Preventing COVID-19 in the College Policy

Intent

In the light of provincial and U of T guidelines, and following conversations with our insurers, Wycliffe College has developed this policy to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the College. The precautionary measures have been developed using advice and information obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government of Canada.

Individual Responsibilities

Everyone who enters the Wycliffe College building should ensure that they understand and comply with the infection prevention policies and practices outlined within this policy.

Protecting Yourself and Others in the College

Coronaviruses are spread through close contact, including at work. Wycliffe College is implementing the following steps to prevent the spread of infection and these are the expectations required of each person in Wycliffe’s employ:

Individuals entering the College should only enter the building to do work that is considered essential. Such entry should be pre-approved ahead of arrival by the Facilities Manager or Director of Operations. In most cases a specific time will be arranged for you to enter the building to limit the number of individuals on site at any given time.
Before entering the College, you are required to take your temperature at home. If you have a fever (a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) do not come to the College.
Upon entering the building, you are required to wash your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
You must wear a mask upon entering, when walking throughout the building, and when speaking with others less than 2 metres away. Should you sneeze in your mask or cough, it must be replaced right away. If you forget your mask or require another mask they are available at the College upon request to the Front Desk or Maintenance Offices.
Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. There will be hand sanitizer stations located throughout the office and there will be a personal alcohol-based hand sanitizer for everyone for their work space.
Do not share items such as pens, cell phones, calculators, computers, telephones, etc.
Everyone must maintain social distancing (2 metres) when interacting with others and wear a mask.
Sneeze and cough into your sleeve; not in your mask.
If you use a tissue, discard it immediately and wash your hands afterward.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.
Do not enter the building if you are sick.
Avoid high-touch areas, where possible, or ensure you clean your hands after.
Where possible, wear gloves when interacting with high-touch areas. Do not touch your face with gloved hands. Put on and remove gloves in a manner that avoids contamination of the hands. Ensure you wash your hands after removing gloves. Gloves are available at the College upon request to the Front Desk or Maintenance Offices.
If possible, avoid using public transportation when coming to the College. The College will make our best effort to provide parking for those coming to the building to perform essential work.

Face Masks

Wearing non-medical masks or face coverings is required in all common-use indoor spaces on the University of Toronto St. George campus, including classrooms and common areas in residences.Non-medical mask or face covering means a mask, balaclava, bandana, scarf, cloth or other similar item that covers the nose, mouth and chin without gapping.Common-use indoor University spaces include lobbies, elevators, hallways and corridors, stairwells, washrooms, service desks, cafeterias and lunchrooms, common areas in residences, study lounges, meeting rooms, classrooms, research and teaching labs, shared or open-space offices, and other locations used in common where practicing physical distancing may be difficult or unpredictable.

Hand Washing Hygiene

Use warm water to wet hands;
Apply lotion soap;
Work up a good lather and rub hands palm to palm and in between and around fingers;
Apply with vigorous contact on all surfaces of the hands (back of hands, fingertips, and each thumb);
Wash hands for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice);
Rinse thoroughly under running water and avoid splashing;
Keep hands down so that runoff will go into the sink and not down the arm;
Dry hands well with paper towels and use the paper towels to turn off the faucet; and
Discard the paper towels into the appropriate container.

How to Properly Use and Dispose of Face Coverings

Wash your hands immediately before putting it on and immediately after taking it off;
Make sure the face covering fits well around your nose and mouth;
Avoid moving the mask around or adjusting it often;
Avoid touching the covering while using it;
Do not share it with others.
Cloth masks should be washed after every use
Paper masks must not be reused
Face coverings should be changed when they get damp or soiled.

Physical Distancing

Keep a distance of at least two metres between you and anyone else, including Wycliffe College employees, residents, and students.
Increase distance between desks, tables, and workstations (where applicable).
Reduce or eliminate activities that require close physical proximity or contact with people, such as meetings.
Limit any necessary personal proximity to others that is closer than two metres to the shortest time possible, and you must wear a mask.

Sick/Illness

The symptoms of COVID-19 can resemble a cold or a flu. At this time, it is required that anyone who is experiencing any symptoms related to cold, flu or COVID-19 is to stay at home. Anybody who may have come down with a cough, cold, flu, etc. and are in the early stages of infection should not go into the College as they may infect the others in the building.

Self-Isolation

If you have a symptom of COVID-19 or think you might have such a symptom, do not come to the College. It is critical that if you have at least one symptom of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), or even mild symptoms, you must stay home to avoid spreading illness to others. Mild symptoms may be similar to a cold or flu.

Additional actions you should take include:

Immediately isolate yourself to prevent any possible spread of COVID-19;
Contact your local public health authority and follow their advice;
Notify your manager and HR; and
Remain away from work until you have been advised to return by your public health authority, normally after a minimum of 14 days.

You need to self-isolate if you:

Have symptoms, even if mild, associated with COVID-19;
Have been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Are waiting for laboratory test results after being tested for COVID-19; or
Have been advised to self-isolate by your regional public health authority.

Self-isolating means:

Staying home until the regional public health authority says you are no longer at risk of spreading the virus; and
Avoiding contact with others.

If your symptoms worsen, immediately contact your healthcare provider or public health authority and follow their instructions.

Developing Symptoms While in the College

If you develop even mild symptoms while in the building:

Separate yourself from others.
Contact the Facilities Manager (416-946-3543), Front Desk Supervisor (416-946-3535 ext 0) or Director of Operations (416-946-3546);
Disclose any interactions with staff, residents, or others in the building; and
Disclose any equipment you used, items you handled, or surfaces you touched.

If you drove yourself to the building, immediately go home and start self-isolating. If you took public transport, a member of staff will contact either an emergency contact or the local public health authority or non-emergency services to ensure that you are safely returned home.

College Responsibilities

To ensure that Wycliffe College continues to provide a healthy and safe workplace, the following measures have been implemented. In addition, Wycliffe College continues to stay updated on guidelines and information provided from the World Health Organization and the Government of Canada, and on measures implemented at a provincial level. Management will:

Use the risk-informed decision-making guidelines for workplaces and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to help develop policies and procedures.
Post signs encouraging good respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and other healthy practices.
Where feasible, implement measures to reduce social contact, such as working remotely, encouraging the use of e-mail, and web conferencing.
All non-essential meetings or travel are postponed until clearance received from the government of Canada or the local health authority.
Continually evaluate the workplace for areas where people have frequent contact with each other and shared spaces and objects to look at measures to reduce contact.
Evaluate and implement ways that employees can practice social distancing, such as increasing distance between desks and workstations.
Minimize in-person interactions between contractors, employees and residents.

Assessment Resources

If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911 immediately. Advise them of your symptoms and travel history. If you are concerned about COVID-19 exposure, you can use an online self-assessment tool to determine whether you are likely infected. Please visit the appropriate provincial government websites for self-assessments (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment).

All who enter the College building are expected to abide by the directives outlined in this policy and with revisions to this policy and other directives as set out by management in order to protect employees, students, residents, and others. Wycliffe College will continue to update and make the necessary changes to ensure our ongoing health and safety. COVID-19 has presented all of us with challenges we have never seen before. It’s important that everyone work together to keep everyone healthy and safe. Anyone who has a concern, please speak with Wycliffe’s Manager of Human Resources (Karen Baker- Bigauskas at 416-946-3521 or kbaker@wycliffe.utoronto.ca).

Acknowledgement and Agreement

I acknowledge that I have read and understand the Preventing COVID-19 in the College Policy of Wycliffe College. I agree to adhere to this policy, and I understand that if I violate the rules set forth by this policy, I may face disciplinary action.