COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update – March 6, 2020

Humber College continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and the potential impact on our community. All classes, campus operations and activities are continuing as scheduled.

Humber-sanctioned activities abroad

Health authorities are providing regular COVID-19 updates, and the college continues to monitor and follow these updates. For the most up-to-date information in Ontario and Toronto, community members are encouraged to visit the Ontario Ministry of Health website, as well as the Toronto Public Health website. 

The Government of Canada is also regularly updating their Travel Health Notices and categorizing the regions by level of COVID-19 concern. Canadians are advised to avoid non-essential travel to locations categorized as level 3 and are advised to practice special precautions when visiting locations categorized as level 2. As of March 4, the category 2 and 3 advisories apply to China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea.

In light of this travel advice, Humber-sanctioned activities scheduled to take place in those regions – for both students and employees – are cancelled until June 30, 2020. We will work with students to address the financial and academic impacts of these cancellations. Students who were scheduled to participate in activities to these regions will receive an email and should contact their study abroad coordinator or program coordinator to discuss next steps. Similarly, employees who were scheduled to travel to one of these destinations should discuss next steps with their manager.

The University of Guelph-Humber has also cancelled university sanctioned trips to those regions for students and staff.

This measure will be in effect as long as the Government of Canada advisories remain in place. We will monitor this situation as it continues to evolve. We recognize that students and staff may choose to withdraw from scheduled trips to other parts of the world. We will do our best to minimize financial and academic impacts of those decisions. We may need to cancel trips to other countries, depending on how the situation evolves. Please keep in mind that low enrolment/participation rate may also result in further cancellations. As other organizations work to limit the spread of COVID-19, it is likely that domestic work placements may be impacted as well.

Ability to Work and Learn on Campus

Recommendations to support global containment efforts and limit the spread of the virus, including self-isolation are still in place, particularly for those who may have been travelling recently. The Government of Canada Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak Update page provides regularly updated travel advisories and advice.

If a student or employee, or their family members, have travelled to China, Iran, or Northern Italy within the last 14 days, they should stay at home and contact Toronto Public Health to seek guidance as to whether they should self-isolate before coming to work or class.

Any students who are feeling unwell and/or have reason to believe they should be self-isolated should stay home and contact their Associate Dean before coming to campus. Students will be accommodated, as long as the appropriate notice and documentation is provided, as required.

Faculty members who are feeling unwell and/or have reason to believe they should be self-isolated and therefore are unable to attend class, should stay home and contact their Associate Dean before coming to campus to discuss appropriate next steps.

All other employees who are feeling unwell and/or have reason to believe they should be self-isolated should stay home and contact their manager before coming to campus to discuss appropriate next steps. 

Employees will be accommodated, as long as the appropriate notice and documentation is provided, as required.

Measures Underway

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency, the current risk to Canadians remains low. We maintain ongoing contact with Toronto Public Health and have been advised that there are no additional actions required, and to follow regular respiratory illness protocols and prevention strategies.

Humber is following all respiratory illness protocols and prevention measures already in place. In addition, areas of the College that provide health-related services, including the Health Centres, Dental Centres, the Humber Spa and the Tzu Chi Clinic of Chinese Medicine, have the recommended screening protocols in place.

We have increased cleaning of high touch point areas, using a chemical that kills both coronavirus and norovirus. Electrostatic fogging machines are also being used twice a week in cafeterias, open computer labs, high-traffic washrooms, athletic changerooms, health centres, Residence etc. This includes the keyboards and monitors in the open access labs. Electrostatic fogging machines seal surfaces so that germs are unable to attach to them.

As we are in the winter flu season, we ask everyone to:

  • wash your hands as frequently as possible,
  • cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the garbage and clean your hands,
  • if you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm,
  • and stay home if you’re feeling ill.

Soap and hospital-grade hand sanitizer dispensers across campus will be monitored and filled regularly.

Resources and Contacts

Humber takes the health and well-being of our staff and students seriously and we are monitoring the situation closely. An oversight group comprising representatives from the Academic Division, Communications, Human Resources, Legal and Risk Management, Public Safety, Student Success and Engagement, and the University of Guelph-Humber will provide regular updates to the community.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Other links:
Ontario Ministry of Health Statement
Toronto Medical Officer of Health statement – March 2
Toronto Public Health 
Toronto Public Health Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
Government of Canada - Travel Health Notices
Public Health Agency of Canada