November 10, 2020
A Review of Our COVID-19 Protocols and Recommendations
Our COVID-19 challenge continues and is increasing in intensity. As of November 9, 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas rose 135% for the past 14 days according to a recent New York Times article. Over the same period, the article reported a 62% increase in hospitalizations and an 18% increase in deaths.
We must remain vigilant for the sake of ourselves, our families, the people we serve, our colleagues, and, literally, our local, state, national and global communities.
At last Friday’s November Extension Update, we were asked to clarify our COVID-19 protocols. While the protocols have not changed in quite a while, time has a way of making things unclear. When people say things like “I think I remember our protocols saying …” – it is time for a review. When you couple the element of time with protocol differences associated with our local unit co-governance structure, it can be even more confusing. So, let’s review!
At all Kansas State University facilities (this does not include facilities owned or controlled by local units) and state, departmental and regionally controlled K-State Research and Extension functions, the following protocols must be followed:
• Use virtual methods for all business and office interactions, educational activities, and internal and external meetings unless it is a necessity for sound strategic, operational or educational reasons to engage in a face-to-face, in-person format.
• If an external or internal business and office interaction, educational activity, or external and internal meeting must be held in a face-to-face, in-person format, then:
o Masks musts be worn by all who are working or attending the event.
o Social distancing must be practiced.
o Facility/equipment sanitization best-management practices must be implemented.
o Currently, less than 50 people can be in attendance.
Local public-health attendance limits must be followed if they are more restrictive.
o Frequent handwashing or sanitizing must be encouraged.
o Virtual options must be made available to those who request them and for those who do not want to comply with the COVID-19 protocols stated above.
For K-State Research and Extension business and office interactions, educational activities, and external and internal meetings sponsored by our local units and not held in or on Kansas State University facilities:
• All local units are strongly encouraged to follow the Kansas State University COVID-19 protocols for all business and office interactions, educational activities, and internal and external meetings, as requested in the following letter to our Extension Boards:
o In addition to office professionals, program assistants and public information officers, local units are encouraged to extend the policy to extension volunteers, participants and guests.
• Use virtual methods for all business and office interactions, educational activities, and internal and external meetings unless it is a necessity to engage in a face-to-face, in-person format for sound strategic, operational, and/or educational reasons.
• If an educational activity or external and internal meeting must be held in a face-to-face, in-person format, then:
o The local unit must comply with local public-health rules, recommendations and guidelines at a minimum. Depending on the local situation, the local unit board can choose to be more restrictive.
o All Kansas State Research and Extension agents, specialists, administrators, and campus- and regionally-based staff must wear masks, practice social distancing, and engage in proper handwashing/sanitizing when at local-unit controlled facilities, educational activities, and external or internal meetings.
o Local-unit extension professionals who are not agents, Extension Council members, extension volunteers, and other participants are highly encouraged to wear masks, practice social distancing, and engage in proper handwashing/sanitizing when at local-unit controlled facilities, educational activities, and external or internal meetings.
o Local units are strongly encouraged to have virtual participation options available for those who request them and for those who do not want to comply with the local unit COVID-19 protocols.
The following document was developed to provide guidance for designing COVID-19 protocol appropriate meetings. They can be found by clicking on the link: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/employee_resources/covid-19/safe-events.pdf.
The best and quickest way out of our COVID-19 challenge is to observe our COVID-19 protocols, especially those about wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and frequent handwashing/sanitizing. Those are three very easy things to do. Do your part in responding to our COVID-19 challenge. Observe our protocols. Be vigilant. Keep yourself and the people we serve safe!