Thursday, October 8, 2020

University introduces COVID case-tracking dashboard

"As Ontario grapples with increased numbers of COVID-19 cases, we are taking steps to increase transparency for our campus community," wrote President Feridun Hamdullahpur in an email circulated to the campus community yesterday. "Starting October 1, 2020, the University of Waterloo will post information provided to us by public health units on positive cases of COVID-19 amongst students and employees who attended one of our campuses."

"Our new dashboard will track confirmed positive cases and keep a complete record of cases as they are reported," the president writes. "We are voluntarily adopting this new protocol for all cases reported by public health to University officials. We will continue to follow public health guidance on specific cases to ensure that every individual at risk of infection knows what to do."

"We take the privacy of individuals extremely seriously. In reporting on positive cases, the University will seek to protect the private health information of individuals. You should check our disclosure protocol for what to do if someone reveals to you that they have tested positive for COVID-19."

Cases amongst the campus community are low

"Before adopting this new reporting protocol, the University followed guidance of public health representatives to determine if we needed to make public any confirmed positive cases," President Hamdullahpur wrote. "Up until October 1, no such guidance was received and cases in our community have stayed low."

"Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, public health units have confirmed a total of five positive cases of employees or students who visited campus. In all cases, the risk to other individuals was deemed to be low and public health informed the close contacts of the affected individuals."

"In the last 24 hours, Region of Waterloo public health informed us of one individual from our community who tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is in self-isolation and public health officials are in the process of contacting relevant close contacts."

If you have not been identified as a close contact of the individual, you should continue to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek testing if needed.

Take precautions to stay safe

"We know that COVID-19 is in our community, so we encourage everyone to take precautions by washing your hands, practicing physical distancing when you have to go out and wearing a mask in public spaces," Hamdullahpur's memo continues. "To ensure the health and safety of everyone who comes to our campuses, we require that employees and students monitor daily for symptoms of COVID-19."

"Before arriving on campus each day, please complete the COVID-19 self-assessment, which can also be found in the WatSAFE app. The self-assessment is only meant as an aid and cannot diagnose you with COVID-19. If you have medical questions, contact your health care provider or your local public health unit."

You should familiarize yourself with our protocols for employees and students who test positive for COVID-19.

• Employee Health Protocols for COVID-19 Cases and Exposures
• Student Health Protocols for COVID-19 Cases and Exposures

"I know that news of any cases amongst our campus community will cause some people concern," the president writes. "I want you to be assured that we have plans in place to respond to any case or outbreak. Working together, and looking out for other Warriors, will help us all limit the spread of COVID-19."

Keeping Well at Work 2020 is going virtual

A message from the Healthy Workplace Committee.

The University of Waterloo and the Healthy Workplace Committee will be hosting the fourth annual Keeping Well at Work virtually for 2020 to support employees from the comfort of your own home or your office. The two-week long virtual event takes place from October 14 to October 23, 2020 and will have workshops and activities divided over five days during that time to offer flexibility with our busy schedules and current working situations.

The event includes dedicated Wellness workshops have been set-up to support your well-being, including Chair Yoga and Mindful Breathing, Coping with Isolation and Loneliness, Tips for Balanced Eating at Home and at Work, Building Resiliency. Presenters include Homewood Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and various offices on campus.

In 2020, our wellness has never been more important. We hope you will take part in this important event on self-care.

Learn more at https://uwaterloo.ca/keeping-well-at-work/ and register today. If you have questions about this event please contact the Healthy Workplace Committee via email at healthy.workplace@uwaterloo.ca.

Q and A with the experts: COVID-19 testing in pharmacies

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

COVID-19 testing for individuals with no COVID symptoms is now available at some pharmacies in Ontario and Alberta.

Professor Kelly Grindrod and Professor Nancy Waite are pharmacists and professors at the School of Pharmacy. Their research examines the role of pharmacists in the health-care system. They have been working with the Canadian Pharmacists Association on a national framework for the role of pharmacists in public health, and on issues around PPE, influenza vaccination and COVID testing in pharmacies. 

Who can get a COVID-19 test at a pharmacy?

Testing at pharmacy is available by appointment to people who are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do not have any symptoms, you may be eligible for a test if you meet any of the criteria established by the provincial government. These criteria were generated based on current public health guidelines and as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the criteria may change.

Call the pharmacy before you go to be screened and book an appointment. The government maintains a website that lists current assessment centers and pharmacies where testing is available.

Why were pharmacies chosen to administer asymptomatic COVID-19 testing?

The current surge in COVID cases and school requirements for testing children with symptoms created backlogs and long wait times for testing throughout the province. As one of the most accessible health-care professionals, community pharmacists were designated essential workers throughout the pandemic and, as a result, community pharmacies remained open while many other health-care offices were closed or operated virtually. 

Their easy proximity to most Ontarians, and extended hours, including evenings and weekends, make them a convenient and trusted site for COVID testing. Pharmacies have been conducting asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in Alberta since June, and have contributed to increasing the province’s testing capacity 

Are pharmacists qualified to conduct COVID-19 testing?

All pharmacists who are conducting COVID testing are trained in proper procedure, PPE and patient assessment. In Ontario, pharmacists already perform a number of public health services such as administering vaccinations. Some have additional training in administering point-of-care tests for various conditions. Pharmacists are qualified to perform the throat or nasal swab required for COVID-19 testing.

Additionally, pharmacies that offer testing are developing robust safety plans to ensure they minimize the risk of transmission for pharmacy staff and customers, and documentation of training protocols is coordinated with the Ministry of Health, pharmacy associations and companies or owners who manage the pharmacies.

How does testing in a pharmacy differ from testing in an assessment centre?

In addition to the different criteria for being tested at an assessment centre, the test administered at pharmacies will be different from those offered at the public health assessment centres.

The test at assessment centres involves the nasopharyngeal swab that goes quite deep up the nose and is used for diagnostic purposes. Pharmacies will be conducting a nasal or throat swab which is less uncomfortable and is intended for screening purposes.

Thursday's notes

The Graduate Studies Endowment Fund project application deadline is October 16. Anyone interested in applying can send an email to gsef@uwaterloo.ca if you have any questions.

The What's Next/What Now - Women in Engineering Conference is set to take place from Friday, October 23 at 5:00 p.m. to Saturday, October 24 at 4:45 p.m. "This full-day conference for first and upper-year engineering students will showcase a variety of guest speakers and workshops focused on helping participants navigate through both student life and career preparation," says a note from the conference organizers. "The conference is split into two streams. What's Next is for undergraduate students who have at least completed their second year of university with a goal of supporting the transition into their first full-time job/career. What Now is geared toward supporting first-year students transition from high school into their new undergraduate experience."