Yale Facilities has set its levels of building cleaning according to guidance provided in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brief on SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments [1].
The view in the scientific community has continued to evolve regarding the risk of COVID-19 transmission. There is agreement that the relevance of SARS-Cov-2 virus transmission via fomite is very low. The CDC agrees with this view and has lowered their cleaning and disinfection guidelines [2] in January 2021 and again, in April 2021.
SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments:
Space Type | Level of Service |
---|---|
Office and administrative |
Cleaned quarterly during recess/breaks with only dust, vacuum, and trash removal service. This includes a full cleaning once per year (dust, high dust, vacuum, trash removal, carpet/floor cleaning). Occupants will be required to place their trash in a receptacle in a common area or dumpster. Occupants are responsible for procuring disinfecting wipes and disinfecting their own desks, chairs, workspaces, shared workspaces, shared administrative spaces, copy machines, computers, phones, and other equipment. |
Public spaces |
Cleaned and trash removal once per day, five days per week (seven daysper week for buildings/spaces with high occupancy on weekends). Disinfecting wipes will be provided by Facilities Services in shared conference rooms for disinfecting of tables and chairs, as desired. Occupants are responsible for providing disinfecting wipes for departmental conference rooms and spaces, breakroom refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, water coolers, among others. |
Public restrooms | Cleaned and disinfected once daily, five days per week (seven days per week for buildings/spaces with high occupancy on weekends). |
Stairwells, elevators, and hallways | High-touch points cleaned once daily,five days per week (seven days per week for buildings/spaces with high occupancy on weekends). Stairs and hallway floors cleaned once per week. |
Labs |
Trash removed daily, five days per week. Floors cleaned once per week. Occupants responsible for providing disinfecting wipes for shared equipment and high-touch work surfaces. |
Classrooms |
Cleaned once per day (if being used). Disinfecting wipes provided in each classroom for users to disinfect before/after use. |
Studios |
Cleaned twice per year (at end of each semester); trash removed daily, fivedays per week. Occupants responsible for providing disinfecting wipes for shared equipment and high-touch work surfaces. |
Residential colleges and Graduate housing: Shared student bathrooms |
Cleaned and disinfected once daily, seven days per week. Facilities will provide disinfecting wipes for occupants’ use. |
Residential colleges and Graduate housing: Community spaces (butteries, gyms, and game rooms) |
Cleaned daily, seven days per week (if in use). Occupants are responsible for providing disinfecting wipes and disinfecting refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, water coolers, game equipment, gym equipment, other equipment, among others. |
Residential Colleges: Student activity specialty spaces (pottery studios, printing presses, music practice rooms, among others) |
Cleaned once per week. Occupants responsible for providing disinfecting wipes for shared equipment and high-touch surfaces. |
Healthcare facilities (YHC and YPB) | Pre-COVID-19 Blue Sheet Levels of Service |