LAU Measures

Action Plan for COVID-19 Outbreak in LAU Premises

Definition of Close Contact 

Close contact can involve any member of the LAU community, whether a student, faculty or staff, either through direct face-to-face contact or through touching.

Close contact includes someone who:

• comes within 2 meters of an infected person
• stays more than 15 minutes with an infected person
• undertakes group work with an infected person
• has been coughed or sneezed on by an infected person
• has cleaned an infected person’s bodily fluids

Suspected case of COVID-19:

If a student/staff/faculty becomes unwell

• Immediately inform the Health Services Office (HSO)
• HSO will take the appropriate measures:
  • Provide the student/faculty/staff with a mask
  • Ask the student/staff/faculty to leave the premises directly and inform them of a medical facility able to provide needed care
  • Conduct an assessment to identify the people who have been in contact with the infected person(s) and the potential risk for the spread of the virus.  Accordingly make the needed decisions to evacuate sections of the university as recommended by the infectious diseases team at the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital. 
  • Classes dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis using the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the specific cases in the impacted community and upon medical experts’ recommendations  
• LAU’s Hospitality Department will supervise the proper cleaning and disinfection operation according to the established cleaning procedures
• LAU’s Strategic Communications Department must be informed of the case by HSO as soon as possible to ensure that timely and orderly communication is sent out to the communities at risk to limit or prevent the transmission of the virus

NB:The suspected case of COVID-19 should be quarantined until the test result is out

If the test is negative, the student/faculty/staff should stay at home until total recovery

If the test is positive:

• LAU Hospitality Department will supervise the thorough cleaning and disinfection of locations where the infected person was at LAU according to the cleaning protocol and as per the recommendations of the infectious diseases team at LAU Medical Center - Rizk Hospital
• HSO will collaborate with experts in infectious diseases at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital to conduct an evaluation of the situation:
  • They will identify people who may have had close contacts with the confirmed case
  • They will assess who among such persons should be placed under quarantine
  • They will give those placed under quarantine instructions, including:
    • Tips on how to self-quarantine (refer to home quarantine procedure)
    • Screen for fever and other respiratory symptoms daily. If they develop any symptoms within their 14-day observation period, they should be tested and report to the Health Services Office

Locations in LAU premises will be closed upon the recommendation of the LAU-Medical Center infectious diseases team.

• All will maintain anonymity
• May offer remote counselling services

People not identified to be in contact with the confirmed case do not need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities such as attending educational settings or work, unless they become unwell or are required to do so by government authorities or the LAU administration to limit the spread of the virus. 

The resumption of the classes and the end of quarantine will also be decided according to the recommendations and assessment of the infectious diseases team at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital.

Finally, if a student, staff, or faculty member attended class, work, work-study, or some other type of gathering or event prior to being confirmed as a COVID-19 case, infected person should inform the Health Services Office. Risk assessments will be conducted and appropriate measures taken in collaboration with the medical experts from LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital. 

LAU COVID-19 protocols

• Class Exam Protocol
• Cleaning Protocol
• Clinical Simulation Center Protocol
• Conferences and Events Protocol
• ECC Protocol
• EEE Exam Readiness
• Front Offices and High Risk Areas
• Health Services Protocol
• Meetings Protocol
• PCOA for the New PharmD Class Readiness
• Research Laboratories Cleaning Protocol
• Residence Hall Protocol
• Transportation Protocol - Arabic Version
• Transportation Protocol - English Version

Access to Campuses

During the strictly-essential-services-only operations period, and for its duration, the campuses will be accessible to faculty, post-docs, individual students for cause, and staff on duty.

Remote Education (Online)

LAU continues to prioritize the transition of academic programs to online platforms. Our academic division has already made considerable strides in moving courses online, and have finalized most, if not all, transitions of courses which can be delivered online. Additional messages from our Provost or our academic Deans will be forthcoming as needed.

For more help on our supported tools, please check out this page.

Admissions

The entire process from applying to paying the application fees and sending all the documents can be done online. The team is available by email and through the online chat service. Visit the Admissions Office website for details.

