Coronavirus update – travelers to Iran must stay home upon return

This message was originally sent to students by Sandra Banks, vice-president, University Relations.

What's changed since we last emailed you

• The University has suspended all travel to Iran until further notice
• Travellers from Iran and from Hubei province, China must stay home and avoid contact with others – also known as self-isolate – for 14 days after returning to Canada
• Travellers returning from other areas of China, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Singapore and South Korea must watch for symptoms like fever and cough for 14 days
• According to public health officials you do not need to change your plans for large gatherings.

I’m emailing to give you an update on some changes we have made to help manage the global coronavirus outbreak.

Risks of COVID-19 remain low for Waterloo

The global evolution of Coronavirus - or COVID-19 - continues to change every day. A team of people on campus are keeping watch and managing plans to keep our campus safe.

The risk to Canada is still low but international developments mean we are sharing new steps you must follow if you have been travelling.

Self-isolate if you've been to Iran or Hubei, China 

We have suspended all University-sanctioned travel to Iran until further notice. This includes travel for study or exchange.

If you have travelled to Iran or Hubei province in China you should:

• stay at home upon return and avoid contact with others for a total of 14 days from the date you left Hubei, and
• contact Region of Waterloo Public Health on 519-575-4400 within 24 hours of arriving in Canada. You can also contact Health Services on 519-888-4096.

If you have travelled to any of the following countries or regions, you should watch for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days:

• China (other than Hubei province)
• Hong Kong
• Italy
• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea

If you have been to any of these countries and feel unwell, you should contact your family doctor or call Health Services at 519-888-4096 to book an appointment. You should also avoid contact with others. Avoiding contact with others – also called self-isolation – means:

• stay home from school or work,
• avoid public places
• do not take public transit, and
• do not have visitors.

Protect yourself with simple hygiene

You should take the following simple steps to protect yourself from a range of illnesses, including COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces you touch often, like your laptop or mobile phone.

No need to change your plans, but stay informed

You can check in on all the latest information for the University of  Waterloo community on our website. We’ve added an answer to a question we are getting about large gatherings. For now, public health does not recommend you change your plans.

If you have questions or concerns please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca and our teams will help to find the right campus contact.