McMaster University has reported three cases of COVID-19 on campus. Two unrelated cases involved employees – one is an employee with an external company working on campus who tested positive on November 19. That person was last on campus on November 16. The other university employee was in the faculty of health sciences space in the McMaster University Medical Centre and the Psychology Building on November 14. The third case involved a student who had been at McMaster’s Innovation Park on November 17 and 18.
Western University reported outbreaks at two student residences last week. Eight cases were confirmed at Saugeen-Maitland Hall. Three cases were identified in Perth Hall. All residents who have tested positive and some close contacts have been moved to a quarantine location. The university is offering these students support through food delivery, transportation, access to medical and mental health care as well as academic accommodations as needed. “As we see COVID-19 case numbers go up across the province and the country, we know this may be causing additional anxiety for our students at an already stressful time leading into the exam period,” Jennifer Massey, Western’s associate vice-president, student experience, said in a statement on the university’s website. “We have extra staff on hand over the weekend to help support our students and answer any questions they or their families might have.”
Last week, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine at Lakehead University confirmed a case of COVID-19 within its community. The school clarified that the individual had been at the Balmoral Street Centre at Lakehead on November 10, but didn’t come into direct contact with anyone that day.