Make sure you keep your workspace clean. Keep disposable wipes with you and frequently clean the surfaces.

• Wash Hands
  Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap. Wash them for at least 20 seconds. The proper handwashing technique includes wetting your hands with water, lathering your hands with soap, scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds, rinsing them with clean water and drying them with a clean towel or air drying them.If someone is infected with the virus, their surroundings can remain contaminated for up to 48 hours. An effective way to avoid infection is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching a suspected contaminated surface.If your hands are not visibly dirty, frequently clean them by using alcohol-based hand rub or with soap and water

• Maintain a Distance
  Keep a distance (around 2 meters) if you see someone visibly coughing, sneezing or sick. Also, avoid sharing your personal items such as food, utensils, cups and towels etc.

• Avoid the following
  • Crowds and public gatherings
  • Touching your eyes, ears, mouth and nose
  • Frequently touching your cellphone screen
  • Physical contact with others (like shaking hands and hugging)

• Clean Your Cellphone
  Cellphones are GREAT hosts for viruses and germs. A University of Arizona study says that the typical cell phone is FAR dirtier than a toilet seat, hosting up to 2,500 germs per square inch! In addition to washing hands, people should clean their cellphones regularly with a microfiber cloth and either warm soapy water or a spray mixture of 80% water and 20% rubbing alcohol.https://qz.com/1810508/covid-19-can-likely-live-up-to-96-hours-on-your-phone/

• Use masks appropriately
  • Masks are required by people who are already sick to prevent the further spread of the virus.
  • Only tight fitting N95 masks with medical grade HEPA filters can actually block a virus.
  • Single use masks are useless after 8 hours of use.
  • Healthy people do not need to wear masks. They are required to use masks only when they are taking care of patients suspected to be infected with Coronavirus.
  • The masks may increase the risk of getting infected as they may become contaminated. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand washing.

• Protect others from Getting Sick
  • When coughing or sneezing, cover mouth and nose with tissue paper.
  • Throw the used tissue paper into a closed dustbin immediately.
  • If you have fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, seek medical care as soon as possible. Avoid close contact with people while you are sick.
  • Avoid spitting in public
  • Avoid being in crowded places – use digital communication instead of meeting in person.

• Isolating the Suspects
  • People (students, staff, faculty, alumni, guests and visitors) with fever, cough, flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to be on campus. They are advised to stay at home till they get well.
  • All community members are requested to identify themselves if they have travelled outside of Pakistan or have been in close contact with people who have travelled outside of Pakistan or with people coming from outside of Pakistan. If need be, the University may help them in getting a Coronavirus test done to ensure the safety of the overall community.
  • People will be allowed to use the Gym only after a thermal scanning. People with a temperature of 95.5 degrees or above will not be allowed to use it.

• Supporting Personal Hygiene
  • The biometric attendance system is now working without thumb impressions. People are not required to provide their thumb impressions anymore. Faculty will maintain manual attendance too.
  • Additional hand sanitizers have been placed at major public points around the campus and community members are requested to use them with a sense of responsibility and care.

• Increased Environmental Cleaning
  • The frequency of cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, electrical switches, doors, elevator buttons has been increased using standard cleaning material.
  • General vigilance has been increased to ensure that the campus does not have any garbage or junked material stored anywhere improperly.

In order to ensure the health and safety of the HU community, and reduce the risk of getting infected with COVID-19, HU is implementing the following protocols of health screening.

• All students, faculty members and staff of all categories and ranks will go through a health check at the ‘Health and Safety Booth’ established at the following points. They will proceed to their classes, offices, or other workplaces after their health check
  • Across Gate 2: for all students, staff and faculty walking in through this gate.
  • In the LG parking area: for all community members who use their own vehicles.
  • At Gate 3: for all cleaning staff and guards.
• Health check will include the following:
  • Recording of body temperature
  • Observation for general flu like symptoms
• All Health and Safety Booths will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • All screening set-up will be ready before 7:30 a.m.
  • All concerned staff will reach University by 7:15 a.m.
• Staff at the Health and Safety Booth will use proper mask and gloves. There will be multiple staff members at each booth to ensure a quick health check.
• Any community member identified with a temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit or above, cough, and/or with other flu like symptoms will be sent to a special area designated for further examination by a doctor. Further decisions about the stay of the person on Campus will be made subject to the doctor’s assessment.
• Every time a person goes off Campus, they will be required to visit the Health and Safety booth on their return.
• All students, staff and faculty members who use drop-in / chauffeur driven vehicles are required to get dropped outside Gate 2 and enter Campus through Gate 2. If a vehicle has to be parked, the driver may take it to the designated parking using the process mentioned in the next point.
• All students, staff and faculty coming in their own vehicles, including cars, bicycles and motorcycles, will use only Gate 1 to enter campus. Using the backside service corridor, they will drive towards the sports court area and from there to the parking area. Before entering the parking lot, they will be required to get down from their vehicles and get a health check done. They will be allowed to proceed to parking if they have a normal temperature and do not have any flu like symptoms.
• If a vehicle has more than one person, all of them except the driver will be required to get down at Gate 01. They will enter University using Gate 2. Only the person driving the vehicle will take it to the parking lot.

