The University of Guelph continues to prioritize physical distancing. Access to the Guelph campus remains limited to those approved to be on campus. For now, staff, faculty and graduate students able to work from home will continue to do so. Please do not come to campus unless you are conducting approved work, research, or teaching preparations.

Communicating COVID-19 cases on campus

A new Positive Cases on Campus page has been added to U of G’s COVID-19 website. The page indicates confirmed positive COVID-19 cases involving an individual who has been on campus within the last 14 days.

To maintain privacy while providing useful information, the page lists:

• the date of the confirmed positive case
• the general location of the case (e.g., Guelph campus, a research station, etc.), and
• the risk to the University community as identified by Public Health.

When a positive case of COVID-19 is identified, the individual’s local public health unit takes the lead. They will determine if there is a need for the health unit to inform others who have been in close contact. It may take several days for the University to be informed of a positive case on campus. In some low-risk situations, Public Health may not inform the University that an individual has tested positive, even if the person has been on campus.

If Public Health determines there is a risk to the U of G community, the University will be notified and will work closely with Public Health to ensure the health and safety of our campus.

To help keep yourself and others safe, please ensure you follow U of G’s COVID-19 safety practices whenever you are on campus.

 

If you’re on campus, wear a face covering

To help keep our U of G community safe, face coverings are required when you are on campus. There are a limited number of scenarios in which your face covering can be removed. You may learn more about those scenarios in the Face Coverings and Face Shields section of the Return to Campuses website.

 

Protocols for on-campus staffing, student workspaces and classroom spaces in development

Subcommittees within the Return-to-Campuses steering committee are developing protocols to address on-campus work and study spaces and practices. These protocols will include:

• a framework for managers to support staff planning for Fall 2020
• protocols for managing student study and workspaces on campus, and
• protocols for face-to-face classroom teaching.

Consultations on these frameworks and protocols are underway. Final documents will be available shortly.

 

Canada’s COVID Alert app available for download

The Government of Canada’s COVID Alert app is now available for download. The app can let people know of possible exposures to the COVID-19 virus before any symptoms appear. By downloading the app, you can help protect yourself and our community.

According to the COVID Alert website:

• the app uses Bluetooth to exchange random codes with nearby phones.
• every day, it checks a list of random codes from people who tell the app they tested positive.
• if you’ve been near one of those codes in the past 14 days, you’ll get a notification.

You can downloaded the COVID Alert app from the Apple Store or from Google Play.

Questions about privacy? Review the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s report on the COVID Alert app and the COVID Alert app privacy notice.

 

Building ventilation

The Physical Resources team has considered adjustments to ventilation systems to bring more outside air into campus buildings. Our historical campus buildings can make it a challenge to increase outdoor airflow, but the team is making adjustments as appropriate.

At this point, provincial standards for building ventilation as it relates to COVID-19 are not available. Wearing a mask when you are on campus can help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

The University’s COVID-19 website is your best source of information on U of G’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Return to Campuses website provides essential information for those approved to be on campus.