21. Staying healthy on campus this fall

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INTRO. TO HEALTH

22 | QUARANTINE TIPS 28 | READJUST TO IN-PERSON 30 | AVOID BURNOUT

sure to have a few extras stocked at home and on your person that are clean and ready to use.

Before coming to any U of G facilities, students, staff, faculty, and visitors must complete the U of G COVID-19 Screening Form and follow its instruction. The form will indicate whether an individual is cleared to come to campus or not.

2. COVID-19 vaccination

Using hand sanitizer is widely encouraged to keep your hands clean when you are on the go. CREDIT: PEXELS

Staying healthy on campus this fall

Six important guidelines to follow to protect yourself against COVID-19

LIDIA RAJCAN

The University of Guelph is gearing up for a nearly normal school year, with around 60 per cent of in-person classes set to take place. Following public health guidelines and working together as a community has been the most significant contributor to the U of G’s re-opening. As such, keeping up with the suggested safety protocols and ensuring that all incoming and returning students understand their role in doing so is crucial. Here are six of the best ways to stay healthy on campus.

1. The basics and daily screening

Wearing a mask and sanitizing or washing your hands may seem redundant to mention at this point in the pandemic, but it’s still worth highlighting. Whether it’s before entering class, leaving class, shopping at the bookstore or right before handling your lunch – pull out that hand-sanitizer or use the university’s sanitizing stations throughout campus to keep your hands clean. Masks are also a must, so make An important step to take this school year (if you haven’t already) is to monitor how your body feels. Be aware of symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, etc. that are often linked to COVID-19. If such symptoms persist, be sure to get tested as soon as possible. The U of G is offering an on-campus COVID-19 Assessment and Testing Clinic, open to all students, faculty, and staff. If you end up testing positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to a positive case, contact the U of G Call Centre for next steps and guidance on self-isolation or monitoring.

If someone in the U of G community tests positive for COVID-19 or is required to self-isolate, they must fill out a self-declaration form. Once the form is completed, affected individuals will be connected with support from Student Health Services or Occupational Health and Wellness. If an individual has been cleared to return to campus, these departments will help with planning for their safe return to the classroom or workspace.

The U of G recently announced that all faculty, staff, and students who come to campus need to be vaccinated with at least one dose before Sept. 7, and their second dose by Oct. 15. An individual’s vaccine status is to be declared each day before coming to campus via the U of G’s COVID-19 Daily Screening Form. The university says they reserve the right to take action against anyone who submits false information regarding their status.

Vaccinations will be available through Student Health Services on campus, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health clinics, and most pharmacies. Check their respective websites for whether you can walk-in or need to make an appointment. All students planning to live on campus must become fully vaccinated within 30 days of checking into residence. To ensure credibility, students had to have submitted ONE of the following to the university by Aug. 16: confirmation of full vaccination (two doses – same or mixed – of Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine); confirmation of partial vaccination (one dose) and a plan for obtaining a second dose; a vaccination plan for obtaining both a first and second dose; and lastly, an exemption request. An email sent out on July 29 to all residence students included information on how to submit proof of vaccination, provide a vaccination plan or request an exemption. To participate in face-to-face music or theatre classes this fall, students must have received their first vaccine dose by Aug. 19 and their second dose by Sept. 16.

Varsity athletes have until Sept. 30 to become fully vaccinated. Non-vaccinated varsity athletes without an approved exemption will not be allowed to compete. Those with exemptions will be required to get regularly tested. The university is currently requiring and providing mandatory rapid testing of teams as part of its health and safety practices. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors will have to provide the university with documented proof of vaccination before entering any U of G facility, and will be provided with information on how to do so via the university’s COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ webpage. Those aged 13 or older who are not vaccinated must receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entering U of G facilities.

All incoming international and domestic students arriving from outside of Canada must register online with the U of G’s Mandatory Quarantine Program before travelling. To qualify for quarantine exemption, international students must be vaccinated with Health Canada approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen). If choosing to be vaccinated in Canada (on campus or elsewhere), make sure to bring a piece of government-issued ID to your appointment to confirm your identity. Some international students may receive their first dose of the vaccine in their home country and be eligible to receive their second dose while in Canada.

3. Physical distancing

Signs have been posted throughout campus encouraging all staff and students to maintain a two metre distance from each other based on current Public Health Guidelines. These signs also indicate traffic flow and room capacities. To keep yourself and others healthy and safe, be sure to follow such signs diligently. Once September rolls around, however, the U of G expects physical distancing measures to be reduced, so keep monitoring uoguelph. ca/covid19 for updates on any COVID-19 guideline changes.

4. Knowing the symptoms and getting tested

5. COVID-19 safety training

of G’s COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Awareness Training course via CourseLink before arriving on campus this school year. This training course will bring you up to date on all the COVID-19 policies in place throughout campus, and helps you to become comfortable with the steps you need to take to keep yourself and the U of G community safe.

6. Mental well-being

Mental care is health care! During these trying times, be sure to look out for yourself and seek help whenever needed. COVID-19 has understandably brought about a lot of feelings of isolation and helplessness. Even though you might not be able to see your friends and family, connect with them through email, phone calls, video chats, or social media. The practice of mindfulness can also be used to ease anxiety and stress; you can be mindful by allowing yourself to think freely without judgment while stretching or taking deep breaths. In addition, eating nutritious meals regularly and getting daily exercise and plenty of sleep are all

The University of Guelph has mandated COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, faculty, and students on campus this fall. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

important to maintaining balance in the mind and body. When in doubt, be kind and compassionate to yourself and always remember that whatever challenges you may be facing at the moment will not last forever. Though these tips provide a basic starting point for mental health care, you may find you need extra support. The university’s mental health and well-being resources can be accessed through the Gryphon Family Portal, where you can find information on free counselling programs and various professional support services for differing mental health needs. Stay diligent about taking care of yourself and our community this fall. We can help make the U of G a healthy and safe place for all, and have a positive future to look forward to together.