Design Academy Eindhoven
Executive Board
Protocol Corona virus, Update #2
Date: 05/03/2020
Dear students, teachers, coordinators, heads, staff, dear all,
The last few days the Corona virus (COVID-19) has spread over various countries in Europe including the Netherlands. We like to firstly state that there are currently no grounds to close DAE* This brief is to inform you what measures we are taking and what you should do when there is a potential infection with the new Corona virus.
1.Work from home if necessary
We advice anyone with respiratory complaints, coughing, shortness of breath or fever to stay at home as a precaution – regardless of where you have been and with whom you have been in contact. We consider this measure necessary due to our open and international character, combined with the high probability of a person infected in The Netherlands with the new coronavirus. In case of intensive contact with an infected relationship, we advise you to stay at home for 2 weeks.
This way we will do everything we can to prevent a large part of DAE from being sick at the same time…. ‘Better safe than sorry', right?
If you are a student and you have any questions, please consult the coordinator of the department or Olga Pullens (Dean) (+31 6 44594717).
If you are a tutor and you have any questions, please consult the coordinator of the department or Emke Molnar (HR) (+31 6 83372689).
If you are staff, head or coordinator and you have any questions, please consult your supervisor or Emke Molnar (HR) (+31 6 83372689).
If Emke or Olga cannot be reached directly by phone, please send them a text message about the Corona virus.
2.International Travel
Before you travel at any time this upcoming period, please consider carefully the evolving situation in countries outside The Netherlands. Restrictions change quickly and that might mean it could disrupt or prevent your travel to other countries and more importantly, your return to Eindhoven.
Although you currently may travel freely to most countries, a sudden change in travel policy during your trip could prevent you from returning to NL and thus the successful completion of the rest of your academic year.
Also, in case you or your department planned an excursion linked to your studies, please consider the possibility of the trip to be cancelled on short notice, with the potential of losing any investments done beforehand. If you do not feel comfortable taking a risk, you are free to follow your own critical judgement whether you want to join or not.
We are particularly concerned for international students who may encounter greater difficulty returning to The Netherlands, the EU mainland or Europe, if additional restrictions are imposed.
We follow the travel advice of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs so please keep a close eye on these they change frequently. You can find them here: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reizen/reisadviezen.
In addition, it is important that travellers adhere to the travel protocol of the country from which they depart.
Example of a risk analysis for incoming student, teacher or staff member from "yellow" area:
-What is the situation in the area you come from?
-Was quarantine warranted in the area?
-Did you have contact with people who are infected?
-How were things in the immediate vicinity? Parents, family?
-Did you use public transportation frequently?
If the risk is estimated to be low and the traveller may leave the country, then travel is also permitted. This is in line with the national policy of RIVM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3.Possible infection
In the event of a possible infection, do not come to DAE and stay at home until you have had contact with doctors or the municipal health service GGD. Be precautious and take an incubation period of two weeks into account. Please be aware that preventive testing of persons from an infected area does not provide any certainty. If someone is infected with the virus, it can only be tested once someone has complaints.
What are the symptoms?:
1.Fever (at least 38 degrees Celsius) and at least one of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, shortness of breath
AND
2.The complaints have arisen within 14 days after returning from a country / region with widespread transmission¹).
OR
3.The symptoms have arisen within 14 days after contact with a patient with a confirmed infection with COVID-19.
If you were in a risk area and / or you have doubts about the symptoms of the virus, contact your doctor immediately and collect as much relevant information as possible:
-Date of travel to risk area
-Where were you exactly?
-Date of return
-Date of first symptoms
-Nature of the symptoms
-Permission to be contacted by third parties
In case of possible infections within Design Academy Eindhoven we wish to be able to have direct contact and collect information centrally:
-Students contact Olga Pullens directly (+31 6 44594717).
-Teachers, coordinators, heads and staff contact Emke Molnar (+31 6 83372689).
-If necessary, Olga and Emke will contact GGD with the collected information.
-GGD will contact the patient if necessary and assess the situation, the possible risk and the follow-up.
4.Reporting obligation
In the case of a possible contamination, there is a reporting obligation. DAE is required to report to the GGD. Therefore, your cooperation and information is crucial to DAE.
5.Hygiene measures
Existing hygiene measures at DAE will also be expanded to include an extra measure, namely that we ask everyone not to shake hands. The national protocol of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is the guideline upon which we act https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/current-information-about-novel-coronavirus-covid-19 (English)
Furthermore, the other measures you can take to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis
- Use hand alcohol if water and soap are unavailable
- Cough and sneeze in your elbow, not in your hand
- Use paper tissues and throw them away immediately
6.Finally
The recent developments around the new Corona virus can lead to unrest. But there is no need to panic. Please inform yourself regularly via the media and the RIVM and contact the designated persons within DAE if you think this is necessary. And we said it before, please stay at home if you have respiratory complaints, coughing, shortness of breath, combined with fever.
We are counting on students and staff to take responsibility, to help each other and to speak to each other whenever necessary.
The Executive Board will update you as soon as there is reason to do so again.
Contact for students Olga Pullens (Dean) (+31 6 44594717).
Contact for employees Emke Molnar (HR) (+31 6 83372689).
* The local Municipal Health Service, in consultation with the local authorities, may advise to close a school/education institution - or part of it. Without advice from the Municipal Health Service or a decision by the mayor, schools/education institutions have to provide education on the basis of the funding conditions.