Tuition Fees

Due to the prevailing situation, the second payment deadline along with the service charges computation will be postponed until further notice.

Students with outstanding fees should email us for assistance.

Beirut campus: businessoffice.beirut@lau.edu.lb.
Byblos campus: businessoffice.byblos@lau.edu.lb.

Certificates and Transcripts

As a safety measure, the Registrar’s Office will not provide documents in person. However, it will continue to offer online services related to document requests (excluding diplomas) via the E-Request option.

Academic Advisors

The academic advisors will be available online to assist you with inquiries and provide you with the needed guidance regarding rules and regulations, new grading system, how to overcome academic difficulties, and much more. Please view the detailed list of our services and how you can reach us. 

Academic Success Center (tutoring)

The Academic Success Center is committed to the success of students and we continue to offer most of the tutoring sessions online. The tutoring sessions are delivered via ZOOM or WebEx and the summer semester e-tutoring schedule will be available soon on  Portal .

Career Development Services 

The Career Development Services team remains committed to assisting students and alumni as well as employers virtually using online platforms such as WebEx and Zoom. To answer some of your questions and concerns, please view the detailed list of our services.

Travel Policies and Campus Restrictions

All business travel has been discontinued until further notice. Personal travel requires pre-clearance and approval with the relevant Dean or VP.

Activities and Events

All university activities and events have been postponed until further notice.

March 21 EEE Postponed:

As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic continues to escalate in Lebanon and as the safety of our current and prospective students is of utmost importance to us, the English Entrance Exam scheduled for March 21, 2020 will be postponed. For updates on the revised schedule of EEE and SEE exams, kindly visit the application page on the University website.

LAU Facilities

Dorms

A thorough sanitizing process was carried out on Sunday, March 1, at the Residence Halls on Beirut and Byblos campuses and this process will continue in the coming weeks. As per the university decision, classes and some university services such as the Gym, Library, etc. will remain suspended as long as the university is closed. During this period, please abide by the following procedures:

For students staying at the dorms:

• If you feel sick or you have been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19 virus within the past 14 days, before returning to the university or to the dorms call the LAU Senior Nurse at:

  Beirut Campus

  Wadad Khoury Student Center, Ground Floor
  Tel.: ‪+961-1-786456, ext. 1040
  After hours: ext. 1500 for assistance

  Byblos Campus

  Student Center, Ground Floor
  Tel: ‪‪+961-9-547262, ext. 2040
  After hours: ext. 2500 for assistance

• You may be instructed to take an appointment with HSO, depending on your symptoms. Inform the Residence Hall staff on extension 2501 for Byblos and 3200 for Beirut.

• Make sure to practice appropriate hand washing measures posted at the dorms and to have personal hand sanitizers with you at all times.

• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after you enter the university and the dorms premises.

• Although we do not anticipate anyone contracting the COVID-19 virus at the LAU dorms, should that happen, the university will take all the necessary measures to refer the infected person to the appropriate medical care facility and, then, to secure the infected area and communicate to all Resident Hall students additional safety measures.

• Cleaning staff have been trained to use special disinfectant products that have been procured and checked by the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital experts. As usual, all rooms and common areas are being cleaned and disinfected multiple times daily.

For students who have left the dorms:

• We ask that you do not return while the classes are suspended unless absolutely necessary and to call the Director of Residence Hall before you do so to provide the return date and time.
• Before returning to the dorms, you are required to fill in the document at the following link: COVID-19 Questionnaire.
• If you feel sick or you have been exposed to someone with the COVID-19 virus within the past 14 days, before returning to the dorms, call the LAU Senior Nurse at:

  Beirut Campus

  Wadad Khoury Student Center, Ground Floor
  Tel.: ‪+961-1-786456, ext. 1040
  After hours: ext. 1500 for assistance

  Byblos Campus

  Student Center, Ground Floor
  Tel: ‪‪+961-9-547262, ext. 2040
  After hours: ext. 2500 for assistance

Visitors to the Dorms:

• Given the sensitive times we are going through, no visitors from outside will be allowed while classes are suspended. If you have to meet someone, please do so outside the dorms. This decision will be reviewed according to developments.

