Nipissing University confirms community outbreak of COVID-19
North Bay, ON – Nipissing University has received notification from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) that they have declared a community COVID-19 outbreak after six (6) members of the Nipissing University athletic community have tested positive for COVID-19. Only three (3) of those individuals have confirmed to have been on campus. While the individuals who tested positive do not live on Nipissing University’s campus, they have had interactions at the R.J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre and at social gatherings off campus. None of the known positive cases have been on campus since the R.J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre closed for a deep cleaning on November 18.
Close contact tracing has been completed by the Health Unit and those who were in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 were asked to self-isolate and arrange to be tested. Individuals who have attended social gatherings with those who are part of the Nipissing University athletic community are asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. If they develop symptoms of COVID-19 they should isolate immediately and arrange to be tested.
The University is proactively implementing additional measures at the Athletics Centre which include further reducing building capacity, limiting training to individual sessions and cancelling all group training.
“The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and faculty remains our top priority and we continue to work with the Health Unit to ensure we are taking all of the recommended steps to prevent further spread of COVID-19,” said Cheryl Sutton, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “These are challenging times, however it is more important than ever for all of us to do our part to keep our community safe by closely following public health protocols.”
Nipissing University has developed comprehensive protocols for any reported confirmed case of COVID-19. These have been developed in close consultation with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.
Nipissing University provides information about positive cases on campus on the Positive Cases on Campus website. The Positive Cases on Campus website is updated daily, Monday to Friday. Cases reported on this page are considered closed after 14 days.
Nipissing University has implemented a number of measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 on campus and in the community including delivering classes online, limiting access to campus, screening visitors, and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing campus buildings on a daily basis. Individuals attending campus must wear a face covering and maintain physical distancing.
Staff, faculty and students are reminded to adhere to public health guidelines including physical distancing, wearing a face covering, washing or sanitizing hands often, not touching your face, and coughing or sneezing into your sleeve. Individuals with any symptoms of COVID-19 should not visit campus, but instead should self-isolate immediately and get tested.
Members of the Nipissing University community are also encouraged to download the Nipissing Safe app.
-30-
Contact:
Meghan Venasse
Manager, Communications
Nipissing University
705-474-3450 ext. 4615
meghanv@nipissingu.ca