It’s like buying a car – while there are seemingly endless options, all cars are not equal. It is a bit of a head-shaker why so many post-secondary institutions have decided to take different levels of precaution for the fall semester, he said.While there are dozens of electronic board apps to choose from, board portals are not a commodity. “Any reversion to early COVID-19 measures will likely be met with more resistance now, even though they would help prevent ongoing transmission of new strains.” “I don’t think it’s so much about the ability to pivot quickly, it will be more about people’s willingness to pivot,” Coleman said.
It’s understandable that people may be ready to get back to a life without the fear of COVID-19, but that thinking could be a problem if future strains are more serious. There do not seem to be many protocols that treat COVID-19 differently than respiratory infections like influenza and colds, he said, which might be misguided, as COVID-19 can cause a host of additional problems. “With the lack of COVID-19 protocols, there is increased opportunity for transmission and all the potential subsequent results of this, such as increased hospitalizations, ICU admissions, further deaths, further instances of long COVID-19, disruption of work and school environments, and further strains to emerge,” he said. It’s a possible recipe for disaster if a new strain of the virus pops up in the fall or winter, said Todd Coleman, an epidemiologist at Wilfrid Laurier University. “I see this in my colleagues as well - some still very diligent with preventive measures, others who have basically given the whole thing a shrug and thrown off their masks.” “So, we’re in this grey area where institutions are responding differently, some conservative, others less so,” said Janes.
The United States has already done this, he said, announcing this week it is transitioning to a “yearly” vaccine response, like the annual flu shot. “We need to transition to a new phase of response - yes, a bit like seasonal colds and flus.” Second, at some point it has to be recognized this virus will be with us for a long time, he said, joining the many other respiratory viruses in circulation. “I think we’re in this phase of the pandemic where a combination of things is leading to inconsistencies in responses,” said Craig Janes, director of University of Waterloo’s school of public health.įirst, he said, you have to consider the exhaustion that people have experienced over the past two and a half years.
#Diligent boards app upgrade
With more autonomy over their budget decisions, universities and colleges have been able to quickly upgrade ventilation and filter systems compared to school boards. Ventilation has also been a priority for decision-makers, but the types of upgrades have largely been dependent on funding. That’s not the case at neighbouring University of Waterloo or Conestoga College, where masks are no longer mandatory.Īnd if you walk into an elementary or high school at the Waterloo Region District School Board or Waterloo Catholic District School Board, you’ll likely notice an array of masked and maskless students, with both boards opting for an optional mask policy. Inside the classrooms at Wilfrid Laurier University, all students and faculty are masked. WATERLOO REGION - Whether you’re walking through an elementary school hallway or into a university classroom, you’re going to notice some inconsistencies in the ways schools are handling the spread of COVID-19.
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