Thursday, June 11, 2020

Q and A with the experts: what's the deal with masks now?

The University of Waterloo has a number of experts available for comment on various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

You could be forgiven for not knowing where, exactly we are with guidance on whether to wear a mask in public or not.

To explain the current recommendation from Public Health, Professor Narveen Jandu of the School of Public Health and Health Systems answers our questions.

What is the current recommendation from Public Health about face masks?

The updated public health guidelines now recommend wearing a face-covering during this COVID-19 pandemic.  This recommendation provides another layer (literally and physically) of prevention on top of the initial infection prevention and control strategies, which include: staying at home, physical distancing & hand-washing.  Face coverings are now recommended for use in the community setting where physical distancing is challenging, such as in a grocery store or on public transit. 

What kind of mask should we be wearing?

An ideal face covering would have the following characteristics: breathable, large enough to cover mouth and nose, good fit around mouth and nose, easy to put on and take off, secure and durable, soft and comfortable, at least 2-layers of material, maintains shape and integrity when wearing, maintains shape and integrity during cleansing, low cost, low maintenance, washable & reusable with little to no waste. Ideally, the face-covering also has directionality with an inside (i.e. the side that touches the mouth and nose) and an outside.

Is there a right way to use a mask? 

A few steps to keep in mind when using a face-covering: Attaching: (1) be sure to wash hands with soap and water before handling the face-covering; (2) use the loops or ties to handle the face-covering; (3) secure the loops or ties around your ears or behind your head; Removing (3) wash hands with soap and water; (4) use the loops or ties to remove the face covering; (5) fold inwards and set aside to be washed. It can be placed in a plastic bag after use and before washing.  Washing with soap and water, just as washing hands with soap and water, is sufficient^1, 2, 3. 

What should you consider when choosing or making a mask?

Face coverings should not impair or compromise breathing, should not fall apart during wear or during washing, should not be made using hard rigid unbreathable materials, should not be shared, should not be carelessly tossed in pockets or personal bags.  Face coverings are not recommended for children under 2-years of age.  Caution should still be used with children, the elderly, anyone with underlying respiratory or other health issues.  The purpose of the face-covering should be clearly explained and all individuals should be able to attach and remove the face-covering on their own without any assistance.

Stay up to date with the University of Waterloo's guidance on wearing masks.

OUA announces cancellation of sanctioned sport programming up to December 31, 2020

This is an excerpt from an article on the Athletics and Recreation website.

Ontario University Athletics (OUA), under the direction of its Board of Directors, announced the cancellation of all OUA-sanctioned sport programming and championships up to December 31st, 2020.

A decision of this magnitude was not made lightly, but the process of reaching this conclusion was based on provincial public health guidelines and with the health and wellbeing of all OUA participants at the forefront.

"To date we have been planning various scenarios in hopes that our student-athletes could still compete in OUA sport this fall. With the top priority being the health and safety of all involved, and the lack of clarity of a timeline towards a new normal where sport would be permitted, today's announcement unfortunately is not surprising, but reality," said director of athletics and recreation, Roly Webster. 

"While this provides clarity for the fall competitive season, we will now focus on supporting our student-athletes as they digest the impact of this announcement, and continue to work on their academic success, while preparing next steps, once permitted, to allow student-athletes to return to train, and prioritize their wellbeing."

Read the full announcement on the Athletics and Recreation website.

Black Lives Matter Here: a virtual safe space

Black community members of the University of Waterloo and the broader community are invited to a virtual space for support, community care, to voice their experiences with anti-Black racism, and action, facilitated by Dr. Christopher Taylor and Victoria Rodney.

Black Lives Matter Here will take place on June 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will be held online using a video link that will be provided once you register. This session will be an opportunity to explore individual and collective experiences on campus, in Waterloo Region, and life in general as Black beings; and, to heal together. Register on the event webpage.

Mandatory two-factor authentication and other notes

Last year, IST introduced optional two-factor authentication (2FA) for many of our campus enterprise systems. 2FA adds a second layer of security to University accounts, keeping them secure even if the password is compromised.

Effective November 1, 2020, 2FA will be mandatory for the following systems: Campus virtual private network (VPN), Office 365 (including email), Quest, Workday, Unit4, Concur, and LEARN. Instructions for enabling 2FA on your account are available on the IST 2FA website. You are encouraged to enrol early to familiarize yourself with this service prior to the implementation date.

The Moving careers forward: Community of Practice for women presents: Achieve your goals with 1% effort. In this online session, you will learn the essential step of understanding your why. Using this foundation, you will learn a new way of goal setting that distinguishes between destination and process goals. This system can easily apply to your career, health or lifestyle goals. Sustainable change can happen with 1% effort, come learn how! Presented by Stacey Majaury, Conditioning Coordinator, University of Waterloo Athletics and Recreation.

Join us online, Wednesday June 17 at 12:00 p.m. Registration is now open in WaterlooWorks. Registrants will be emailed the meeting link prior to the workshop.

Save the date for Staying Positive: Developing your career during these challenging times on Thursday, July 23 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. 

What’s holding you back from moving forward in your career?  Join the conversation at the Moving careers forward: Community of Practice for women. 

The Renison Association of Academic Staff (RAAS) has announced that is has been certified as a trade union as of March 23, 2020. RAAS was first established as a non-certified association in February 2018. With certification under the Ontario Labour Relations Act, RAAS will be the official bargaining agent for all academic staff employed by Renison University College “holding tenure or tenure-track positions, continuing lecturer positions, professional librarians, and those having a limited duration contract, save and except academic staff employed on a sessional or a per-course basis, library assistants, non-credit academic staff, and administrators at the rank of Academic Dean, Vice-President or higher.” RAAS currently represents forty-nine academic staff members.

The RAAS’s mandate is to negotiate a Collective Agreement between the employer and Members, represent Members in matters arising from the application of the Agreement, promote the welfare of its Members through sound policies and practices, protect academic freedom, promote collegial governance, and facilitate the exchange of ideas among academic staff, the broader University College community, and the general public.

A service agreement between RAAS and the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) came into effect on January 1, 2019. Under this agreement, RAAS members remain concurrently FAUW members and enjoy the support of both organizations.

For more information, contact Professor Kristina Llewellyn, president and negotiation committee member.