Process for communicating about COVID-19 cases at Ryerson

To: All academic and administrative leaders, CC: Human Resources

March 26, 2020

We are writing to provide important information about the process for managing and communicating suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases at Ryerson University. The university remains focused on the health and well-being of our community members and committed to ensuring that our students can successfully complete this academic term.

Ryerson’s response to probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus is driven by the direction of public health agencies.

If an employee or student indicates a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19, contact Ryerson’s biosafety officer

Ryerson’s biosafety officer, Tanya Vlaskalin, is tracking all probable or confirmed cases of COVID-19 that are reported to her.

If you become aware of a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 that could impact the health and safety of Ryerson’s community members, contact Tanya at tatjana.vlaskalin@torontomu.ca. If it is an employee, please cc your HR partner.

Both Tanya and your HR partner will be able to support you with the next steps.

In deciding whether or not to communicate a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case on campus, Ryerson University considers:

confirmed risk to the health and safety of the Ryerson community
the direction of Toronto Public Health

At this time, Ryerson is following Toronto Public Health protocol and therefore will not be communicating probable cases of COVID-19 on campus. We will continue to work with Toronto Public Health and notify you of any changes to their protocol as the situation continues to evolve.

Ryerson will work with Toronto Public Health when a confirmed case impacts the safety of Ryerson community members

Ryerson has been advised by Toronto Public Health that when a case is confirmed, possible exposure and spread is tracked through the respective agency. Individuals who may be at risk are contacted accordingly.

In the event that a Ryerson community member is confirmed to have COVID-19, and there is a possible threat to our community, Ryerson’s biosafety officer will work under the direction of Toronto Public Health, or another public health unit, to implement their directives in preventing further spread of COVID-19. This could include communications to specific areas or the broader community if it is determined that it may be a risk to the health and safety of the Ryerson community.

We appreciate your ongoing leadership during this period

As you know, in response to COVID-19, the university has shifted all classes online and moved to an essential service model on campus. We continue to encourage our community to monitor their own health and follow the directives of the government and public health agencies.

We know that these are unprecedented and unsettling times. We appreciate your ongoing thoughtful leadership during this period. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tanya Vlaskalin, the university’s biosafety officer, at tatjana.vlaskalin@torontomu.ca.