Gym

LAU Athletics facilities will be closed on both campuses.

Libraries

LAU Libraries will remain closed until further notice. Due dates of all checked out books & DVDs will be extended, and no fines will accrue.

The following remote services will however remain to be available:

• Ask a librarian either through:
  • Chatting service
  • WhatsApp
  • Email: library@lau.edu.lb
• Document delivery service, whereby articles and book chapters that are not available through the online databases, may be requested and delivered to individual LAU email address.

We encourage everyone to explore and make use of the online resources and research guides that are available on the LAU Libraries’ website.

LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital

The below are recommendations to limit exposure of patients, visitors and staff to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Limited Points of Entry to the Facility

Building A entrance access, laundry access from the street, parking exit access from the street, and the old ER gate (dialysis access) will be closed to pedestrians.

All pedestrians (patients, visitors, and staff, etc.) will only have access to the hospital premises through:

• The main entrance (Building B) from 6:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• The temporary ER access from 8:00 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.

N.B. Visitors will only be allowed to enter the hospital premises during visiting hours. Staff are requested to avoid receiving visitors to their offices, unless necessary.

All LAU Medical Center-RH staff will have to present their LAU Medical Center-RH identification card in order to access the facility.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria will be closed for visitors until further notice with limited access for staff.

For further inquiries, please feel free to contact any member of the Infectious Diseases Team (Dr. Jacques Mokhbat, Dr. Rola Husni Samaha and Dr. Anna Farra) through the Hospital’s operator.

Managed Access and Movement within the Facility: 

• All visitors will be actively screened for temperature reading and symptoms of acute respiratory illness before entering the facility.
• All visitors will be well briefed about coughing etiquette and directed to clean their hands at the hand hygiene station before they enter the facility.
  • Visual alerts (e.g., signs, posters) will be posted at the entrance and in strategic places (e.g., waiting areas, elevators, cafeteria, main entrance) advising visitors about proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
  • Two access/triage check points will be established:
    • At the main entrance Building B.
    • At the entrance between Buildings C and B (next to the ATM machines).
  • Visitors will be tracked on a log sheet and advised to limit their visits: Only one visitor at a time and for no more than 30 minutes.
  • Visitors with symptoms will not be allowed to enter the facility. They will be directed to the ER, or requested to leave the hospital premises.
• Visiting hours:
  • For Regular Floors: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • For Critical Care Areas: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Visitors will be instructed to visit the patient room only. They should not be allowed to access other locations in the facility.

ER Preparedness

• Two separate isolated rooms with negative pressure are ready for use, located outside the temporary ER unit to screen and isolate suspected COVID-19 cases.
• These rooms will also be used for swab test screening (unless the patient is already admitted).

MSU 6B Preparedness

• The MSU 6 in building B (17 beds) will be ready to admit COVID-19 patients as needed.
• This floor has negative pressure which will permit our medical and nursing staff to take care of and treat COVID-19 patients according to international standards.
• All personal protective equipment (PPEs) for these critical patients and the staff will be made available according to the Infectious Diseases team recommendations.

Pre-Admission Unit (PAU) and Admissions Office:

• At the PAU: the staff will ask about travel history and any respiratory symptoms in order to decide with the medical team how to manage the case and consider postponing elective procedures/surgeries for 14 days.
• At the Admissions Office: on the day of the scheduled procedure/surgery, the admissions officers will ask about travel history and any respiratory symptoms. In case of symptomatic patients or history of recent travel, the treating physician will be contacted to decide whether to confirm admission or delay it for 14 days.

Outpatient Clinics Appointments:

• When booking an appointment, the secretaries will ask about travel history and any respiratory symptoms.
• If patient is symptomatic, he/she will be advised to wear a surgical mask upon arrival to the appointment, and the physician will be given notice to see him/her without any delays.
• All patients presenting for an appointment at the Outpatients Clinics are advised to show up on time (not more than 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment) in order to limit crowding of the waiting areas.
• Patients will be requested to present alone to the appointment and if necessary, bring no more than one companion.

For information and updates from our experts on COVID-19, please visit the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital COVID-19 webpage.