Project Materials

EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF COVID-19 SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Colleges and universities are environments in which students live and study close together. They are also thriving social hubs where students from many academic fields can come together.

The quick growth of the Covid-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the formation of this unique environment, causing uncertainty about the implications for higher education.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2020), Covid-19 is a virus family that causes infections ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

The first instance of coronavirus was reported in 1960, and a Canadian research in 2001 identified roughly 500 people as having a flu-like system, with 17 to 18 cases being verified as being infected with coronavirus via PCR. These include livestock, birds, and mammals like bats, camels, masked palm civets, dogs, mice, and cats.

In 2003, different reports were released on the spread of Coronavirus in many countries, including Hong Kong, the United States of America, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan, and there were several cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Coronavirus, with over 1000 people dying.

Another study in Hong Kong confirmed that 50 individuals had severe acute respiratory syndrome, with 30 of them being Coronavirus-infected. In late December 2019, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC) reported an unexplained pneumonia case in Wuhan, China, with clinical characteristics similar to viral pneumonia.

After analysing respiratory samples, a Centre for Disease Control specialist determined that pneumonia, later identified as novel virus and officially termed the disease COVID-19, was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The early patients shared exposure to the Huanan wholesale seafood market, which also sold live animals. China alerted the WHO of the epidemic on December 31, 2019, and the Huanan sea food market closed on January 1.

To identify this sickness, different samples from the Huanan sea food market were analysed, indicating that the virus originated there.

The number of cases began to rise dramatically, with some having no prior exposure to the live animal market, implying that human-to-human transmission was taking place.

The global spread of pandemic Covid-19 has disrupted the world’s educational, political, social, economic, religious, and financial systems. The world’s largest economies, including the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and many others, are on the edge of collapse.

Furthermore, global stock markets have taken a beating, and oil prices have plummeted. In just one week, 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits, and another 6.6 million began looking for work the next week.

Furthermore, several economic and financial professionals have expressed concern about the deteriorating state of the global economic and financial framework.

To reduce and control the spread of the infection in Nigeria, the national government mandated the use of face masks, social distancing, the use of sanitisers when washing hands, and the cleaning of surfaces with which people come into contact on a regular basis.

These safety measures apply to everyone, including university students. In any case, prior to the return of postsecondary institutions, the Nigerian government recommended all university institutions to ensure that Covid-19 safety procedures are followed consistently.

As a result, the extent to which Nigerian tertiary institutions adhere to those mandatory safety precautions is questionable, as is the case in other parts of Nigeria. This uncertainty led to the development of this study.

1.2 Statement of Problem

A pandemic is a disease outbreak that spans multiple countries or continents. It affects more people and kills more people than an epidemic, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) proclaimed COVID-19 a pandemic when it became obvious that the illness was severe and spreading rapidly across a large territory.

Coronavirus is recognised to be a scary and devastating disease that can wipe out human life all over the planet.

Since the very first incident of this infection in Nigeria, the Nigerian government has mandated that citizens take a number of steps to reduce its spread throughout the country.

The government took measures to slow the spread of the epidemic, including closing schools at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

On the verge of reopening schools in Nigeria, the government has announced a number of procedures that school owners and tertiary institution administrators should do in order to combat the pandemic and limit its spread to pupils.

As a result, the majority of Nigeria’s higher schools are overcrowded with thousands of students coming and going. However, the prevalence of law avoidance and negligence among university students is staggering.

Johnson (2020) believes that adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines by tertiary students in Nigeria will be a challenge for management because many of the students are affected by social groupings, with many belonging to notorious societies that support law avoidance. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which tertiary institutions adhere to Covid-19 safety preventive measures.

1.3 PURPOSES OF THE STUDY

The major goal of this study is to assess the level of Covid-19 safety compliance among tertiary institutions. Other specific objectives are as follows:

Examine whether students properly utilise face masks, sanitisers, and practise social distancing.

Examine the extent to which pupils follow the preventative strategies.

Determine whether school lecturers follow the execution and practice of these covid-19 safety preventive procedures.

Investigate if school administration and law enforcement ensure and contribute to the implementation and application of student safety measures.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION.

Do students wear face masks and sanitisers appropriately, as well as practise social distancing?

To what extent do students follow those prevention measures?

Do the school lecturers follow the implementation and practice of these Covid-19 safety prevention measures?

Do school administrators and law enforcement officers assure and contribute to the implementation and deployment of student safety measures?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study will be of immeasurable value to the federal and state governments since it will show the status of compliance by tertiary institutions, as well as the gaps created by enforcement agencies that prescribe irregular adherence to covid 19 norms and restrictions.

And the recommendations will have a significant impact on how to tighten limitations. The study, however, will assist university management boards in determining the best strategy to protect student safety. This study will contribute to the existing literature in this field and serve as a catalyst for future research.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The report, “Evaluation of the Level of Covid-19 Safety Compliance in Tertiary Institutions,” exclusively includes the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Compliance is the act of complying and observing what is authorised and legal.

Transportation Company: A transportation company is a business that moves goods from one area to another, and it plays an important role in the manufacturing value chain.

Covid 19, commonly known as coronavirus, is a communicable respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that infects humans.

Government: The body of people who govern a political unit or organisation, such as. a: the officials who make up a political unit’s governing body and make the organisation an active agency.