Introduction
Delta State University’s Re-opening Plan is designed with the goal of ensuring the safety of our campus community while continuing to fulfill the institution’s mission to the best of our ability.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, DSU’s plans and corresponding policies will also evolve. Our planning will be aligned federal, state, and local authorities and guided by recommendations from health agencies including the Mississippi Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
DSU will continue to monitor and align with local orders and ordinances from federal, state, or local agencies and guidelines of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, as well as the State of Mississippi’s Reopening Model and the Mississippi Department of Public Health.
Click here for Delta State University’s complete Guide for Returning to the Workplace.
Symptom Monitoring
Employees must participate in a COVID‐19 symptom and temperature check before they begin their work each day. Employees are strongly encouraged not to come to campus if they do not feel well. Entry to buildings will be regulated and staffed with someone to screen employees for compliance with CDC regulations and to take the temperature of employees. If an employee is cleared, they will be given a sticker that must be worn for the duration of the day. If an employee is ineligible to report to work due to the results of the symptom and temperature check, the Office of Human Resources and the employee’s supervisor will be notified.
All employees will be screened for COVID‐19 symptoms each day when they report to work. An employee who answers “yes” to any question will not be eligible to report to work and will be asked to return home. Applicable leave must be taken.
The following questions will be asked:
- Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID‐19 in the past 14 days?
- Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
- Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
- Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
- Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours
Temperature Screening
All employees must participate in temperature screening each day when they report to work. The temperature screening will be conducted with a no-touch thermometer. An employee who has a temperature of 100.0° Fahrenheit or higher will not be eligible to report to work and must be “fever free” for 72 hours before returning to work.
Leave
If an employee is not able to come to campus to work due to any of the above symptoms and is not able to telecommute, the employee will need to record leave in accordance with university leave policies. You are encouraged to check the Office of Human Resources webpage for information about leave options, as additional leave may be available to an employee under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) due to COVID-19 related reasons.
Starting June 1, 2020, all employees are expected to be working their regular schedules, and employees may not use administrative leave unless they have requested in writing to take administrative leave with approval from their supervisor. Administrative leave will only be granted in very rare and limited circumstances. Please contact Human Resources for Application for Leave form.
Face Masks/Cloth Face Coverings
Face masks or face coverings must be worn by all employees working on campus when in the presence of others and in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., common work spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms, etc.). Delta State will provide reuseable masks to all employees, at no cost to the employee (four masks per employee). Employees may purchase additional masks for $2.50 each by contacting Student Business Services at 662.846.4698. Appropriate use of face masks or coverings is critical in minimizing risks to others near you. You could spread COVID‐19 to others even if you do not feel sick. The mask or cloth face covering is not a substitute for social distancing. Cloth face coverings must be worn for only one day at a time, and must be properly laundered before use again.
Enter/Exit Control
- Entry to buildings will be regulated and staffed with someone to take temperatures and screen employees for compliance with CDC regulations. Only one entrance and exit will be used at each building.
- Building Managers should identify usable entry points for their buildings and coordinate arrival and departure times of staff to reduce congestion during typical “rush hours” of the business day. Employees must report to work and depart work through the designated building access and at the designated time in order to limit the number of people entering and exiting buildings at any one time.
Social Distancing
Keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to the COVID‐19 virus and slowing its spread. Since people can spread the virus before they know they sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you have no symptoms. Social distancing is important for everyone, especially to help protect people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Employees should follow these social distancing practices:
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people at all times.
- Do not gather in groups.
- Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
Hand Washing
Employees must wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching their face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands with the sanitizer and rub your hands together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands after touching your face.
Coughing/Sneezing Hygiene
If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hand with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Personal Disinfection
While custodial crews will continue to clean office and work spaces based on CDC guidelines, employees should take additional care to wipe down commonly used surfaces. Before starting work , and before you leave any room in which you have been working, employees must wipe down all work areas with EPA‐registered 60% alcohol solution. Each Building Manager will be supplied with sufficient disinfectant. This includes any shared‐space location or equipment (e.g. copiers, printers, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, desks and tables, light switches, door knobs, etc.).
Protocols for Employees who have COVID-19, Symptoms of Have Been Exposed to COVID-19
If a DSU employee, or an individual in his/her household, has COVID‐19 symptoms or has been exposed to COVID‐19, the employee should consult his/her doctor or the medical staff at the O. W. Reily Health on campus. Also, employees can refer to the CDC website for a list of steps to take to care for himself/herself and to help protect other people in his/her home and community. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019‐ncov/if‐youare‐sick/steps‐when‐sick.html. The employee should notify his/her immediate supervisor and the Office of Human Resources to ensure appropriate guidelines are followed. The decision to begin or stop home isolation should be made in consultation with an employee’s healthcare provider and state and local health departments.
Employee Considerations
Employees should follow the guidelines below in order to protect their health and reduce transmission of germs:
- Avoid office gatherings, break rooms, and unnecessary visitors in the workplace.
- Monitor for presence of COVID‐19 symptoms (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019‐ncov/symptomstesting/symptoms.html).
- Stay home (or leave the workplace) and notify the supervisor if symptoms develop.
- Wear masks or face coverings in all public spaces and spaces used by multiple people.
- Know where to find local information on COVID‐19 and local trends of COVID‐19 cases.
Supervisor Considerations
Supervisors should follow the guidelines below in order to protect the health of their employees and reduce transmission of germs:
- Conduct meetings electronically, even when working on campus. If meetings cannot be conducted virtually, keep participation to fewer than 10 participants and enforce appropriate physical distancing and wearing of masks or face coverings.
- Encourage single occupancy in work rooms.
- The University will procure sufficient disinfectant products and cleaning supplies so employees can frequently clean their own workspaces.
- The University will provide hand sanitizers at all entrances and high‐traffic areas. Additional hand sanitizer will be available upon request by contacting Facilities Management.
- Monitor and secure inventories of PPE, hand sanitizer, wipes, cleaning products, and hand soap.
Visitors Consideration
Visitors must obtain prior approval from the associated department/office before visiting the worksite(s) and must provide their own Face Covering/Mask.
