Visit Carleton’s COVID-19 website.
September 23, 2020
To All Members of the Carleton Community,
You will have seen that yesterday the premier announced that a more challenging second wave of COVID-19 is coming to Ontario, as cases continue to rise. Specifically, there are currently 3,652 cases in Ontario with 539 active cases in Ottawa including a record breaking 93 new cases announced yesterday. In response to these growing numbers, Ottawa’s medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches announced yesterday that she has invoked a Class Section 22 order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, which stipulates individuals must immediately self-isolate for 14 days and follow Ottawa Public Health orders, if they:
- Test positive for COVID-19.
- Have signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
- Are in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
- Are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test.
- Have reasonable grounds to think they have COVID-19.
Anyone who does not observe the order could be fined up to $5,000 for each day they fail to self-isolate.
This followed last week’s announcement about limiting the size to unmonitored, private social gatherings across Ontario. Under the new regulations, the new limit on the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored private social gathering is 10 people at an indoor event or gathering or 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering. Notably, these new regulations do not affect our current on-campus operations including the Library and athletics facilities as these places are appropriately staffed with required public health and workplace safety measures established. These limits do restrict social events and gatherings on campus.
Following our first case on campus last week, we have intensified the testing, tracing and other mitigation practices to minimize the risk of community spread. At this time, five individuals have tested positive for COVID-19. We are following Ottawa Public Health guidelines for all affected individuals. All individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently self-isolating and are only showing mild symptoms.
We have put in place very proactive mitigation measures on campus. We have also established robust reporting practices where individuals who have been on campus in the 14 days prior to the onset of any symptoms – including mild symptoms – potentially linked to COVID-19 must be reported. This has allowed us to identify individuals who may have COVID-19 quickly and take the appropriate, immediate steps to protect our community.
We are in continuing discussions with Ottawa Public Health and have all of the necessary protocols in place to minimize the risk of community transfer. Medical staff have been made available and are continuing to provide direct support.
The health and safety of all members of the Carleton community is the university’s top priority. Now more than ever, we must all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to review the COVID-19 information website for preventative steps. In particular, wear a mask, stay two metres apart from others, isolate yourself if feeling unwell, and exercise frequent hand hygiene.
We will continue to keep the university community informed of any individuals who are members of the Carleton community and who have tested positive for COVID-19 on our cases on campus website.
Suzanne Blanchard
COVID-19 Lead
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in Coronavirus
Share: Twitter, Facebook
