This posting from HPE public health last Friday encourages continued social distancing. HPE defines a high-risk contact as someone who has been in close contact with someone who has the virus. Photo courtesy of HPE public health Twitter
By Shira Rubinoff [1]
BELLEVILLE – Loyalist College president Ann Marie Vaughan sent out a college-wide email [2] Wednesday afternoon informing students and staff that a Loyalist community member has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Hastings Prince Edward public health team has deemed the case to be low-risk, said Vaughan, and no transmission occurred on campus. Those who may be high-risk contacts of the COVID-positive person were notified by public health and are self-isolating, she said.
In the email, Vaughan reminded the college community that “any individual on campus who does not adhere to Public Health guidelines and/or does not report symptoms or risk of exposure truthfully, is in violation of the student code of conduct [3].”
A violation of the code can have the consequence of suspension or expulsion. Additionally, anyone who violates public health guidelines could be fined according to the Reopening Ontario Act [4].
Vaughan’s memo said that anyone who needs to come to campus and has no symptoms of COVID-19 must always wear a mask, and must add an additional layer of protection like a visor or goggles if the person needs to be within two metres of someone else for longer than a brief period.
The email did not define what a “brief period” is.