Table 2. Infection control: Pandemic phases and key actions for medical faculties for COVID-19.

Phase 4 Sustained human to human transmission
No regional cases	Observation	Set up rapid response team and review updates
First regional case	Containment	Follow national guidelines (if any) Consider suspend all international students exchanges and local/ regional community and clinical attachments Consider setting up an online medical surveillance for staff and students Commence online learning
Phase 5 & 6 Widespread human infection Regular communication and updates to staff and students. Mental health support for staff and students Mandatory respiratory protection (facial mask), physical distancing and regular office disinfection
Minimal or limited disruption to community activity	Containment	Consider continuation of essential examinations Routine +/- flexible home office working
Limited community activity	Delay	Rota of essential office staff, flexible hours, work from home. Postpone examinations or seek alternatives.
Lockdown and essential activities only	Mitigation	Work from home. Key worker in office only. Postpone examinations or seek alternatives.
POST PEAK PERIOD Level of pandemic drops below pandemic level. Possibility of recurrent events Continue regular communication and mental health support for staff and students Continue mandatory respiratory protection (facial mask), physical distancing and regular office disinfection
No cases or sporadic/ cluster of cases Minimal or limited disruption to community activity	Containment	Liaise with hospital to assess readiness for teaching Consider restarting essential teaching and examinations Routine +/- flexible home office working
Sustained human transmission Limited community activity	Delay	Rota of essential office staff, flexible hours, work from home
POST PANDEMIC Disease activity at seasonal levels Regular office disinfection.
No cases or sporadic/ cluster of cases Minimal or limited disruption to community activity	Containment	Resume face to face teaching Regular communication and activation of medical surveillance when required