Coronavirus update: advice on event planning

In light of the evolving global Coronavirus – or COVID-19 – situation, we’d like to provide some general guidance for upcoming events.

Events and gatherings:

University leaders have been in contact with Public Health authorities on this topic, and they have not recommended that people make changes to gatherings – large or small. At this time, you do not need to cancel or change your plans for large gatherings or any other meeting or event.

While the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve here in North America and globally, the risk for Canada and Waterloo Region remains low.

At this point, we recommend that you consider the impact on future events should public health advice change. Specifically, we encourage you to consider:

• If your event can be held via video conference.
• If your event will draw individuals from countries where Public Health has recommended self-monitoring or self-isolation for Canadians upon return.
• Your plan to adapt or cancel your event if guidelines from Public Health change in the coming days, weeks or months.

In the meantime, if you are organizing or hosting an event you can ensure measures are in place to mitigate risk in terms of hygiene, chiefly by reminding event attendees to take simple but important steps to avoid a variety of potential illnesses, like washing their hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and other measures outlined on our COVID-19 website.

If you have questions or concerns about the coronavirus, please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca.

Sandra Banks, Vice-President, University Relations