Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Actions Undertaken by LaSalle College

Countries around the world are currently working to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). LaSalle College is monitoring information and recommendations about COVID-19 from regional and provincial medical health officers. Though there are confirmed cases in Québec, the Health Minister has indicated the overall risk for the province continues to be low.

The health, safety and well-being of our students, teachers and staff continues to be our number one priority. A working group within the College was mandated to review existing guidelines to address all health concerns in our community. 

Gouvernement du Québec advises the following:

• Students, teachers, staff or visitors returning from the province of Hubei in China, mainland China, Iran or northern Italy should stay home or self-isolate in their residence or room alone for 14 days, immediately on their return. They should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing).

• Students, teachers, staff or visitors returning from mainland China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan and Singapore should monitor daily for symptoms for 14 days, but they do not need to self-isolate.

• If symptoms appear, it is essential to communicate directly with Info-Santé 811 nurses so that they can assess the situation, transmit the appropriate instructions and specify the precautions to be taken if a medical consultation is required. Information on self-isolation is available from the Government of Canada. 

• Students, teachers, staff or visitors who have undergone a laboratory test for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus should remain alone at their residence until their test results are known and validated. 

Students must notify their Student Coordinator or Program Director directly if they need to stay at home in self-isolation.

Preventive measures to be followed to avoid the spread of infection and to stay healthy: 

• Wash your hands regularly (more often than usual) with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. To protect yourself, avoid touching your face and mouth.

• If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow and then wash your hands.

• If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains 60-90% alcohol. We have also installed several hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the College, so please feel free to use them.

• We have brought on some additional dedicated resources to continuously clean “contact” surfaces such as elevator buttons, railings and door handles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is the risk of contracting the coronavirus disease, COVID-19 in Québec?

Currently, the Québec ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux indicates that despite the confirmation of cases in Québec, the risk of transmission of the disease in the community remains low.

Are any LaSalle College students, teachers or staff reported to be confirmed cases?

We are currently not aware of any cases amongst our students, teachers and staff, both within Québec or abroad. In the event of a confirmed case, information would be provided to the public by the relevant health agency, according to their protocols.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Information on the prevention, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of COVID-19 can be found on the Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

What is LaSalle College doing to minimize the risk of infection to students, teachers and staff?

LaSalle College has a senior level working group formed to develop plans and responses to the evolving situation. The College is also working hard to ensure that students, teachers and staff receive reliable and up-to-date information on preventive measures to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 disease. The College has recently increased the sanitation measures to aid in minimizing risk and cope with transmission of the virus.

What should I do if one of my students or colleagues shows symptoms of COVID-19?

Anyone who is concerned that they, or someone they have been exposed to, may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their health-care provider or the provincial health line (Info-Santé) dialing 811 immediately. For more information and the latest updates, visit the Gouvernement du Québec website: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/

Is LaSalle College distributing masks for people to wear to prevent the spread of infection on their campus?

LaSalle College is not distributing masks. Some members of our community may opt to wear masks, and we fully support their right to do so. We ask the community to be respectful of students, teachers and staff who choose to wear masks.

I have cold/flu symptoms, but I haven’t travelled to a COVID-19 affected area. What should I do?

Information is available at the provincial health line (Info-Santé) dialing 811.

I am planning to travel soon, should I cancel my travel plans?

No matter where you are planning to travel, you are advised to consult travel.gc.ca, which is the Government of Canada’s official source of destination-specific travel information. It provides important advice to help travelers make informed decisions and travel safely while abroad.

Additional Resources:

• Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/en