Loyalist College is joining some local businesses in asking people who may be travelling from areas of the province that are deemed “high risk” for COVID-19 transmission, not to come.
In a letter Tuesday morning, Loyalist President Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan is asking that “Students or employees who live outside of the Hastings Prince Edward Region in a grey or red zone do not travel to the college until otherwise notified”.
Dr. Vaughan says the college understands it’s not an ideal situation and that those students and staff would likely prefer to be on campus, but the measures are needed to reduce transmission risk, support local health partners and keep the local economy open.
Any students or staff living in orange, yellow, or green zones of the province can continue to to attend the school as they have been since the fall term began.
Here is the full letter from Loyalist College President Dr. Ann Marie Vaughn:
Good morning,
As you may be aware, the province has moved certain public health unit regions to new COVID-19 control levels in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework, including moving Toronto and Peel region into ‘Lockdown’ for a minimum of 28 days.
Provincial and regional health authorities are strongly recommending that people who are living in a region with maximum ‘Lockdown’ measures or stringent COVID-19 ‘Control’ measures not travel outside their region unless for essential services. This is critical in order to reduce COVID-19 transmission from these ‘grey zones’ or ‘red zones’ to the Hastings and Prince Edward region, which is a ‘green zone.’ If residents of grey or red zones have to travel outside their region, the rules for their zone still apply to them. For example, a resident who cannot eat in a restaurant in their region should refrain from eating in a restaurant in a green zone.
When it comes to the health and wellbeing of our community, the College wants to remove risks wherever possible. As such, we are asking that students or employees who live outside of the Hastings Prince Edward region in a grey or red zone do not travel to the College until otherwise notified. I know this is not ideal, and that you would prefer to be on-site for small class labs and hands-on activities. Rest assured we will provide learning accommodations, including alternate modalities of program delivery, assessment, and/or completion of academic requirements next term.
If you live in a grey Lockdown zone with maximum measures (Toronto or Peel region) or red Control zone with stringent measures (Durham and Waterloo regions) please contact your School directly and let them know you may require accommodations until the current Lockdown has been resolved.
Those living in an orange, yellow, or green zone can continue to attend College as you have been doing since Fall term commenced.
I appreciate that you are already making sacrifices and this request adds another challenge and disappointment, but every preventative action we take will help to flatten the curve and keep each other safe. It’s important that we support the amazing work of our Hastings Prince Edward Public Health partners in protecting essential workers and safeguarding our health system’s capacity. For the socioeconomic wellbeing of our region, we also need to do everything we can to keep our local economy open and support local businesses and employers.
While recent developments around a vaccine are promising, the rising numbers of cases in certain regions calls for this decisive action and I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Please continue to follow guidance provided in provincial assessment tools regarding testing and isolation, and if you develop any symptoms, stay home and do not come to campus.
Stay safe and well,
Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan
President and CEO
Loyalist College
