[cid:image001.png@01D7C04A.EE35B8D0] UM SAFE RETURN UPDATE
On August 19, President Benarroch announced all faculty, staff, students and campus visitors will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In Septemberhttps://news.umanitoba.ca/proof-of-vaccination-process-rolls-out/, we launched the process for employees and students to provide proof of full vaccination and the initial response rate was very good, with over 16,000 students and employees having uploaded their proof of vaccination. Thank you to those who have already uploaded their proof! A team is now in place to review and verify all submissions. You will only be contacted if further information is required.
As we move further into fall and closer to Winter Term, we need to gain a complete picture of the vaccination rate of the UM community to make decisions about what a healthy and safe campus will look like in January. To do this, we need all students and employees to upload their proof of vaccination now, and not wait until the deadline. This includes all students who are learning remotely and are not currently on campus, as well as all employees who are working from home.
You can upload your proof of vaccination on UM's secure sitehttps://covid-declaration.umanitoba.ca/ - it's quick and easy, with people reporting that it took them only two minutes.
For those who are not fully vaccinated, we encourage you to get your vaccinations as soon as possible. University Health Service has appointments availablehttps://news.umanitoba.ca/um-vaccination-clinic-book-your-appointment-now/ for both first and second doses. You can also visit the province's vaccine pagehttps://protectmb.ca/ for information on making arrangements to be vaccinated. One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.
Currently, all students and employees who are not fully vaccinated and coming onto our campuses must undergo COVID-19 asymptomatic rapid testing.
The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences has implemented asymptomatic testing protocols for all individuals accessing the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences including all buildings on the Bannatyne campus and the Helen Glass building on the Fort Garry campus. Testing is required every 48 hours to access Rady Faculty of Health Sciences buildings.
On Fort Garry campus and other satellite locations, employees and students who are not fully vaccinated are required to undergo COVID-19 asymptomatic rapid testing prior to participating in any activity on campus. These individuals must attend the Fort Garry campus rapid testing site located in the Fitzgerald Building at 55 Chancellor's Circle (rooms 303 and 304)https://umanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/2021-10/210924-covid-19-rapid-testing-site.pdf. The hours of operation are 7am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Test results will be valid for 72 hours. Those individuals who are not fully vaccinated and who expect to be on campus after hours must visit the testing site during its hours of operation to either be tested or to pick-up a testing kit for self-testing at home with an obligation to report results to UofM.rapidtesting@umanitoba.camailto:UofM.rapidtesting@umanitoba.ca . For those working in satellite locations, please follow the instructions you have received on where to pick up the test kits.
More information about UM's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the UM vaccine information pagehttps://umanitoba.ca/coronavirus/vaccine-information.
In summary:
* Submit your proof of vaccination now, whether you are working or learning in-person or remotely, or as soon as you have it. * The November 14th submission deadline was selected to allow time for unvaccinated members of our community to become fully vaccinated. * Those who do not submit proof are considered unvaccinated. * Those who are unvaccinated and come onto our campuses are required to undergo rapid testing. * Get vaccinated as soon as possible at University Health Serviceshttps://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/health-wellness/university-health-service or at one of the provincial sites.https://protectmb.ca/ * For questions about COVID-19 safety: safereturn@umanitoba.camailto:safereturn@umanitoba.ca * For questions about rapid testing: UofM.rapidtesting@umanitoba.camailto:UofM.rapidtesting@umanitoba.ca
Thank you for your cooperation in creating a healthy and safe campus community and for preparing for a more normal level of activity for the upcoming Winter Term.
Sincerely,
UM COVID-19 Recovery Steering Committee
