Cleaning and Closure Protocol
SIUE follows the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cleaning spaces exposed to Coronaviruses and other germs and viruses. Key CDC guidelines include:
- Coronaviruses on surfaces and objects naturally die within hours to days depending on the type of surface. Warmer temperatures and exposure to sunlight will reduce the time the virus survives on surfaces and objects.
- If your workplace has been unoccupied for seven days or more, it will only need normal routine cleaning to reopen the area. This is because the virus that causes COVID-19 has not been shown to survive on surfaces longer than this time.
- It is not necessary to clean ventilation systems, other than routine maintenance, as part of reducing risk of coronaviruses.
SIUE Facilities Management (FM) maintains a trained team on all three campuses to clean and disinfect spaces where a COVID-19 positive employee, student or visitor has been identified. This includes all academic, administrative and athletic spaces, including the Morris University Center, Student Success Center, Student Fitness Center, and University Housing spaces. Response teams are always outfitted with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Whenever a positive exposure is reported, SIUE will follow these procedures for closing and cleaning offices and public spaces:
- If the COVID-positive employee has not been in the workplace for seven days or more, no closure or special sanitizing is required.
- If the employee has been in the space during the last seven days, then the office and the office suite should be closed, and FM should be contacted so they can do the appropriate cleaning and sanitizing. In the Morris University Center, Student Success Center, Student Fitness Center, and University Housing, please contact the appropriate staff in those facilities.
- For private offices, labs or other single user spaces, FM closes the space and will return to clean after 48 hours to 7 days, depending upon how quickly the private space is needed.
- For shared offices or suites, the FM response team will clean immediately using Electrostatic cleaners. The shared space should be closed for 24 hours upon notification of a positive employee to allow for FM mobilization and disinfecting.
SIUE takes cleaning of all spaces on campus seriously, and we continue to look for enhancements to our procedures. We take heart, however, that while the CDC indicates that it MAY BE POSSIBLE to get the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching one’s own mouth, nose or possibly eyes, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. The virus is short-lived even on the most touched, hard surface areas.
