COVID-19 GUIDELINES: for students of higher education institutions in Malaysia , livre ebook

COVID-19 GUIDELINES:
 

For Students of Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia
 
Kiyamudeen Fahumudeen Devi Mohan Lakshmi Selvaratnam Quek Kia Fatt.
 
Copyright © 2023
Kiyamudeen Fahumudeen, Devi Mohan, Lakshmi Selvaratnam, Quek Kia Fatt. .
All rights reserved.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
 
www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
ISBN
ISBN: 978-1-5437-7360-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-5437-7353-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-5437-7352-1 (e)
 
 
 
05/03/2023
 
 
 
 

 
Acknowledgements:
The author Kiyamudeen Fahumudeen is extremely grateful to co-authors Associate Professor Dr Quek Kia Fatt, Associate Professor Dr Devi Mohan, and Associate Professor Dr Lakshmi Selvaratnam for their invaluable and unfaltering guidance, input, and support in the development of this book.
 
The author team is grateful to Mr Mah Yong Cheng, and members of the Occupational Health, Safety & Environment Department and Marketing & Future Students Department of Monash University Malaysia for their invaluable help in obtaining information and suggestions for the development of this book.
 
The author team wish to thank and acknowledge Professor Lori Peek, Director of the Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder, USA and Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation CONVERGE Initiative (Award #1841338), for the initial support of the CONVERGE COVID-19 Working Group and the contribution to the book publication fee.
 
© 2021–2023. All rights reserved.
Authored by Kiyamudeen Fahumudeen, Devi Mohan, Lakshmi Selvaratnam, Quek Kia Fatt.
 
This book and its contents are provided by the authors and the publisher on an ‘as is’ basis, with no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the book or its contents. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other inconsistencies herein.
This book is not intended as a substitute for medical attention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, or advice. This book and its contents are provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease.
This book and its contents are to be used at the reader’s own discretion.
The reader is responsible for consulting a licensed physician or healthcare provider in matters relating to their health.
 
This book contains material copyrighted by the World Health Organization which are used with permission.
 
This book contains visual media used under licence.
 
First Edition.
Contents
1.0: Introduction
2.1: Masking
2.2: Hand Hygiene
2.3: Social Distancing
2.4: Face Shields
2.5: Gloves
2.6: Disposable Gowns
2.7: Environment Cleaning
2.8: Maintaining Good Ventilation
3.0: Using Public Transport
4.0: Symptoms of COVID-19 Infection
5.0: Quarantining and Isolating
6.0: Testing for COVID-19
7.0: Vaccination for COVID-19
8.0: Caring for Someone at Home Who Has COVID-19 Infection
9.0: Entering Campus or Placements
10.0: At Campus or Placements
10.1: Using Elevators/Lifts
10.2: Common Areas
10.3: Using Toilets
10.4: Using the Cafeteria
10.5: Using the Library
10.6: Using Labs
10.7: Using Lecture Theatres
10.8: Classes Requiring Group Work, Physical Contact, Close Proximity, and/or Sharing Items
10.9: Activities Involving the Public and/or Based outside Campus
10.10: Sports, Gym, and Recreational Activities
11.0: The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Preventing COVID-19 Spread
12.0: Emergency Contacts, Procedures, and Reporting Close Contact or Infection with COVID-19
List of Figures
Figure 1.0.1: The basic structure of a Coronavirus
Figure 1.0.2: Common transmission routes of COVID-19 infection
Figure 1.0.3: The ABCDs of COVID-19 precautions
Figure 2.1.1: Types of masks
Figure 2.1.2: Do not use a valved mask
Figure 2.1.3: Steps to wear a mask
Figure 2.1.4: Steps to remove a used mask
Figure 2.2.1: Steps for handwashing with soap and water (image 3 adapted with permission)
Figure 2.2.2: Steps for hand cleaning with alcohol sanitiser (image 4 adapted with permission)
Figure 2.3.1: Social distancing
Figure 2.3.2: Social distancing at a workstation (a) and in a lift (b)
Figure 2.3.3: Markings on floors to show where you should stand or sit to maintain social distancing
Figure 2.3.4: Markings on chairs to show where you should stand or sit to maintain social distancing
Figure 2.4.1: Face shields should be used in addition to a face mask
Figure 2.5.1: Steps to wear gloves; (images2 adapted with permission)
Figure 2.5.2: Steps to remove worn gloves; (images2 adapted with permission)
Figure 3.0.1: Maintaining social distancing in trains
Figure 3.0.2: Maintaining social distancing in a taxi
Figure 4.0.1: Symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
Figure 4.0.2: Coughing or sneezing into the elbow
Figure 5.0.1: Using a pulse oximeter
Figure 5.0.2: Positions you can attempt when you have difficulty breathing from COVID-19 infection
Figure 6.0.1: An example of a positive COVID-19 test on self-test kit
Figure 10.0.1: Markings on the floor and furniture to show where you should stand or sit to maintain social distancing
Figure 10.0.2: Alcohol hand sanitiser and a sink with soap and water for hand cleaning
Figure 10.1.1: Lift buttons being cleaned, and markings on the lift floor to show where you should stand to maintain social distancing
Figure 10.3.1: Maintaining social distancing at sinks
Figure 10.3.2: Maintaining social distancing between stalls
Figure 10.5.1: Maintaining social distancing at the library
Figure 10.7.1: Maintaining social distancing while queueing

