SASKATOON — Rising cases of the coronavirus Omicron variant has forced University of Saskatchewan officials to extend the health and safety measures they had put in place last month. This means winter term classes being done remotely will continue as well as those being delivered in person.
The extension was a precautionary measure to minimize in-person activity on entire campus and keep students, faculty and staff safe as the current global health crisis enters its second year. USask employees working remotely will be directly informed by their respective superiors or leaders on what will be the next steps to take.
The Pandemic Response and Recovery Team, and the USask president’s executive committee made the decision based on monitoring closely the spread of the Omicron variant through data based on wastewater and all COVID positive test results in the community. Likewise, a return to campus — classes and work — will be assessed before Feb. 7.
“Given the increased transmissibility of Omicron, in combination with the rising case numbers throughout the province, a brief extension of the current precautionary measures will help to ensure reduced on-campus transmission and to return our campus community back to more in-person activity as originally planned,” USask said in a statement to students.
“Given the data available, it is not anticipated that a further extension of precautionary measures will be required beyond Feb. 7. Knowing that we are living through a quickly changing situation in many parts of Canada, we will continue to monitor and adjust our safety protocols as necessary to ensure the health and wellness of our campus and broader communities.”
The advisory has also reminded all students, faculty and staff to continue doing their share in preventing the further spread of the virus and its variants by being fully vaccinated — two doses — and getting booster shots, wearing at all times a three-ply single-use masks while on campus.
USask officials are also advising everyone — students, faculty, staff or visitors — to stay home if they feel sick even if it is not a COVID-related illness, to not come to the campus until they are symptom-free for 48 hours, and use a rapid test kit before joining any in-person gatherings.