• All students, staff and faculty are strongly advised to reduce the number of social and professional visitors on campus, and use online forums for communication as much as possible.
• All visitors including vendors and service people will be allowed to enter campus through Gate 2 only.
• All visitors will be asked to use a hand sanitizer before entering campus and will be provided a checklist of safety precautions they need to observe while on campus.
• All visitors will be required to go for a health check at the ‘Health and Safety Booth’ across Gate 2.
• Health check will include the following
  • Measuring the body temperature
  • Observation for general flu symptoms
  • Manual recording of general health data
• Any visitor identified with a temperature of 99.5 degrees or above and/or demonstrating flu like symptoms will not be allowed to enter Campus.
• All vendors coming to meet procurement, admin or finance teams will be requested to wait in the waiting area outside the multi-purpose room (MPR). The concerned team member will meet them there.
• All visitors will be directed to either inside the MPR or in the waiting area outside the MPR.
  • The MPR will have a section for parents and students visiting the Office of Admission and Office of Student Finance. Representatives from both the Offices will be present there from 9:00 to 5:00
  • The MPR will have another section for visitors of staff/faculty/students. The concerned host will come to the MPR to meet their guest.
• Visitors are not allowed to go beyond the MPR.

• Only essential public events may be organized on Campus with all safety precautions in place. All non-essential events will be canceled until further notice. All essential events will be reviewed by the ‘Health and Safety Taskforce’ and approved by the President’s cabinet. HU units can contact the Taskforce at safety@habib.edu.pk
  • Essential events are those events which are strictly time-bound and cannot be postponed further such as admissions tests
  • Non-essential events are those which can be held later on, or the purpose can be achieved through alternate means such as admissions offer ceremony, sports competitions, public lectures etc.
• Protocols to be observed before planning an event
  • Share event details ahead of time with the Health and Safety Taskforce for approval
  • Explore online participation options as much as possible to reduce the number of participants on Campus.
  • Be vigilant of the COVID-19 data and set special protocols for people from highly affected areas to attend the event. Protocols may include explicitly responding to a health checklist to ensure the person is not affected by COVID-19.
  • Discourage attendees who have flu-like symptoms from attending the event
  • Ensure social distancing. Arrange the venue in a way that allows people to sit at a distance from each other, and that the venue is not too crowded.
  • Arrange hand sanitizers and put general safety precaution/Health advisory posters at various spots around the venue
• On the day of the event
  • Make arrangements for the health check of all participants when they arrive. The health check will include the following
    • Measuring the body temperature
    • Observation for general flu like symptoms
  • Anyone with a temperature of 99.5 degrees or above and/or demonstrating flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to attend the event.
  • Provide general safety handouts to all participants and remind them to observe them for their own health and safety as well as others’.
  • Arrange hand sanitizers or wipes.
  • Arrange additional medical care staff at the venue to deal with any unanticipated event/situation.
  • Ensure frequent cleaning of doorknobs, desks and other frequently touched surfaces at the venue.
  • Ask attendees to be self-responsible. If they feel unwell, they should report to the event organizers.

• Events involving only HU students, staff and faculty with external speakers/resource people may be organized with proper health and safety precautions in place.
  • Room/venue should not be crowded.
  • People must have the option of sitting/standing a fair distance away from other people.
  • Participants should be reminded of maintaining personal hygiene and safety precautions
  • External speaker/resource person needs to undergo a health check at the Health and Safety booth before entering the venue.
  • External speaker/resource person should be given proper instructions along with a handout for personal hygiene and safety precautions before entering the venue.

• The University will not participate in any external events such as trainings, sports competitions, conferences, workshops, co-curricular activities such as the MUN etc. unless approved by the Committee.
• Students, staff and faculty are strongly advised to avoid attending all non-essential public events or gatherings.

• Student, staff and faculty are strongly advised not to use nearby food
• External food vendors are required to get their health check done at the Health and Safety booth, use hand sanitizers and gloves, and maintain hygiene at all the various steps of preparing and serving the food.
• Vendors with a temperature of 99.5 or above and/or with flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to remain on Campus
• HU Food Services will regularly orient food vendors for maintaining personal hygiene as well as inspect the place to ensure that proper hygienic conditions are being met.

Kitchen and serving staff at all the cafeterias on campus are required to adhere to all personal hygiene protocols and use masks and gloves while cooking or serving.

• Posters related to Coronavirus and related safety measures have been displayed throughout the Campus.
• Awareness videos recorded in Urdu and English are being played on public space LCDs.
• Office of Health and Wellness is tasked with arranging awareness seminars for the HU community.
• A web page has been developed for acquiring information online.