Covid Archives - Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association

Over the last two weeks, there have been increasing reports of COVID infections in schools and
the community. Furthermore, there is growing recognition worldwide that this infection is
airborne. Despite the recent lifting of COVID-19 mandates in most public settings and schools in
Ontario, and a resulting presumption that the pandemic is over, OSSTF/FEESO continues to
maintain regular meetings with epidemiologist Dr. Amy Greer and consultations with legal
counsel to best inform and protect our members. Unfortunately, the current public health metrics
demonstrate that, contrary to what many members of the public are being led to believe, the
pandemic is most definitely not over and there is still much to do to ensure that members and
students are protected despite the lifting of mandates.
The rapid spread of the BA.2 omicron variant coupled with the removal of most protective
measures has resulted in pandemic Wave Six in Ontario. While it is apparent that the provincial
government prefers to ignore the evidence of this sixth wave, the fact is that as the number of
infections grow, hospitalizations for COVID-19 will also increase (23% higher than last
week). Best estimates from wastewater testing suggest that Ontario is currently seeing between
30,000 and 35,000 NEW infections each day. The BA.2 wave we are currently experiencing will
very likely place significant stress on our healthcare settings and healthcare resources more
broadly.
What is OSSTF/FEESO doing?
Provincial Office is committed to continuing our regular meetings with Dr. Greer and legal
counsel to make sure members and local leaders have accurate and current information
regarding the ongoing pandemic. An informed membership is key to ensuring the protection of
every member. OSSTF/FEESO continues to exert pressure on the Ministers of Health and
Education through regular demands advocating for the protection of our members even though
the government has declared the pandemic to be over. This advocacy is done through letters
from the President directly to the Ministers, media appearances and participation at various
Ministry tables. Templates of letters also advocating for preventative health and safety measure
to protect our members and school community are regularly sent to district presidents
encouraging them to continue these conversations with their local Boards and public health
units.
What you can do:
 Make sure you are fully vaccinated. The good news is that vaccines still provide an
important layer of protection against the most severe outcomes but there are many
vulnerable people in our communities who are not able to rely on vaccine protection
(children under the age of 5, immunocompromised individuals, and vulnerable older
adults). Infections in these individuals (even if they have been vaccinated) can be lifethreatening. Many people have higher risk people in their households and families that
they need to help to protect. If you are eligible for a third dose of vaccine (everyone over
the age of 12), and have not yet received it, get your third dose. A third dose helps to
reduce your risk of infection as well as serious disease should you become infected.
 Wear a mask in all indoor spaces (to protect against inhalation of virus particles that
float in the air like cigarette smoke).
 Stay home if you have any symptoms or are feeling unwell. Respect the quarantine
days following infection.
 If you test positive for COVID-19, take a picture of each positive test with proof of date
to support filing a WSIB claim if warranted.
COVID-19 is an air-borne virus
The Ontario Science table released information in December of 2021 just before the holiday
season in their document, Ask Ontario’s Science Table: Omicron Edition: “SARS-CoV-2 (the
virus that causes COVID-19) is airborne which means it can float around indoors and linger
unless the air in the room moves out of the room as quickly as possible.” https://covid19-
sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/ask-ontarios-science-table-omicron-edition/download.pdf
The White House also recently published a blog post titled “Let’s Clear the Air on COVID,”
describing the virus as primarily transmitted through aerosols—small, tiny airborne particles.
“Though some experts around the world have been arguing that point for years, and
subsequently advocating for respirator use and enhanced ventilation systems, this is the first
time the White House has formally acknowledged that aerosol transmission has been the
primary driver of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, it has turned away from the language
used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
(taken from CIDRAP article: “White House diverges from CDC, focuses on aerosol COVID
spread” https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/white-house-diverges-cdcfocuses-aerosol-covid-spread)
Short videos about airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from University of Oxford.
https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/resources/aerosols-and-making-spaces-space

https://wlusa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/OSSTF-FEESO-Covid-19-Update-31.pdf

Students and Workers Demand Safer return to campus

The Ontario University and Colleges Coalition echoes the concerns of students and workers across the province about unsafe and rushed plans to return to campus. With notice of returning back to in-person learning for some institutions as soon as January 31, students are nervous about inadequate safety plans, the accessibility of continuing with online learning and academic penalties for those who do not feel safe being back on campus. Without access to critical PPE such as N95 masks, uncertainties about ventilation, lack of routine reporting of COVID-19 case counts, and no physical distancing practices, students and workers know that such an abrupt plan to return to campus is not conducive to learning, and it seriously jeopardizes the safety of all campus community members.

Due to college and university administrations lobbying the Ontario government for campuses to have an exemption from capacity limits and physical distancing requirements, students and workers have been apprehensive of the rationale to allow overcrowded classrooms such as 500 person lecture halls with no restrictions being deemed as safe . Students and workers have witnessed the detrimental consequences of disregarding scientific evidence and loosening restrictions too soon. Additionally, many ventilation systems on campuses have not been properly updated or improved to help stop the spread of COVID-19, nor have standardized ventilation improvements been adequately reported.

It is vital that the decision to return to campus respects individual comfort, safety and wellbeing. Although there are students and faculty who are looking forward to returning to campus, others are not confident due to a lack of strong health and safety measures and are nervous and do not feel safe returning to in-person learning. Many students and faculty who are immunocompromised or live in a household with immunocompromised individuals, are not reflected in their administration’s plans to return to campus. Many workers who have continued to be on campus throughout the pandemic also have health and safety concerns that have not yet been addressed, and these must be addressed before campuses are opened to in-person learning.

With little notice, those who do not currently live in the same region or close to their college or university now have to scramble to find adequate and affordable housing, which was challenging before the pandemic. International students are amongst the worst affected as they continue to face barriers like sporadically changing travel advisories and bans, and difficulties in finding housing in the city or regions of their institutions.

Students, faculty and workers demand action from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Minister Jill Dunlop to address the numerous health and safety concerns of the plans to return to campus. The numerous health and safety concerns on campuses need to be addressed, and alternative plans must be made available. The following demands should be met before resuming in-person learning on campuses across the province

The Ministry and institutions need to ensure equitable access to personal protective equipment, vaccines, and COVID testing
Institutions should ensure consistent reporting of COVID-19 case counts, ventilation reports, and all public health guidelines
Workers and students should have the right to refuse mandatory in-person classes and have the option of attending online classes without any penalty or wage loss
A safer return to campus means students should have longer, more flexible deadlines to drop courses without academic penalties.
Institutions are to ensure sick days without academic penalty, mental health accommodations without a medical diagnosis requirement, and flexibility between in-person and virtual classes
Institutions must communicate a clear plan and threshold for a switch to remote-learning or a campus closure plan that is informed by public health guidelines
Institutions must ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to all the resources to ensure high-quality education for both in-person and online learning.
The provincial government must increase public funding for more teaching assistants and lower class sizes

In solidarity,

Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS-O)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA)
Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU) – College Faculty, Support Staff, and University Sector
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
Public Service Alliance of Canada Ontario (PSAC Ontario)
unifor
Ontario Federation of Labor

Taken from: https://campuscoalition.org/post/oucc-safe-return-2022/

COVID Update #31

Students and Workers Demand Safer return to campus

Students and Workers Demand Safer return to campus

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Archive for category: Covid

Students and Workers Demand Safer return to campus

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