Can I live in a dormitory during the epidemic? What should I do if I live in a dormitory during the epidemic?

We all know that due to the impact of the new coronavirus, many places have delayed going to work. As the prevention and control work has made certain breakthroughs, many places have begun to resume work, especially those outside Hubei Province. So can we live in collective dormitories during the epidemic? Let's take a closer look!

Can I live in a dormitory during the epidemic?

You cannot live in collective dormitories in places where the epidemic is severe, but you can live in collective dormitories in places where the epidemic is mild, but you must pay attention to protection.

Regarding the prevention and control of dormitories during the epidemic, Shi Xiaoming, director of the Institute of Environment at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the body temperature of all people entering dormitories should be checked. If anyone with an abnormal body temperature is found, they should be immediately transferred to a temporary isolation area and handled in accordance with relevant regulations. At the same time, the number of people renting dormitories should be strictly controlled, and windows that can be opened should be set up for regular ventilation. For dormitories without windows, mechanical ventilation equipment such as exhaust fans should be installed, and the washrooms should be equipped with sinks and disinfectants.

What to do if you live in a dormitory during the epidemic

Wear masks and keep distance from each other

If conditions permit, each person should have one room.

If conditions do not permit, at least one bed per person should be provided, and a distance of more than 1 meter should be maintained as much as possible. During the epidemic, do not bring others back to your residence to protect the health of yourself and your cohabitants.

It is recommended to keep windows open for ventilation in shared spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. Before entering a shared space, wear a medical surgical mask and try to keep a social distance of more than 1 meter from people living with you.

Please note that non-medical personnel do not need to wear medical protective masks (such as N 95 masks). Such masks will increase breathing resistance, cause physical discomfort, and their protective power far exceeds that required in daily life.

Of course, if roommates have lived together for more than the 14-day incubation period and none of them have suspicious symptoms such as fever or cough, they do not need to wear masks, but it is recommended to keep a certain distance as much as possible.

Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching anything

Washing hands frequently and keeping hands clean are also important protective measures.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds and rinse with running water before meals, after going to the toilet, before wearing a mask, after taking off a mask, after touching the surface of public items, after coughing or sneezing, after direct body contact with others, and before touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

If conditions do not permit, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used as a substitute.

Try to avoid touching shared items such as door handles, light switches, microwave buttons, telephone keypads, etc.

You can prepare a ballpoint pen with a cap but no refill, remove the cap to help press the relevant buttons, and then put the cap back on after pressing.

Cover your cough and sneeze

When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose completely with a tissue, then throw the contaminated tissue into a covered trash can.

If you don’t have time to use a tissue, bend your elbow to cover your mouth and nose. Wash your hands immediately after handling.

After returning from outside, the items need to be disposed of

After coming back from outside, take off your outer clothes and place them in an agreed "buffer zone" such as the entrance to avoid bringing any viruses that may be on your clothes back into the room.

Then, wash your hands, take off your mask, wash your hands again, and disinfect personal items such as mobile phones, keys, etc.

How to prevent and control the epidemic in collective dormitories during the epidemic

Investigation and isolation in accordance with regulations

Register the company's employees and record their recent whereabouts, health status, etc. Employees with a history of travel or residence in key epidemic areas must be isolated for 14 days (in principle, in a single room). Isolation employees should measure their body temperature once in the morning and evening every day and register it, and report any abnormal situation in a timely manner.

Arrange accommodation by category

For quarantined employees, they should try to arrange a single-building dormitory, or at least a single floor for quarantine, and should not live together with other employees. For employees who do not need to be quarantined, they will be arranged to stay in separate buildings, floors, and rooms according to the three situations: they have not left Hainan in the past 14 days, have returned to Hainan from non-epidemic key areas outside the city, and have completed quarantine. Different areas are relatively isolated.

Reduce the number of people in a single room

Minimize the number of people staying in each dormitory and separate beds as much as possible. Turn off central air conditioning and improve ventilation in dormitories. If natural ventilation is insufficient, mechanical ventilation devices such as blowers and fans should be installed to ensure adequate ventilation in the room. Ventilate at least twice a day, each time for no less than 30 minutes.

Implement closed management

Dormitories should be equipped with checkpoints at the entrances and exits of buildings (units), and non-residents of the building (unit) are strictly prohibited from entering. Masks must be worn when entering and leaving. Body temperature and health status of dormitory staff and all people entering the dormitory should be checked and recorded. People with a body temperature above 37.3°C and people with obvious abnormal physical conditions are prohibited from entering the community, and are advised to go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment, and report to the local epidemic prevention, community, street and other relevant departments in a timely manner in accordance with regulations.

Strict accommodation management

Employees are prohibited from visiting or gathering in different dormitories. They must wear masks when leaving their rooms and entering public areas. They are required to wash their hands and change their clothes frequently, clean up garbage frequently, keep the floor dry, and prohibit smoking indoors. Some public places, such as entertainment rooms, are temporarily closed.

Strengthen cleaning and disinfection

Increase the frequency of dormitory cleaning and disinfection, clean and disinfect the dormitory twice a day in the morning and evening, and disinfect the stair handrails (elevator buttons), door handles, room floors, etc. at least once a day with disinfectant. Cleaning staff must wear masks as required (protective clothing and goggles if conditions permit), and keep a safe distance from others during work.

Strengthening personnel health publicity and education

Carry out health education in various forms, organize all personnel to carry out training on new coronavirus infection prevention and control knowledge as soon as possible, cultivate good hygiene habits and skills among personnel, and enhance disease prevention awareness.

Is it contagious to watch TV or play poker with people you live with?

There is a risk of contracting the new coronavirus when engaging in these recreational activities together.

If you inhale virus-containing droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze, or touch objects that have been touched by the other person and are contaminated with the virus, and then touch your mouth, nose, eyes and other parts of your body with your hands, you may be infected with the new coronavirus.

Therefore, when watching TV, playing poker, or other recreational activities with your cohabitants, try to keep the room ventilated, be sure to wear masks, and maintain a safe distance of at least 1 meter.

In addition, wash your hands before and after any recreational activities, and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, nose, etc. with your hands.

If you need to cough or sneeze, warn others in advance and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue; if you are late, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow. Throw the used tissue into a closed trash can and wash your hands thoroughly.