1.0: Introduction
Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus identified as SARS-CoV-2 1 .
The COVID-19 virus has a spherical, enveloped structure as shown in figure 1:

Figure 1.0.1: The basic structure of a Coronavirus
The core of the virus contains its genetic material (known as RNA) which provides instructions for the replication of the virus and its proteins 2 . The core is enclosed within the envelope, which is an outer layer made up of fatty molecules called lipids 2 . The outside of the virus contains projections called spike proteins, which allow the virus to bind to our body cells to infect them 2 . The coronavirus name was derived from the crown-like (corona) shape produced by these spike proteins 2 .
The COVID-19 virus is able to enter body cells by binding to a body cell receptor known as the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) receptor 3 . The COVID-19 virus is thus able to enter body cells where the ACE 2 receptor is present; susceptible sites for infection include the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and the eyes 3 .
In infected individuals, the COVID-19 virus and its genetic material may be present in their respiratory tract, be exhaled or coughed out, and spread to others through airborne particles and droplets 3 . These particles and droplets may settle on surfaces and spread to someone who touches the contaminated surface and subsequently touches their nose, eyes, or mouth 3 .
COVID-19 is thus transmitted primarily through respiratory particles and droplets from an infected person which come in contact with cells lining the nose, eyes, or mouth of another person 3 . Contact with the particles and droplets can occur through their inhalation, or deposition by a contaminated carrier (such as unwashed hands after touching a surface contaminated with COVID-19) 3 . Therefore, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher in conditions where respiratory particles/droplets or surface contamination may spread easily, such as physical proximity between individuals, crowding, sharing of items, and poor ventilation 3 .

Figure 1.0.2: Common transmission routes of COVID-19 infection
Precautions for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection therefore involve:
1. Identifying infected individuals
o Screening and testing for COVID-19
o Monitoring for symptoms
o Temperature screening
o Contact tracing
2. Preventing infected individuals from spreading infection
o Quarantine and isolation
3. Use of physical barriers to limit infection spread
o Masks
o Face shields
o Disposable gowns and gloves
4. Minimising exposure to infection
o Social distancing
o Adhering to maximum occupancy limits of rooms
o Minimising sharing of items and surfaces
o Minimising face-to-face teaching, activities, interactions, and contacts
o Minimising travel and use of public transport
o Adherence to precautions in housing and social environments
5. Clearing infectious particles and droplets
o Hand hygiene
o Cleaning the en