Cleaning, Sanitization, and Disinfection
Cleaning Requirements
Schools must carry out the general cleaning and disinfection of the premises every 24 hours. This includes cleaning and disinfecting floors, vacuuming, spot cleaning, dusting horizontal surfaces such as furniture, classroom equipment etc., and taking out the trash.
High-contact surfaces (such as light switches, handrails, doorknobs, faucets, toilet buttons, toilet seats, countertops, etc.) shall be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day during school hours.
Shared equipment (such as computer keyboards, mouse devices and mobile computing devices, etc.) shall be sanitized between groups.
Waste bins in classrooms and toilets must be emptied before they are full, and at a minimum of once per day.
Cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection management for additional resources as necessary for Students of Determination should consider guidance outlined in the points above.
Cleaning Techniques
Cleaning should progress from the least soiled (cleanest) to the most soiled (dirtiest) areas, and from the higher to lower levels so that debris may fall on the floor and is cleaned last in a systematic manner to avoid missing any areas.
Schools shall use fresh cloths at the start of each cleaning session (e.g., routine daily cleaning before the beginning of the school day).
For areas considered to be at high risk of COVID-19 virus contamination such as the school clinic or sites regularly used by a confirmed COVID-19 patient (e.g. desk, floor etc.), schools shall use separate cleaning equipment and cloth.
Detergent or disinfectant solutions become contaminated during cleaning and progressively less effective if the organic load is too high; therefore, the continued use of the same solution may transfer the microorganisms to each subsequent surface. Thus, detergent and/or disinfectant solutions must be discarded after each use in areas when cleaning sites used by suspected/confirmed patients with COVID-19.
Approved Disinfectants
Fresh disinfectant solution should be prepared daily or for each cleaning shift. Only disinfectants approved by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), and/or the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) shall be used.
Schools shall follow these guidelines when cleaning a site used by a COVID-19 affected student or member of staff:
Close off the affected areas that were used by the patient.
Open doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
It is advised to wait 24 hours before cleaning or disinfecting the area.
Ensure that the cleaning staff is wearing full PPE (i.e. mask, face shield, gloves and a long sleeved single-use apron).
Clean and disinfect the area using a disinfectant solution and fresh cloth. Discard or wash the cloth with detergent and dry it before re-use.
Water Systems
Schools shall conduct inspections and perform necessary maintenance on water systems to ensure their safety following a period of prolonged disuse.
Waste Management
Waste generated at school shall be packed in strong black bags, closed completely and disposed of for the municipal waste collection to pick up.
Medical waste generated by the school clinic shall be disposed of as per the requirements set by the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre.
After waste is disposed of, hands shall be washed for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.
Any additional and specific Waste Management needs for Students of Determination shall be considered as part of the risk assessment and measures clearly communicated to appropriate members of staff.