Preventing the occurrence and spread of Covid-19 in the university community requires constant, individual and collective vigilance. To this end, strict compliance with health measures, encouraging complete vaccination and attention to early diagnosis, with rapid identification and isolation of those infected, are essential.
What should be done when symptoms indicate Covid-19 appear, test results for SARS-CoV-2 and situations of contact with sick people? These and other frequent doubts, which require quick decision-making, are clarified by the protocols published here, created based on recommendations from municipal, state and federal health bodies.
PRO1
I HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS*1
- Immediately move away from your in-person activities at the University and adopt home isolation measures*2.
- If you are a server, inform your immediate supervisor immediately; If you are a student, inform the responsible teacher.
- Complete the EducaSaúde*6 application.
- Look for a health service*7 for care and diagnostic testing.
- If you receive a medical certificate, send it scanned, by email, to your Unit's HR (server) or to the Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Technical College (student) or COREME (medical resident) secretariat.
- Results of rapid tests carried out at CECOM will be communicated immediately after the procedure.
PRO2
I HAVE A POSITIVE TEST RESULT FOR COVID-19 WITH OR WITHOUT SYMPTOMS
- Stay away from your in-person activities at the University with home isolation measures*2 for a period of seven days from the first day with symptoms or from the date of collecting material for your test.
- Immediately communicate to your immediate supervisor (servant) or the responsible professor (student) and send your scanned medical certificate to HR (servant) or to the Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Technical College (student) or COREME (medical resident) secretariat, by email. If you were treated or tested for SARS-CoV-2 at a health service outside Unicamp, please also send your result.
- Send as soon as possible to CECOM's email (nvececom@unicamp.br) a list containing the full name, registration number, frequently accessed email address and (personal) telephone number of your close contacts*3 who are part of the Unicamp community, so that they can be guided by the CECOM Epidemiological Surveillance team.
- You will be periodically monitored by the CECOM health team regarding the emergence and/or evolution of symptoms. Pay attention to phone calls. Seek emergency medical care immediately if you experience warning signs, such as difficulty breathing, pain or persistent pressure in your chest.
- Return to your in-person activities at the end of the seven days of isolation, as long as you have NO fever, NO use of antipyretic medications and NO respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, shortness of breath) for at least 24 hours. Attention: maintain additional prevention measures*5 until ten days after the start of symptoms or the date of collection of material for examination.
- For symptomatic patients, if symptoms persist after completing seven days, contact CECOM or a health service of your choice for medical reassessment and extension of your leave (if necessary).
- If you took the exam with a report, but did not receive medical care and need a certificate or instructions, you must request them by email at nvececom@unicamp.br and send the report attached to the message.
- If you have performed the Antigen Self-Test for Covid-19, go to CECOM or a health service of your choice for medical care.
PRO3
I HAD CONTACT WITH SOMEONE SUSPECTED OF COVID-19
- If you have had close contact*3 with someone suspected of having Covid-19*1, continue your in-person activities strictly respecting all health measures to prevent Covid-19*4.
- Pay attention to the appearance of any sign or symptom related to the disease, especially during the next 14 days, counting from the date of your contact with the person suspected of having Covid-19.
- If symptoms appear, adopt PROTOCOL 1 (PRO 1) “I HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19”.
- If you become aware that your close contact's SARS-CoV-2 test result was positive, adopt PROTOCOL 4 (PRO 4) “I HAVE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH A CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19”.
PRO4
HAD CONTACT*3 WITH SOMEONE WITH CONFIRMED COVID-19
- If you have had close contact*3 with a confirmed case of covid-19, continue your in-person activities strictly respecting all health measures to prevent covid-19*4.
- If you are a contact who was identified by CECOM's Epidemiological Surveillance Center as being a close contact of a positive case for Covid-19 at work/class, you will receive an email with guidelines related to health measures to prevent Covid-19*4 .
- If you are a household contact (live in the same location) of someone who tested positive for Covid-19, fill out the EducaSaúde*6 application to receive the appropriate guidance.
- Pay attention to the appearance of any sign or symptom related to the disease, especially during the next 14 days from the date of your contact with the person with a confirmed case of covid-19.
- If symptoms appear, adopt PROTOCOL 1 (PRO 1) “I HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19”.
PRO5
I HAVE A TEST WITH “NOT DETECTED” RESULTS, BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
- If you have already had a medical appointment, remain away from your in-person activities for the period indicated on your medical certificate.
- Return to your in-person activities at the end of the period of absence, as long as you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using antipyretic medications and without respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath). Continue to strictly respect all health measures to prevent Covid-19*4.
- If, after the period of absence indicated by your doctor, fever or respiratory symptoms persist, seek a health service*7 for medical reassessment and extension of your absence, if necessary.
INDEX*
*1 SUSPECTED CASE OF COVID-19
Every individual with Flu Syndrome (GS), that is, with an acute respiratory condition characterized by at least two (2) of the following signs and symptoms: fever, chills, sore throat, headache, cough, runny nose, olfactory disorders or gustatory.
*2 HOME ISOLATION MEASURES
For counting purposes, consider day 0 (zero) as your first day of symptoms. Therefore, day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop, and so on.
PATIENT CARE
● Do not share personal objects, such as cutlery, towels, plates and glasses.
