Important changes to on-campus health and safety protocol

Given the evolving nature of the pandemic and recent confirmation of a COVID-19 variant in some of our communities, Georgian is introducing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) measures to further protect our campus environments.

Effective at time of opening on Wednesday, Jan. 27, cloth masks on campus will no longer be an acceptable face covering; instead, Level 1 medical procedure masks will be distributed at entrances and worn while on campus. In addition, in labs, classrooms or work sites where a 2 metre/6 feet distance can’t be consistently maintained, eye protection must be worn in addition to the face mask. Face shields will be provided for this purpose and distributed at entrances.

These measures are to provide an enhanced level of protection, in addition to the existing health and safety measures already in place.

In locations where a 2 metre/6 feet distance can’t be consistently maintained and face shields can’t be worn for safety reasons, e.g., where a heat source is used, another suitable form of eye protection will be determined and outlined in the lab-specific protocol as soon as possible. Those at work sites who can’t accommodate the face shields for safety reasons should discuss suitable eye protection with their manager.

This requirement for medical procedure masks and face shields provided by the college doesn’t replace the need for lab-specific PPE or PPE required by regulatory bodies.

Georgian’s Protocol for the Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission has been updated to reflect these enhanced measures. The college remains committed to following best practices to protect the health and safety of our students and employees, while providing a quality education and learning outcomes for our students.