COVID-19 (coronavirus) updates for Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for faculty, staff and students. Our goal is to mitigate potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our community, which is only accomplished through a co-operative effort. The information provided below offers guidance on how to navigate work and study safely.

Latest updates from UM

On this page

Notification

The UM COVID Recovery Committee requires notification of all COVID-19 cases in faculties, colleges, departments, labs, units and placements to ensure the health and safety of learners, faculty and staff across all UM campuses and placement sites.

As soon as you are notified by Manitoba Public Health or the individual of a positive COVID case, someone being tested or someone self isolating, please complete and submit the form below.

COVID-19 reporting form (PDF)

COVID-19 outbreak notification process for educational institutions (PDF)

 

 

Self-assessment and screening

It is essential that employees and students self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and/or exposures before attending to any on-campus activities. Complete this questionnaire (PDF) or complete the online COVID-19 Screening Tool.

Follow the UM internal flow chart processes  for guidance on what to do if you're not feeling well or if you've been contacted to self-isolate.

Flow chart - staff or student not feeling well (PDF)

FAQs

The University of Manitoba has compiled responses to the most frequently asked questions related to studying and working at the university during the pandemic. For additional information, view our COVID-19 recovery plan: Your Safety is our Priority, ResUMe 2021/21

Information for RFHS students

Departmental updates

Some units have protocols in place in addition to overall university practises. Please follow the links below for more information.

Exams

Study spaces

The areas listed below have been designated for study or mealtime for the Bannatyne campus. Please respect all signage regarding distancing and capacity.

College of Pharmacy
264 Apotex Building
(21 seats)

Apotex Centre
First, second and third floor atriums

College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Brodie mezzanine
(13 seats)

Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
D023B and D023C
(7 seats)

Max Rady College of Medicine
105 and 109 Brodie Lounge study carrels
(41 seats)

Joe Doupe Concourse
Second floor, Basic Science Medical Building

Wellness

Access to Bannatyne campus

Entrance to Bannatyne Campus is via swipe card access only at any perimeter doors equipped with card readers except for 790 Bannatyne Ave. which is strictly for access by patients to Dr. Gerald Niznick College of  Dentistry dentistry clinic.

Brodie Centre

727 McDermot Avenue, main entrance
Monday to Friday
5:30 am – 4:00 pm

Apotex Centre

750 McDermot Avenue, side entrance
Monday to Friday
5:30 am – 4:00 pm

Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

780 Bannatyne Avenue, main entrance
Monday to Friday
8:00 am –12:00 pm

What to know before you come to campus

 

Communiques

Key contacts

In additional to leadership at the Faculty level, each college has designated one or more contacts you can turn to for more information relating to studying or working during the pandemic.

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

Brian Postl
Dean and Vice Provost Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
204-789-3485
Brian.Postl@umanitoba.ca
 

Raman Dhaliwal
Director of Administration/Operations
204-771-9743
raman.dhaliwal@umanitoba.ca

College of Nursing

Donalda Wotton
Clinical contact
204-474-9519
donalda.wotton@umanitoba.ca

College of Pharmacy

Lavern Vercaigne
Associate Dean (Academic)
204-474-6043
laverne.vercaigne@umanitoba.ca

College of Rehabilitation Sciences

Leanne Leclair
Department Head (Occupational Therapy)
204-977 5631
Leanne.Leclair@umanitoba.ca

Mark Garrett
Department Head (Physical Therapy)
204-480-1379
Mark.Garrett@umanitoba.ca

Denise Mackay
Department Head (Respiratory Therapy)
204-480-1361
Denise.Mackay@umanitoba.ca

Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

John Perry
Associate Dean (Academic)
204-789-3556
john.perry@umanitoba.ca


Trenna Reeve
Associate Dean (Clinical)
204-272-3194
trenna.reeve@umanitoba.ca

Max Rady College of Medicine

Ira Ripstein
Associate Dean (UGME)
204-975-7790
Ira.Ripstein@umanitoba.ca

Cliff Yaffe
Associate Dean (PGME)
204-975-7715
Cliff.Yaffe@umanitoba.ca

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The links below offer guidance on PPE use for those entering Rady Faculty of Health Sciences facilities. For access to PPE, please contact rfhsoperation@umanitoba.

