Students, community members concerned after COVID-19 outbreak at U of G

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Ontarion has granted anonymity to the students interviewed in this story in order to protect their identities.

UPDATE: The U of G reported that as of Feb. 10, cases associated with the outbreak had risen to 67, with 64 of them resolved.

As of Feb. 11, 73 fines have been issued by the campus police for violating pandemic protocols, totalling over $33,000. CTV News reported that since Jan. 25, 32 fines of $880 have been issued, with just 12 of them in connection with the unsanctioned gatherings on Jan. 15 and 16.

The U of G introduces stronger security measures and fines as case numbers rise to 64

On Jan. 21 an outbreak was declared by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health in connection with gatherings that took place in the East Village Townhouse residences on Jan. 15 and 16.

As of Feb. 4 there are now 64 cases associated with the outbreak, with around 100 students in isolation. According to the U of G, 55 of those cases have been resolved.

“Students who have tested positive are being cohorted in a single residence building to prevent any further spread of COVID-19. They receive daily check-ins and food deliveries. There is also virtual programming they can participate in,” U of G News Manager Service Deirdre Healey told The Ontarion.

There are 840 students currently living in residence — nearly 300 more than last semester. Of those students, 356 live in the East Village Townhouses where the outbreak occurred.

While many students and community members have shown concern over this via social media and comments to The Ontarion, the university cites that new students were brought on out of mental health concerns for those struggling to work at home.

“Some students have extenuating circumstances that require on-campus access to services to support their academic studies and personal well-being,” student housing said on their FAQ page.

While this may seem like a lot, there are usually around 5,000 students in residence, according to U of G admissions. This means that the U of G residence is not even at 20 per cent capacity, while many other universities, like Western, are still operating at just under 70 per cent capacity with well over 3,000 students.

In a press release on Jan. 27, the university announced they would be increasing security measures and enforcement on campus to help prevent the spread.

Previously the school had administered fines of $120 to 41 students for breaking government and public health protocols. Some students noted the $120 fine was less than the fine for touching the fire detector, which is $500.

Since then, campus police have increased the fine amount to reflect the provincial fine of $880. As of Feb. 4, 22 students have been issued the amount.

Provincial fines may be administered for violations such as failing to wear a mask or maintain physical distancing, as well as holding social gatherings.

In light of the outbreak, additional surveillance measures are being put in place to ensure COVID-19 protocols are being followed on campus, including the installation of security cameras around the perimeter of the East Village Townhouses, as well as additional monitoring by security personnel and campus community police.

If measures continue to be broken, the school noted that the university may impose a campus curfew.

President Charlotte Yates stated in a U of G news release that they “will be keeping a close eye on compliance and will consider implementing a curfew if necessary to help ensure the health and safety of our campus and wider Guelph community.”

A similar outbreak occurred in January at McGill University, with at least 44 students in residence testing positive after attending unsanctioned gatherings in campus housing. The university responded by kicking at least 15 students out of residence for seven days, giving them 24 hours notice. Associated privileges, like accessing meal plans, were also revoked for those seven days.

“Students who are concerned for their personal safety are encouraged to reach out to their Residence Life Manager, Student Wellness counselling or Student Health Services to discuss their concerns,” Healey said.

One first-year U of G student living in residence who didn’t attend the gatherings on the 15th and 16th said she is planning on moving out because of the outbreak.

“I tested negative, but am honestly so scared to even leave my room to go get food. The cases keep rising and the way the school and the students are handling the situation is horrible,” she said.

In response to students wanting to move out, Healey said that “Students who want to leave as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and their concerns for personal safety are encouraged to contact our Residence Admissions office, [who] will guide them through the process to withdraw from residence. Some charges may apply but depending on when they withdraw, they may be eligible for a partial refund.”

Students have said that there have been regular parties since first semester, and that those who show concern for safety are often treated as pariahs.

One U of G student shared pictures with The Ontarion showing students partying together, and claimed they were attacking her with hashtags and in the comments for being concerned.

A first-year U of G biological science student told The Ontarion that she sees “videos on Snapchat of people partying pretty consistently in East,” she said. In terms of how many people attend the parties, she said it “looks like tons,” and that it happens “pretty often on the weekends.”

However, she thinks “people are afraid to speak up,” and that those who have reported parties haven’t had much of an impact as “the people from [one particular] house have still not been evicted after breaking rules on multiple occasions.”

 

 

Please visit www.theontarion.com/submit to find out how you can share your work with The Ontarion.