Important reminders for COVID-19 and flu health and safety on campus
With the approaching colder weather and more activities moving indoors, we are sharing key reminders on COVID-19 health and safety on campus. With public health indicators showing a recent increase in cases, we want to remind our community of the importance of staying vigilant in our health and safety measures, and that each of us has a role to play in keeping ourselves and our fellow community members safe from COVID-19.
While the university’s vaccination and mask policies are currently on pause, the university continues to monitor government and public health guidance, and will remain nimble in responding to changes and in planning for the future. The university may need to reinstate requirements for masking should public health indicators change.
4 key health and safety tips for COVID-19 and flu prevention
Stay up-to-date with vaccinations
As a primary health and safety measure, the university encourages all community members to be fully vaccinated, including the booster shot(s) as recommended by public health.
While COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required in order to access campus, community members are asked to keep their vaccination status in the TMU Safe app up to date.
In addition to COVID-19 vaccination, we also encourage community members to receive this year’s flu vaccine if they are able.
Learn how you can obtain your COVID-19 vaccine on campus. In the coming weeks, the Medical Centre will also have the flu vaccine available.
Wear a mask, especially in areas where distancing is not feasible
While the university’s mask policy is currently on pause, we do recommend that community members wear a well-fitted mask while indoors, particularly when sharing small enclosed spaces with others where physical distance cannot be maintained, such as elevators and small meeting rooms.
As a reminder, the university continues to have cloth, medical grade and fitted masks, such as N95s available for university community members who want them. For more information, visit the Masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) page online.
Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene
As cold and flu season continues, remember that hand and respiratory hygiene is key to our overall health and wellbeing:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 15 seconds — especially before handling food, after touching your face or shaking someone’s hand.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing and coughing. Throw the tissue away and then wash your hands immediately.
- If you do not have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve or elbow.
Stay home if you are unwell
As we head into cold and flu season, it is even more important that all individuals accessing campus continue to self-monitor for symptoms and not come to campus if they feel unwell. For more information specific to COVID-19, review the Ontario government’s guidance on what to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
Special COVID-19 category for Academic Consideration Requests
TMU has extended the use of the special COVID-19 category in the Academic Consideration Request System for the 2022/23 academic year.
Students who miss class or an assessment due to cold or flu-like symptoms, or due to self-isolation may select COVID-19 as the reason, and are not required to provide supporting documentation one time per semester.
If students have two academic consideration request submissions, they will be sent a notice of awareness/concern with resources, as well notification that they may be contacted by their department chair or designate.
Faculty and contract lecturer absenteeism due to COVID-19
If a faculty member or contract lecturer contracts COVID-19 but symptoms are minimal they should discuss this with their Chair/Director and consider temporarily delivering the course remotely/virtually. If symptoms result in their inability to teach (or they have any other medical condition that results in their inability to teach), normal sick leave processes will apply and replacement teaching will need to be arranged. More information can be found on the VPFA website.
Staff absenteeism due to COVID-19
As a reminder, if an employee is experiencing symptoms, regular sick leave provisions should apply. We ask leaders to be flexible with employees as absences may increase through the winter months.
For more information
We continue to be appreciative of the support of our community in working together to limit the spread of COVID-19 and flu on campus. For more information, visit COVID-19 Information and Updates website.