General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic entailed confinement and elimination of face-to-face university classes in Spain. The Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid (UFV by its Spanish acronym) implemented risk management systems to enable on-campus university activity to avoid a negative impact on stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1309902/full |
| _version_ | 1797301656629542912 |
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| author | Diana Monge Ana Gallego-Gil Fernando Neria Soledad Canellas Fernando Caballero Ana Díaz de Bustamante Mónica Samper |
| author_facet | Diana Monge Ana Gallego-Gil Fernando Neria Soledad Canellas Fernando Caballero Ana Díaz de Bustamante Mónica Samper |
| author_sort | Diana Monge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic entailed confinement and elimination of face-to-face university classes in Spain. The Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid (UFV by its Spanish acronym) implemented risk management systems to enable on-campus university activity to avoid a negative impact on students, teachers, and faculties.MethodsA tracking/registry system was implemented to collect data, identify COVID-19-related cases, implement containment measures, and do follow-up in the UFV community (administration/services personnel [ASP], teaching/research personnel [TRP], and students), from September 2020 to April 2022. In addition, a prevention plan was implemented on campus to avoid COVID-19 spreading. Satisfaction with these measures was assessed through an online questionnaire.ResultsA total of 7,165 suspected COVID-19 cases (84.7% students, 7.7% ASP, 6.5% TRP) were tracked (62.5% female cases, mean age (±SD) 24.8 years (±9.2 years)), and 45% of them confirmed (82% symptomatic/16% asymptomatic), being the student group that with the highest percentage (38.3% total tracked cases). The source of infection was identified in 50.6% of the confirmed cases (90.2% located off-campus). Nineteen COVID-19 outbreaks were registered (inside-10/outside-9). COVID-19 incidence rates were similar or lower than those reported in the Community of Madrid, except in the last wave, corresponding to Omicron variant. The degree of satisfaction (scale 1–6) with the implemented measures was high (scores 4.48–5.44).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, UFV control measures, periodic monitoring, and the effectiveness of the tracking system have contributed to maintaining classroom teaching, guaranteeing health and safety. UFV has adapted to a new reality as an example of good practice for future pandemics or emergency situations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:25:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64209f7ce7b741699a59803e2045d4a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:25:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-64209f7ce7b741699a59803e2045d4a42024-02-21T04:38:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-02-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.13099021309902General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case studyDiana Monge0Ana Gallego-Gil1Fernando Neria2Soledad Canellas3Fernando Caballero4Ana Díaz de Bustamante5Mónica Samper6Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainServicio de Seguridad, Salud y Bienestar, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainUnidad Técnica de Estrategias Poblacionales en Vacuna, Subdirección General de Prevención y Promoción de la Salud, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Madrid, SpainFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainServicio de Seguridad, Salud y Bienestar, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainServicio de Seguridad, Salud y Bienestar, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, SpainIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic entailed confinement and elimination of face-to-face university classes in Spain. The Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid (UFV by its Spanish acronym) implemented risk management systems to enable on-campus university activity to avoid a negative impact on students, teachers, and faculties.MethodsA tracking/registry system was implemented to collect data, identify COVID-19-related cases, implement containment measures, and do follow-up in the UFV community (administration/services personnel [ASP], teaching/research personnel [TRP], and students), from September 2020 to April 2022. In addition, a prevention plan was implemented on campus to avoid COVID-19 spreading. Satisfaction with these measures was assessed through an online questionnaire.ResultsA total of 7,165 suspected COVID-19 cases (84.7% students, 7.7% ASP, 6.5% TRP) were tracked (62.5% female cases, mean age (±SD) 24.8 years (±9.2 years)), and 45% of them confirmed (82% symptomatic/16% asymptomatic), being the student group that with the highest percentage (38.3% total tracked cases). The source of infection was identified in 50.6% of the confirmed cases (90.2% located off-campus). Nineteen COVID-19 outbreaks were registered (inside-10/outside-9). COVID-19 incidence rates were similar or lower than those reported in the Community of Madrid, except in the last wave, corresponding to Omicron variant. The degree of satisfaction (scale 1–6) with the implemented measures was high (scores 4.48–5.44).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, UFV control measures, periodic monitoring, and the effectiveness of the tracking system have contributed to maintaining classroom teaching, guaranteeing health and safety. UFV has adapted to a new reality as an example of good practice for future pandemics or emergency situations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1309902/fullhealth and safetyeducationCOVID-19universitypreventioncontainment measures |
| spellingShingle | Diana Monge Ana Gallego-Gil Fernando Neria Soledad Canellas Fernando Caballero Ana Díaz de Bustamante Mónica Samper General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study Frontiers in Public Health health and safety education COVID-19 university prevention containment measures |
| title | General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study |
| title_full | General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study |
| title_fullStr | General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study |
| title_short | General infection prevention, mitigation, and control procedures implemented in the university education during the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance: a successful community case study |
| title_sort | general infection prevention mitigation and control procedures implemented in the university education during the covid 19 pandemic to achieve classroom attendance a successful community case study |
| topic | health and safety education COVID-19 university prevention containment measures |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1309902/full |
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