Health & safety resources

Students, faculty, and staff will be asked to provide proof of their vaccination status prior to accessing university campuses.

Students, faculty, and staff who are not fully vaccinated, or choose not to provide proof of vaccination, will have to undergo COVID-19 testing twice a week and will be required to provide proof that the testing has taken place.

Learn more.

• All students, faculty and staff should fill out the Dalhousie vaccine survey.
  
• Dalhousie will also be hosting on-campus vaccination clinics (for both booked appointments and walk-ins) this fall.
• Vaccinations are also widely accessible near each of our campuses, including at pharmacies and primary care centres. Learn how to book your vaccine appointment.
• Out-of-province or international students who are not fully vaccinated prior to arriving will be able to get vaccinated free-of-charge once they arrive in Nova Scotia.
• More FAQs

Faculty, staff and students will be encouraged to get tested regularly for COVID. We are also planning specific testing (including wastewater testing) for residences.

Individuals who do not provide proof of full vaccination will be required to be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly to take part in on-campus activities.

• Dalhousie will continue on-campus asymptomatic testing for students, faculty and staff, building on the pilot program launched this summer. Learn more about on-campus testing.
  
• Based on Dal research led by Dr. Graham Gagnon, we are working to test residence wastewater to detect potential infections in our residence community, allowing us to quickly encourage testing and reduce any potential for spread.
• More FAQs

• We are asking people to continue to wear masks in indoor shared spaces this September as a transitionary measure in consideration of the large influx of people returning to campus.
  
• We also hope that, with many in our community feeling anxious or concerned about returning, this direction encourages everyone to treat masking as a way to be respectful of each other and show our shared commitment to one another’s health and safety during a crucial period in our return to campus.
• While the current mask directive on campus extends to September 30, we we are currently exploring extending this mask direction even further into the fall term. When it is lifted, masks may still be required in select settings and will continue to be encouraged for protection from airborne disease.
• More FAQs

• As approved by Public Health and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, formal distancing requirements will not be required on campus this fall.
• Barriers, plexiglass or other dividers will only be required in spaces where they were required prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some front-facing services may still choose to install or maintain plexiglass barriers for extra protection from communicable diseases.
• Where appropriate and feasible, Dalhousie will strive to continue to provide extra separation in office and classroom setups given the proven benefit that even minimal extra separation has shown in protection against communicable diseases.
• More FAQs

• Based on Nova Scotia’s phased reopening plan, gathering limits will be lifted when the province enters phase five - currently estimated for September 15. Until that point, university events and gatherings (aside from classes) will follow gathering limits.
• More FAQs

VENTILATION

• Dal’s Facilities and Environmental Health & Safety teams have reviewed ventilation in every learning space (600+), with remedial activity taking place over the summer as warranted.
  
• Over 165 individual Return to Research requests have been assessed for adequate ventilation.
• Guidance for office and general spaces will be provided to unit leaders to assist with their return plans.
• This work has been guided by current engineering best practice, as well as with COVID-19 guidance from specific ventilation and facilities groups such as ASHRAE and APPA and REHVA and in accordance with current Public Health guidelines. Read the full HVAC Strategy document (login required) and read more about this work on Dal News.
  
• More FAQs.
  

CLEANING, DISINFECTION AND HYGIENE

• Cleaning and disinfection will continue this fall at the high standard of cleaning that existed pre-pandemic, particularly focused on common touch points and spaces.
• Hand-washing hygiene will be promoted in washroom spaces and hand sanitizer will be made available over 700 locations across campus.
• More FAQs.
  

ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT

• Dalhousie has a very robust accommodation program that has been key in compassionately responding to individuals requiring assistance in dealing with the impacts of the pandemic on their work and studies — this will continue this fall.
• Human Resources has new guidelines for flexible work arrangements to support leaders, supervisors and employees in considering and/or managing flexible working arrangements.
• More FAQs.

PLAN FOR COVID-19 CASES

Stay home if you feel sick, follow provincial testing protocols if showing symptoms of COVID-19, and self-isolate if required.

In the event COVID-19 cases do occur, we are prepared to support those who are sick and help keep our community safe.

• We will work closely with Nova Scotia Public Health on contact tracing and support in the event of COVID-19 cases or exposures related to our university community.
• Planning for addressing and supporting COVID cases among our student, faculty and/or staff community has been critical to our safety and success this past year and will continue to align with the latest directives from Nova Scotia Health and Public Health.
• More FAQs.