COVID-19 COMMUNIQUE #27

To all Learners, Staff and Full-Time Faculty:

Changes to Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework – Impact on NOSM

On Friday, February 12, the Ontario Government announced that effective Tuesday, February 16, 2021, twenty-seven public health regions would transition back to one of five colour zones, per the COVID-19 Response Framework. The four remaining public health regions (Toronto, Peel, York and North Bay Parry Sound District) will remain in a lockdown, and the Stay-at-Home Order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures will continue to apply to these four public health regions.    

Public health regions will have the authority to, immediately, move communities to different colour zones based on the trends in local public health indicators. As such, it is important to monitor the Government of Ontario’s website to find your local COVID19 colour zone and determine how your community is affected. Regions in Northern Ontario will be transitioning at different times.

While transitioning out of lockdown, the Government has cautioned that, with the risk of new variants, this is not a reopening or a return to normal. Until vaccines are widely available, it remains critical that all individuals and families continue to strictly adhere to public health measures, stay home as much as possible and limit your outings for exercise or essential purposes.

With the transitioning to colour zones, the following clarifies the impact on NOSM travel and on-campus activities:

Travel between Sudbury and Thunder Bay and on-campus events

Work-related travel for staff and full-time faculty continues to be suspended. With the exception of allowable on-campus clinical education activities, all events and meetings must be planned virtually to support NOSM’s goal of mitigating transmission of the virus.

Through exceptional circumstances deemed operationally necessary, employees may travel between campuses, subject to approval by their Associate Dean or the Chief Operating Officer.
 

Learner Travel to Clinical Placements

Travel to scheduled community and clinical placements that has been approved by the program area (Program Director, Supervisor, Phase Lead, etc.) is permitted.

Learners who are completing community clinical placements may be subject to other conditions and protocols that are required by the host health-care organizations or the program area. While on clinical placement, COVID-19 policies and protocols of the clinical teaching sites will supersede NOSM’s policy on travel. Please confirm any travel restrictions established by health-care organizations that could affect your travel plans.
 

Travel within Ontario

Travel continues to be discouraged but permitted for essential purposes. The Ontario Government continues to ask people to stay home as much as possible and not expand their social circles beyond their immediate household.

In accordance with the Government’s guidelines, travel should be limited to areas that are in the same colour zone as your current residence. For example, if you live in a zone designated yellow then travel to another yellow zone would not be as risky. Consequently, the Government has strongly discouraged travel to other colour zones unless essential.

If essential travel is required to a colour zone that has a higher risk than your current colour zone, you are required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. If you develop symptoms during that time, you are required to take the COVID-19 self-assessment and follow instructions or call the local public health unit to arrange for guidance (e.g. testing). If directed by Public Health to stay home and self-isolate, you may only return to work once you are cleared by Public Health.
 

Travel within Canada and international travel

Work-related travel is not permitted until further notice. If travel is deemed necessary, it will require prior approval by the Associate Dean or the Dean if an Associate Dean is requesting travel permission.

Individuals who consider travelling to another province for essential reasons should:
  • consider the risk associated with travelling – this includes COVID-19 transmission in the other province, entry requirements (for example, quarantine) of some other provinces
  • self-quarantine, or drastically reduce close contact with others 10 to 14 days before travelling and after returning home, to help lower the risk of exposure to COVID-19
  • follow general public health advice, rules and regulations of Ontario and the other province
Individuals who consider travelling outside of Canada for essential reasons, upon returning must:
  • self-isolate (quarantine) and stay home for 14 days whether you have symptoms or not
  • get tested for COVID-19 on arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport, as part of Ontario’s six-point plan to stop the spread of COVID-19 variants of concern

Examples of Essential Travel

Essential travel could include, but is not limited to:
  • permitted work/educational (e.g. clinical training) activities;
  • health (immediate medical care), safety and security;
  • economic, legal or financial;
  • supporting Indigenous communities; and,
  • tending to sick family members who have no one else to help them in Canada
If you must travel for essential purposes, please continue to follow COVID-19 health guidelines as outlined by Public Health Ontario.

The Government’s requirements and Public Health guidelines change rapidly. As such, should you choose to travel, it is possible that rules could change during your time away which could affect your return to campus or clinical placement.

Attending Campus

If you must attend campus, please ensure to follow the established protocols for Return to Campus, which include:
  • Obtaining Supervisor approval by email and copy Human Resources (hr@nosm.ca).
  • Completing the Mandatory Return to Campus Training and Attestation (provided by HR following supervisor authorization to be on campus).
  • Completing the Covid-19 Screening Tool prior to each time entering NOSM buildings.
  • Wearing a face-covering when on campus.
  • Following building directional signage.
  • If office/room cleaning is required, hang the “Please Clean” sign on the outside of your door.
See these flowcharts for Working on Campus or if you are Suddenly Feeling Unwell While on Campus.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact hr@nosm.ca.

NOSM Emergency Response Team
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