Daily Bulletin

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Previous | Next | Current
Daily Bulletin feed

Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca


Waterloo Residences consolidates services

An illustration of a university residence.

Waterloo Residences is checking in on students who remain in residences on campus and have announced several modifications to their usual services.

“Thank you for your continued patience as we work together to find solutions for our students who remain in residence,” says an email from Waterloo Residences circulated yesterday. “While the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve daily, our main focus is on making your home at Waterloo Residences as safe as possible.”

On Wednesday, March 25, Housing staff will be knocking on the doors of all students who they believe are still living in residence. “Confirming the number of students still in our residence buildings is critical to make important decisions moving forward,” says the note from Waterloo Residences. “Relocation remains a possibility if necessary. During these visits, staff will be wearing personal protective equipment to keep everyone safe.”

Residence services have been modified, including:

  • All services for REV and MKV (support, mail and key drop off) will be rerouted through Village 1 Front Desk. 
  • V1, UWP and CLV Front Desks remain open.
  • Effective at 4 p.m. today, REV and MKV Front Desks will be closed. 
  • Study spaces and common spaces within residence buildings are unavailable for the rest of the term.
  • Food Services:
    • Mudie’s (V1) is open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 8:0 p.m. In order to provide more food options, reduce food waste, and provide better customer service, Food Services encourages students to utilize their meal plans at Village 1. 
    • REVelation (REV) and The Market (CMH) have been closed.
    • Seating areas are closed. Packaged foods and take out containers will continue to be the only options. 
    • If you have more questions about eateries or your meal plan, please contact Food Services at foodservices@uwaterloo.ca.

“We know you may still have questions,” says the note from Housing. “Our COVID-19 residence webpage is updated daily to support you during this transition. Our staff are also available to support you. Please email housing@uwaterloo.ca and we will respond to your questions 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.”

Additionally, please continue to follow updates from campus on the main Coronavirus webpage.

Global Impact: Breaking the cycle of poverty

A young girl in a school uniform.

This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Waterloo Stories as part of an ongoing Global Impact series.

Despite menstruation being a natural aspect of human life, at least 500 million women globally still lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management. “Menstrual hygiene is such a large determining factor for a girl’s trajectory in life,” says Anna Kuepfer, a Waterloo student and co-founder of SheCycle. “If she’s missing school because of her period, it can lower her level of education and lead to earlier pregnancy, in addition to all of the other health risks that infections are causing.” 

Read how SheCycle is keeping girls healthy and in school with a sanitary pad

Warrior workouts go online and other notable notes

A woman does yoga in front of a television.

Warrior Recreation is now offering online workouts Monday to Friday, three times a day at 10:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. 

"It is vitally important that everyone finds a way to keep their mind and body moving during this time of isolation," said Roly Webster, director of athletics and recreation. "Although we are unable to be together in an active setting right now, providing a tool for our students and community to take care of their wellness is a to priority of our department right now. We encourage all to take part."

The schedule is subject to change as Athletics continues to confirm instructors for each session. The schedule for this week is online now and updates will be posted as they become available.

You can access the workouts through Zoom. To do so:

Check out the Waterloo Warriors Facebook page and Warrior Recreation's Instagram page for more information.

Here are the latest updates this week at the Centre for Career Action (March 23 to 27):

  • Effective Tuesday, March 17, all Centre for Career Action appointments and drop-ins will be offered virtually. Appointment and drop-in times are available through WaterlooWorks.
  • For updated information on appointment procedures, see the Centre for Career Action website.

The University of Waterloo Brain Bee, hosted by the Department of Kinesiology, was scheduled to take place on Saturday April 4 but has been cancelled. Kinesiology is working with registrants to possibly reschedule the event later in the Spring term.

Previous | Next | Current

Link of the day

The comic characters Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix.

Asterix creator Albert Uderzo, 1927-2020

When and Where it isn't

Please note: The University has suspended all in-person events until further notice. Please contact the event organizers to confirm whether the event has shifted to an online mode of delivery.

If you have listed an event with the Daily Bulletin and need to cancel, postpone or modify the listing, please send an email to bulletin@uwaterloo.ca. 

If you have an upcoming event that has not yet appeared in the When and Where listing, please send an email to bulletin@uwaterloo.ca to confirm the event's status.

Akindi Live Training (Webinar), Wednesday, March 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Register on GoSignMeUp.

University Senate meeting, Monday, March 30. Note: this meeting will take place online.

Map the System Campus Finals, “A global competition that challenges students to think differently about social and environmental change.” Monday, April 6, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please note: The top three teams and campus nominee for the Map the System Canadian finals in May (to be held online) will now be selected based on written submissions due at 6:59 p.m. EST on April 8.

Faculty Association Spring General Meeting, Tuesday, April 7, 12:00 p.m. Note: this event will take place online.

Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact"

Here's the latest Nutrition Month content supplied by Health Services Dietitian Sandra Ace:

Today’s Nutrition Month post will look at whether it’s safe to consume food and beverages prepared in restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This advice is based on current information, although guidance may change as knowledge evolves. Since much is still unknown about how this highly contagious respiratory particle behaves, I am refraining from using my usual myth vs fact format.

Although food service establishments have closed their doors to dine-in customers, those that remain open are serving food and beverages for takeout or delivery. While I encourage people to make food at home as much as possible, buying prepared meals may be a necessity for some or may be seen as a way to support local businesses. As many of our usual day-to-day activities have been upended, ordering takeout from a favourite restaurant can help provide a sense of normalcy at a very challenging time, even if briefly. Whatever the reason for doing so, purchasing prepared food from restaurants appears to be safe when precautions are followed. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, there is no evidence that any COVID-19 virus transmission has occured through food. The Government of Canada also states “there is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of COVID-19.”

Keep in mind that health agencies are encouraging all individuals to stay home as much as possible. If you choose to order food, follow physical distancing guidelines by maintaining a minimum 2-metre distance from others when picking up takeout or receiving delivered items. Pay electronically so cash does not have to exchange hands.

Until more is known about how long COVID-19 survives on objects, it may be prudent to consider packages that come into your home from outside, including takeout or delivered food, as potentially contaminated. Before handling your order, wash your hands with soap and water. Sanitize the outside of the food package (ensuring wipes or sanitizing agents do not come in contact with your food) or, better yet, transfer the food to a clean container and dispose of the original packaging. Wash your hands again before reheating your meal as well as after eating. The BC Centre for Disease control advises that ”normal cooking temperatures will kill COVID-19 and other microbes in food” and recommends that “as with other microbes” a thermometer should be used to check that the internal temperature of the food has reached 74°C.

If you have any symptoms of a viral infection do NOT leave your home to pick up food; observe all public health recommendations and medical advice from your physician. If you have food delivered, instruct the delivery person to leave the food outside your door. Visit this page at Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services to learn more about general food safety or for a contact number if you have food or restaurant-related concerns.