● In the room used for isolation, keep the windows open for air circulation. Keep the door closed throughout the isolation period and clean the handle frequently with 70% alcohol.
● After using the bathroom, never forget to wash your hands with soap and water, and clean the toilet, sink and other surfaces with alcohol.
● If it is essential to leave the room, wear a protective mask, covering your mouth, nose and chin at all times.
CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS THE PATIENT
● Perform hand hygiene frequently, using soap and water or alcohol gel.
● Keep a distance of at least 1 meter from the patient.
● Wear a surgical mask when you are in the same room as the patient.
● Keep home windows open as long as possible.
● Waste produced by the patient must be separated and discarded.
- ● If another resident of the house starts to show symptoms, they should seek medical advice.
*3 CONTACT SETTING
This is anyone who was in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during its transmissibility period, that is, between 48 hours before and ten days after the date of onset of signs or symptoms (if confirmed as symptomatic) or after the date of test collection (if confirmed asymptomatic), in one or more of the following situations:
● Was less than 1 meter away, for a minimum period of 15 minutes, from a patient with a confirmed case, without both having used a face mask or having done so incorrectly.
● Had direct physical contact (shaking hands or hugging, for example) with a patient with a confirmed case.
● It is household or resident contact when a healthy person lives in the same house as a person with a confirmed case.
*4 SANITARY MEASURES TO PREVENT COVID-19
- USE OF MASK – Masks should be used by healthy people, for their protection, when recommended, and by infected people, to prevent transmission. The use of masks must be carried out, however, in addition to other individual and community measures, such as hand hygiene and social distancing.
- RESPIRATOR TYPE MASKS (standard N95, PFF2 or PFF3, or equivalent): recommended for healthcare workers, in places caring for patients with Covid-19 and during aerosol-generating procedures; also recommended for other activities that require the use of masks such as PPE.
- SURGICAL MASKS (THREE LAYERS): Mandatory use of surgical masks or PFF2 type masks in care areas and/or in accordance with internal standards established in health units.
Optional use of surgical or PFF2 type masks in closed environments, such as classrooms, libraries, laboratories, chartered buses, etc.
Strongly recommended use of surgical masks or PFF2 type masks in all environments for pregnant women, individuals with serious comorbidities, immunosuppressed patients, elderly people over 70 years of age and for employees of DEDIC (Division of Early Childhood and Complementary Education) during work activities with children up to two years of age.
- FABRIC MASK: This type of mask is not recommended.
ATTENTION! The effectiveness of any type of mask depends on its correct use, adapting to the contour of the face, in order to prevent air leakage. When it is necessary to remove it (for example, when eating), do so for as little time as possible.
- HAND SANITIZATION – It is a very effective measure in reducing the spread of respiratory diseases, such as Covid-19, the common cold, flu and pneumonia. Clean your hands frequently, using soap and water or alcohol gel.
- RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE – Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. If you touch it, always clean your hands, as already indicated.
- Maintain a minimum distance of about 1 meter from anyone coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes.
- Clean your cell phone frequently. Do not share personal objects, such as cutlery, towels, plates and glasses.
- Avoid crowds, especially in closed spaces, and keep environments clean and well ventilated. Large parties or events should be avoided.
- VACCINATION – always have your covid-19 vaccination schedule up to date, that is, take all vaccine doses within the indicated deadlines. For any updates to vaccination guidelines, see the page: https://www.cecom.unicamp.br/informacoes-vacinacao-contra-a-covid-19/
*5 ADDITIONAL PREVENTION MEASURES
These are measures that must be adopted by people who test positive for Covid-19, if their isolation period is less than ten days, until this period is completed:
● Continue using a mask that fits your face, preferably surgical or PFF2/N95.
● Avoid contact with people who are immunocompromised or who have risk factors for worsening Covid-19; Also avoid places with crowds of people.
● Do not frequent places where a mask cannot be worn at all times, such as restaurants and bars; avoid eating close to other people.
● Don't travel.
*6 EDUCASAÚDE APPLICATION
*7 REFERENCE HEALTH SERVICES
● Campinas: CECOM of the Campinas Campus.
● Limeira: CECOM of Limeira or Campinas, Humanitarian Hospital and Santa Casa de Limeira, or any other Emergency Care Unit (UPA) in the municipality.
● Piracicaba: CECOM de Campinas or UPA 24h-Unidade Piracicamirim.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
1. Technical Note “Management of Suspected or Confirmed Cases of Covid-19 in students at Educational Institutions, considering the epidemiological context of Campinas”. Campinas City Hall August 10, 2022 Nt 08/2022
2. Technical Note “Work Leave for all workers with respiratory symptoms in Public and Private Services in the Municipality of Campinas”. Campinas City Hall July 11, 2022 Nt 08/2022.
3. Brazil. Ministry of Health. Health Surveillance Secretariat. Epidemiological surveillance guide: public health emergency of national importance due to coronavirus disease 2019 – covid-19. Brasília, v.4 12/01/2022 (updated on 20/05/2022)
General Coordination of the University (CGU)
Community Health Center (Cecom)
Occupational Health Division (DSO/DGRH)
Hospital Infection Control Commission (CCIH/HC-Unicamp)
