Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Novel coronavirus 2019, a respiratory illness, is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. It was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
How does it spread?
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or just breathes out.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus, particularly if they are close to that person and breathe in those droplets. In addition, these droplets can land on objects and surfaces that can come into contact with the person.
What are the symptoms and how dangerous is it?
As with other respiratory illnesses, Novel coronavirus 2019 can cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and feeling sluggish. It can lead to pneumonia and/or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. There is currently no vaccine available to protect against coronavirus.
How long does it take for symptoms to show?
The incubation period (length of time it can take before symptoms become evident) can be up to 14 days.
What are the steps I can take to reduce my exposure?
As a reminder, the coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 1-2m)
Respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
As the virus spreads through the world, below items you can undertake to reduce the risk to yourself, your family and the campus communities:
Wash your hands well and frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
Substitute a smile for a handshake, don’t share eating utensils or cups
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and/or mouth
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash
Avoid close contact with others, particularly in enclosed spaces
Stay home when you are sick
Do not travel if you are feeling unwell. If you show symptoms of coronavirus at arrival airports, you may well be refused entry or quarantined and you will probably need to follow in-country procedures. It may also prove difficult to get you home until tests confirm that you do not have coronavirus and symptoms have subsided or been treated locally.
What actions should I take if I live or have travelled to an area which has had reported cases and I develop coronavirus-like symptoms?
If you are feeling unwell and showing coronavirus-type symptoms, you should isolate yourself and seek medical attention/advice directly.
Who is at risk for COVID-19?
People who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or who have been travelling in parts of the world where the virus is actively spreading are most at risk of COVID-19.
What travel precautions should be taken?
If you intend to travel out of your home country, it is essential that you check the updated list of countries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak before booking any flights. Inform yourself via guidance provided from the local authorities as well as the authorities from the destination country.
What if I have recently returned to my home country from an affected country or region?
If you have recently returned from an area where there is thought to be an active spread of the disease in the community, you should immediately stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu. You should follow this advice even if you do not feel unwell in any way. Check with your local authorities for guidance on being tested for detection of the virus.
Where else can I get information and advice about COVID-19?
We are being guided by a number of leading institutions such as World Health Organisation (WHO), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and International SOS. Helpful websites are –
UPSAT isclosely monitoring internationaldevelopmentssurrounding the coronavirus healthcrisis(COVID-19), which has been declared a global pandemic by the World HealthOrganization.
Eachmember institution has been adhering to the guidancefromtheir respective authorities and from national directives (e.g., Ministries of Health, Ministries of Education, Labor Departments, etc.), in addition to the advicefrom relevant authoritiesaround the world. A ContingencyCommittee has been constituted in each of the network’s institutions, comprisingfunctional leaders and experts in the communities. Thesecommittees are leadingvariousmeasures to protect the health and the safety of ourstudents, staff and faculty.They are foremostadvocatingawareness and safety by havingthesecommunitiesinformed via regularposts and information disseminated via eachinstitution’sofficial communication channels, online and offline.Within the network, all students have hadaccess to the ongoingstatus and the spread of COVID-19 worldwide and its impact on humanhealth. Necessarymeasures and sanitaryprecautionsrequired to avoid contamination have been put in place. Awareness sessions–bothphysical anddigital-are taking place and theseincludeseminars for students, faculty and staff.
Throughits network and relationships, UPSAT has strong expertise and access to distance and online learning–thesewillform the basis for studies to continue in the mostappropriateform for a greatmany of ourstudentsas the situations merit.
At the current time:
All educational institutions in have been instructed to closeby the local authoritiesas ofMarch 12(twodaysahead of the regularlyscheduledspring break), untilfurthernotice.
The leadership teams in Tunisia are working to prepare continuation of studies, per the above plans, in coordination with, and per the indications of the local authorities.
Of note, at this point, there are no reported cases of the coronavirus at Honoris,includingstudents, staff and faculty.
Awareness sessions were organized for the benefit of UPSAT students in collaboration with the Directorate of School and University Medicine and the Regional Health Director of Tunis at the Ministry of Health.
As part of the UPSAT Optometry Days in their second edition, Dr COMBE leads a series of conferences and workshops with profiles of the 2nd and 3rd year of the Optical License from UPSAT Tunis and UPSAT Sousse and this from March 10 to 12, 2020 .
The ASTP organizes in collaboration with UPSAT SFAX its 9th congress on March 7 and 8 on Fascia therapy and Perineal reeducation and free communications
Club Para Sans Frontières, just a few days after its launch, created its first event, a health screening action with project volunteers: 20,000 trees to plant. This health screening action was carried out by our students from UPSAT Sfax (all sections combined). with a nutrition training carried out by ola gargouri and an effort rehabilitation training carried out by makram elaoun and nawres bouzayani This morning was complemented by a Royal breakfast prepared by our students
