Management of contacts of COVID-19 cases

Contacts of COVID-19 cases are handled according to the degree of exposure:

"Close contact" (high risk exposure)

Students who came in close contact without having a previous vaccination record (unvaccinated or vaccinated with 2 doses longer than 6 months ago without a booster dose or with a single dose of the J&J vaccine longer than 2 months ago without a booster dose) who came into "close contact" with a patient who exhibited symptoms of acute respiratory infection are advised to leave the university premises immediately and remain in isolation at home.

They are advised to:

• remain in isolation for 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals;
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure;
• after the 5th day, wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least another 5 days.

Students who came in close contact and have a previous vaccination record (booster dose or 2 doses within the last 6 months or a single dose of the J&J vaccine within the last 2 months or individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 in the last 90 days) and remain asymptomatic are not required to enter quarantine, however, they are required to:

• wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for 10 days and;
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure.

 

Members of the administrative staff or students (who have been) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 should:

• Remain in isolation for at least 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals. The first day they tested positive is considered as day 0 and should be followed by five (5) days of isolation/quarantine.

• The mandatory quarantine/isolation period is completed after 5 days and no symptoms are exhibited or if existing symptoms are improved after five days and until for at least 24 hours fever is subsided. without the use of fever-reducing medicines, interruption or end of isolation/quarantine.

• Wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or wear a double mask for at least another five (5) days after the end of isolation/quarantine period.

SARS-CoV-2 is diagnosed by taking a rapid antigen or molecular PCR test. Patient quarantine guidelines/measures apply to both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals.

Administrative staff and students who are not vaccinated or are have been vaccinated with 2 doses longer than 6 months ago without having had a booster dose or have been vaccinated with a single dose of the J&J vaccine for more than 2 months without having had a booster dose and came into "close contact" with a patient who exhibited symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, until receiving the official results of the NPHO tracking test, are required to leave the university premises immediately and to remain in isolation/quarantine at home.

• They are required to stay in isolation for 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals.
• Take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure.
• After the 5th day, they are required to wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or wear a double mask for at least another five (5) days.

In case of symptoms, they are advised to contact their treating physician and the NPHO to receive proper instructions/guidelines, the Head of the Department or the Employer should be notified who in turn should notify immediately the Cases Management Officer (CMO).

University staff, students and other independent associates who have been vaccinated with a booster dose or vaccinated with 2 doses within the last 6 months or with a single dose of the J&J vaccine in the past 2 months or individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 in the last 90 days and came in "close contact" with the patient who showed symptoms of an acute respiratory infection yet remain asymptomatic, are not required to remain in quarantine (according to the NPHO) however:

• they are required to wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least 10 days and

• should take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure.

 

Students that exhibit symptoms during their attendance in the university premises

Teaching staff as well as fellow students who have not been vaccinated or have been vaccinated with 2 doses within the past 6 months without a booster dose or have been vaccinated with a single dose of the J&J vaccine longer than 2 months ago without a booster dose, and who have attended the same courses and came in "close contact" with an infected student who showed symptoms of acute respiratory infection, are required to leave the university premises immediately and remain in isolation at home until they receive the official results of the NPHO tracking test.

They are advised to:

• remain in isolation for 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals;
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure;
• after the 5th day, wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least another 5 days.

Teaching staff as well as fellow students who have been vaccinated with a booster dose or have been vaccinated with 2 doses in the last 6 months or with a single dose of the J&J vaccine in the last 2 months or individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 in the last 90 days, and who have attended the same courses and came in "close contact" with an infected student who showed symptoms of acute respiratory infection, are not required to enter a quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic (according to the NPHO) however:

• they are required to wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for 10 days; and
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure.

Students with SARS-CoV-2 are allowed to return to the university:

• if, after the end of the 5-day period, they exhibit no symptoms or if their symptoms improve after the 5-day period with complete remission of the fever for 24 hours, without the need to use fever-reducing medicines or interruption of isolation. However, if fever persists, they are advised to prolong their isolation at home until the fever has completely subsided; and
• they are required to wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least another 5 days after the end of the isolation period.

 

Students that exhibit symptoms while being outside the premises of the University

If students, while being outside the University premises, exhibit symptoms of a respiratory infection (cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, etc.) themselves or any of their family members, they are advised to contact their treating physician and NPHO to receive instructions.

Students are advised to avoid attending the university premises and to notify the appointed CMO. They should take a Rapid or PCR test. In case the laboratory test is positive, students are advised to:

• remain in isolation for 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals;
• repeat the PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure;
• after the 5th day, wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least another 5 days.

Teaching staff as well as fellow students who have not been vaccinated or have been vaccinated with 2 doses within the past 6 months without a booster dose or have been vaccinated with a single dose of the J&J vaccine longer than 2 months ago without a booster dose, and who have attended the same courses and came in "close contact" with an infected student who showed symptoms of acute respiratory infection, are required to leave the university premises immediately and remain in isolation at home until they receive the official results of the NPHO tracking test.

They are advised to:

• remain in isolation for 5 days and avoid any contact with other individuals;
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure;
• after the 5th day, wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for at least another 5 days.

Teaching staff as well as fellow students who have been vaccinated with a booster dose or have been vaccinated with 2 doses in the last 6 months or with a single dose of the J&J vaccine in the last 2 months or individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 in the last 90 days, and who have attended the same courses and came in "close contact" with an infected student who showed symptoms of acute respiratory infection, are not required to enter a quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic (according to the NPHO) however:

• they are required to wear a high respiratory protection mask (N95 or KN95 or FFP2) or a double mask for 10 days; and
• take a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test 5 days after initial exposure.

 

Students that exhibit symptoms during their accommodation within the University dormitory

The CMO of the University Dormitory should be notified immediately. The CMO should transfer the patient to a well-ventilated and designated area, immediately notify both NPHO as well as the treating physician and follow strictly the instructions received.

 

COVID-19 case managers of the University of Macedonia

For the members of the Faculty, technical, administrative staff  of the Departments, other teachers, students and employees of the Secretariats specific Case Managers are appointed for each Department as follows:

Department of Economics:

Professor Anastasios Economidis, Head

Mrs. Maria Kargioti, Special Technical Lab Personnel, as Deputy

Department of Balkan, Slavic & Oriental Studies:

Assistant Professor Nicolaos Liazos, Head

Mr. Fotis Sarigiannis, Administrative Employee, as Deputy

Department of Business Organization & Management:

Associate Professor Anastasia Katou, Head

Mrs.  Aphrodite Papasimakopoulou, Administrative Employee, as Deputy

Department of Accounting and Finance:

Professor Panagiotis Tachinakis, Head

Mrs. Vasiliki Bogiatzis, Administrative Employee, as Deputy

Department of Applied Informatics:

Professor Alexandros Chatzigeorgiou, Head

Professor Nikolaos Samaras as Deputy

Department of International & European Studies:

Assistant Professor Theologos Dergiades, Head

Mrs. Lia Karagianni, Administrative Employee, as Deputy

Department of Education & Social Policy:

Assistant Professor Panagiotis Varsamis, Head

Mr. Ioannis Lefkos Laboratory Teaching Personnel, as Deputy

Department of Music Science & Art:

Assistant Professor Zarias, Head

Mr. Savvas Triantaphyllidis, Administrative Employee, as Deputy