Extended Stay-at-Home Order
Visit ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´’s COVID-19 website.
April 19, 2021
Key Messages
- Ontario extends stay-at-home order for all regions of Ontario
- Any work that can be done from home must be done from home
- Outdoor social gatherings no longer permitted
- Reminder of on-campus mitigation measures and procedures
To All Members of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Community,
As announced on Friday, April 16, 2021, the Government of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, has extended the by two weeks and is further reinforcing across the province.
Extended Stay-at-Home Order
The extended stay-at-home order requires everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise or for work that cannot be performed remotely.
Under the stay-at-home order, all ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ employees (including faculty, course instructors and staff) are, now more than ever, only permitted to come to campus to maintain essential operations and perform necessary work – including approved research – that cannot be done remotely.
As part of the government’s strengthening of public health measures, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development will be ramping up workplace inspections. Any work that can be done from home must be done from home.
Additionally, as of April 17, 2021, outdoor social gatherings are not permitted, except with members of your immediate household.
We are currently assessing the impact of the provisions of the order relating to construction projects. Based on a preliminary review, the majority of on-campus construction projects can continue, and we will continue to communicate with relevant stakeholders.
Accessing Campus
If you are required to access campus for necessary work that cannot be done remotely, please follow the appropriate and complete the mandatory each day before coming to campus.
If you have any questions regarding whether or not you can access campus for essential reasons, please discuss this with your manager, supervisor, chair or dean. Case-by-case support is available to managers, supervisors, chairs and deans through the Return to Campus working group. Please email .
Accommodations/Leave for Childcare Responsibilities
With the closure of K-12 schools, we are committed to continuing to support all of our employees with their caregiving responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations can be requested from your manager, supervisor or dean. This may include working alternate hours, other flexibility options, requesting a leave (e.g., special, annual) from work, or a combination of these options. Managers and supervisors should check with Human Resources () or, in the case of faculty, with the Office of the Deputy Provost, before implementing an alternative work arrangement.
Reach Out For Support
We know this is a challenging time for all members of our community and we encourage any employee and their family members who need support to reach out to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) by calling 1-877-725-5676 or through the portal. These services are free for all ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ faculty, course instructors and staff and any interactions you have through the EFAP are confidential.
The health and safety of all members of our community remains a top priority. We ask that everyone continues to follow public health guidelines and government regulations to ensure the safety of our community.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Blanchard
COVID-19 Lead on behalf of the COVID-19 Steering Committee
