HR4RS stamp
Albert Rose
It was in February 2020 when the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Carmen Gallardo, proposed to the rector of the URJC the creation of a scientific commission to address the possible consequences that the coronavirus could bring to the university community. It is at that moment, several weeks before the State of Alarm was declared, that work began in advance, which is key in any health emergency.
Gallardo says that during those first days the most important thing was to analyze and see what was happening with the virus. Observing how other universities were acting and beginning to organize the committee to be able to make decisions in any situation. “From that moment we began to design the COVID protocol for the entire university and we started working with the Occupational Risk Prevention Service and the Medical Service.”
With the return of students to the classroom in the 2020/2021 academic year, there is a need to establish and define concepts in the protocols such as "suspicious case" or "close contact". As explained by the dean, the URJC has had some outbreaks, but all outside the university environment and not in the classroom.
“Overall, I think we've done a good job. There have been very complicated moments, especially due to the third wave and how the data increased, ”explains the dean, who admits that in the most complicated moments she did not stop receiving emails warning of new cases at the university.
The expert speaks of the commission's work as "constant epidemiological surveillance work in which cases are located, close contacts are sought and all data is collected." Ángel Gil, professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the URJC, is also part of that commission as an expert in vaccinology.
“It has been rigorous and coordinated work, in which we have all learned a lot. In general we can be very satisfied”, says Gil. The expert also celebrates "the good communication" that has been maintained with the Community of Madrid and the Ministry of Health, whose Deputy Minister, Antonio Zapatero, is a full professor at the URJC.
For its part, the URJC Occupational Risk Prevention Service has been in charge of advising and supporting all preventive measures. “It has been two very intense years, in which we have developed general and other specific protocols for activities such as the EvAU and exams,” says Iván Dorado, director of the service.
Precisely the EvAU of 2020 was "the litmus test" for the implementation of the protocols. “From that moment on, the Service established the need to carry out ventilation measurements, something in which we were pioneers,” says Dorado. Among other actions, the Occupational Risk Prevention Service was also in charge of managing the implementation of technical means, posters, flammable cabinets for disinfectant gel, etc.
Commitment to vaccination and return to attendance
For a long time, the Rey Juan Carlos University had been asking the Community of Madrid to set up a vaccination point on campus. “Due to logistical issues in the Community, the points ended up being installed later in Vicálvaro and Alcorcón. These were open to anyone, not just students, and there were large numbers of vaccinated”, adds Carmen Gallardo.
Precisely the good vaccination figures of the university community allow a certain "tranquility" on campus, although one cannot lower one's guard. "We have returned to total presence, but we have to continue to maintain the basic rules of ventilation, mask, hygiene and minimum contact," says the dean.
For his part, Ángel Gil explains that, although "we have not had any worrying situation due to an outbreak, we must be alert to the new Ómicron variant". The professor also celebrates that, if there is an outbreak, there will only be cases of mild disease thanks to vaccination. In short, the URJC has shown commitment and responsibility to its staff and students in the face of this difficult health situation that has taught so much and continues to do so.
In addition to the health dimension, the URJC has made a great effort during these two courses in terms of drawing up protocols (adapting to teaching and taking exams), organizing classes, monitoring contagions between the student body, etc. All of them, processes led by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Planning and Teacher Training, under the direction at the time of Fernando García Muiña.