Protecting higher education institutions from COVID-19: insights from an Italian experience. Issue 5 (22nd June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quattrone, Filippo; Borghini, Alice; Emdin, Michele; Nuti, Sabina
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 70:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1354
• Page End: 1355
• Publication Date: 2022-06-22
• Subjects: Coronavirus -- COVID-19 -- emergency preparedness -- infection control -- university health services; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1791885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide have been deeply affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures. HEIs are environments at high risk of COVID-19 diffusion, due to the high number of people sharing the same environment, and complex to protect, because of the multiple functions present (e.g. teaching rooms, research facilities, dormitories). Protection of HEIs is therefore a serious, but apparently neglect, public health issue. Italy was the first country to be heavily hit in Europe by COVID-19. Italian HEIs had to quickly respond to the emergency with multifaceted interventions to protect all the people on campus while guaranteeing the continuity of research and teaching activities. The purpose of this viewpoint is to propose and discuss a list of priority actions for the protection of HEIs, based on international guidelines and the experience of a small size Italian Public University and Research campus.