COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for the UQ community - HEALTH - Keeping safe

All staff, students, visitors and guests must check in using the Check In Qld app to every building they visit at any UQ site or campus. If you visit multiple buildings during the day, you must check in to each one.

Every time you enter a building on a UQ campus or site. If you visit multiple buildings in one day, you must check into each building.  You only need to check into each building once throughout the day.

You only need to check-in to your office once a day when you first arrive. If your office becomes a COVID-19 exposure site, the Queensland Health contact tracing team will speak with you directly about the specific timings of your day in the office.

The Queensland Government requires everyone – including students, staff and visitors - to use the app to assist them with contract tracing should the need arise. We rely on our community to comply with Government guidelines so that we can all be safe. The Government has a penalty stated in the Directions of a fine of up to $13,700 or 6-months imprisonment on non-compliance with the Direction. 

If a person has made a statement about not checking in – anyone can report this person to the police. Also, if anyone feels unsafe due to the inaction of some, they may choose to report this person to the police.

If you are with a friend, they can check you in. If you are not with someone who can assist, please ask a staff member to check you in.

The QR codes for individual teaching and learning spaces are not mandatory, but they do provide an additional level of information that may be provided to Queensland Health contact tracers if the need arises.

Information collected via the Check In Qld app will be kept by the Queensland Government for 56 days to assist with contact tracing, if required. UQ will not have access to any of the data collected through the Check In Qld app.

A business may turn you away if you do not provide your contact details.

• Treat the objector with respect and courtesy, remain calm.
• Explain the public health reasons why we are all required to register upon arrival.
• Explain that privacy legislation applies designed to protect them against unreasonable use of their data and that they have a right to Freedom Of Information on data collected using the Check In Qld app. UQ do not get this data and it is only used for contact tracing purposes if required. Data will also be retained only for 56 days.
• Offer to log them in on their behalf using the Business Profile.

Go to a mobile device:

• Go to the 3 lines on the top left of the screen
• Select ‘profile’
• Down the bottom of the screen tap ‘create a business profile’

Follow the prompts

• If they continue to refuse to register, do not escalate the situation or become insistent - allow them to access space. 
• If the person is aggressive, UQ staff can notify Security.

If you feel comfortable and it is safe to do so, you can refuse entry to a person who does not want to check in. Personal safety and wellbeing is the priority.  You can avoid the confrontation by allowing the person to enter.

No, the World Health Organisation does not recommend wearing gloves in the community, because this can increase transmission to others through touching contaminated surfaces when gloves are not removed, and hands are not cleaned thoroughly following removal of gloves.  

Regular hand washing, use of hand sanitiser as well as avoiding physical contact with others and surfaces is the best way to reduce virus transmission. 

• When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth. 
• Germs can live for several hours on tissues - dispose of your tissue straight away. 
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow - NOT your hand. 
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer. 

Frequently washing your hands, especially before eating and after going to the toilet, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness or contamination from things you may have touched. 

Basic soap and water is as good for cleaning your hands as any hand disinfectant or sanitiser.  

It should take about 20 seconds to wash your hands adequately (see steps 1-9 below). Otherwise, the remaining bacteria will grow and can double in number in less than 20 minutes. If your technique is poor then your hands will not be clean. 

The 10 steps of good hand-washing: 

• Thoroughly wet hands 
• Apply soap or cleanser 
• Rub your hands palm to palm 
• Rub your palms over back of each hand, interlacing your fingers 
• Rub palm to palm with interlaced fingers 
• Circle tips of fingers into the opposite palm 
• Clean your thumbs 
• Clean your wrists 
• Rinse thoroughly 
• Pat dry, preferably with disposable paper towels. 
• Make sure you clean under rings too, that’s where many germs hide. 

Practice other good health habits as well: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before you eat or prepare food; after using public touchscreens and surfaces in public spaces; after you cough or sneeze; and after using the toilet. 
• Sneeze or cough into a sleeve/elbow, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the bin. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 

No. Vaccines for the flu do not provide protection against COVID-19. There are COVID-19 specific vaccinations available, depending on eligibility and availability.

If you have been to an exposure site in Queensland at the relevant times listed by Queensland Health on their contact tracing site you must do the following:

1. Immediately travel by private transport directly to your home or accommodation and quarantine.
2. Get tested at your earliest opportunity.
3. Continue to quarantine until you receive a negative result.
4. Enter your details into the contact tracing form by clicking or tapping on the name for the relevant location in the table below. You will not be contacted by Queensland Health unless additional information about the exposure changes the risk level.
5. Continue to monitor for symptoms, if you become symptomatic get tested again and isolate until you receive a negative result.

UQ public drinking water supplies are safe to drink, however the surfaces around the fountain including the spout and button/lever could pose a transmission risk for COVID-19 and other germs.  

It is recommended that you not place your mouth on the spout of a water fountain. Test the water flow and let the water run for a few seconds before drinking without putting your mouth or lips on the spout. When filling up your water bottle at the drink fountain, ensure the spout of your drink bottle does not contact the fountain head or bubbler.  

If the fountain requires you to push a button or lever, clean the surface first or use your knuckle or elbow.  If you do use your fingers/thumb, avoid touching your face until you clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.