COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus) Information
Updates
Status
Government and Public Health Authorities
Latest Information for:
Students
Instructors
Employees
Overview of COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause respiratory illness in people, ranging from mild common colds to severe illnesses. Novel coronaviruses are new strains of the virus that have not been previously identified in humans.
COVID-19 is believed to be spread mainly through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or with surfaces they have recently touched.
For more information about COVID-19, please consult the following websites:
Prevention
To minimize the spread of any respiratory virus (including things like the flu/influenza and COVID-19), Alberta Health Services recommends the following:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if hands are not visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag.
- If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands immediately after coughing and/or sneezing.
- Stay home if you’re sick.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are shared and used often.
The U of A’s Public Health Response Team (phrtinfo@ualberta.ca) manages the university's preparation and response to public health issues. The university is closely monitoring and following the directives of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Alberta Health Services, Global Affairs Canada, and other relevant and trusted public health authorities.
Principle Statement
As Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions, we have an important role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19. We will take a responsible and proactive approach that balances the goal of supporting our students in achieving their learning objectives with the safety and health of our learners and institutional team members. While the decisions made by each institution will be unique to the institution needs and context, we are collectively utilizing alternative delivery models and solutions as well as staffing models to ensure that our doors remain open. We recognize that the decisions we make today will need to be sustainable into the months ahead. Because the situation regarding COVID-19 is dynamic, we will continue to follow the advice of public health agencies as it is updated.