Note: this information does not apply to clinical placements, the dental clinics or any facility outside of a UM facility. In those instances, please follow the guidelines set by the facility or space.

Entering Bannatyne Campus and Helen Glass Centre for Nursing

Masks are to be worn when entering either the Bannatyne Campus or the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing.

Effective November 9, 2020 we are providing non-medical or medical grade masks (depending on the activity) to any Rady Faculty of Health Sciences staff, faculty or student on site, based on the recent recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In-person academic activity

For in-person, approved academic activity (applies to students, staff, faculty), we are following Shared Health PPE Guidance for Outpatient Settings/Community Clinics – COVID-19 Non Suspect.

Medical grade masks and eye protection/face shield
Medical grade masks and eye protection/face shield are required for all in-person approved academic activity where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Medical grade masks
Medical grade masks are required for all in-person academic activity where physical distancing can be maintained. Masks which were worn to enter the facility will be changed to medical grade masks prior to any in person academic activity – medical grade masks will be provided by organizer of the session.

Eye protection/face shields
Eye protection/face shields strongly encouraged where physical distancing can be maintained. Anyone that has been provided eye protection by Rady FHS should always have it with them and plan to use it in this scenario. Eye protection has been provided to staff and faculty. Any clinical faculty are to bring their own eye protection. Additional disposable eye protection will be provided to CLSP for skills sessions.
 

Individuals should not be asked to participate without appropriate PPE. If the above criteria are not met the session should be cancelled.

In-person approved research activity

For in-person approved research activity (applies to all students, staff and faculty):

  • Medical grade masks must be worn at all times in any research lab.
  • Eye protection/face shields are to be used in research labs at all times whenever there is more than one person in the lab.
  • Distribution of eye protection and medical grade masks is being coordinated by the department/unit/institute in partnership with Rady FHS. Please connect with them directly for any further information.

In-person approved access to RFHS office space

For approved access to office space in Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (applies to all staff and faculty):

  • Cloth masks must be work at all times when on campus.
  • Cloth masks may only be removed if you are in an office with your door shut.
  • Effective November 9, 2020 non-medical masks are to we worn in office spaces in Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Medical grade masks can be used for an entire day and only need to be changed when they have become soiled/wet. Below are instructions on removal and storage of your medical grade mask and eye protection. These are different than guidelines used in the health facilities - please refer to health facility guidelines when in a health facility.

Eye protection and face shields must be cleaned daily. Use a sanitizing wipe to clean your eye protection before leaving the facility.

Doffing and re-donning mask instructions (PDF)

Volunteering during COVID-19

There are many ways to volunteer during COVID-19, either from home or in the community. UM has compiled a list of opportunities here. You might also consider volunteering for Healthy U, a UM initiative that helps students become health leaders on campus and gain hands-on experience in the field of health promotion and prevention.

For students in Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, there are additional opportunities within the health-care system. Please see the memo on volunteering (PDF) for more information.

If you are not exhibiting any signs of illness and are interested in participating, please contact Brenda Peterson indicating your area of interest and your contact information.

Working off-campus

Information Services and Technology (IST) is working to provide multiple tools to support UM faculty and staff during this evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) response. A wide variety of resources are available for working away from the office, including VPN, audio- and video-conferencing and Office 365.

Learn more about ways IST can support you as you work remotely.

Cisco Jabber

Jabber is a free instant messaging service that many  units use for communication. Download this PDF for more information is available on how to install and configure Jabber.

Connecting to VIP

UM staff
If you typically use a workstation on the UM campus and run VIP as a program on your desktop, you can continue to access VIP by connecting to your desktop through VPN.

Health Sciences Centre / Shared Health UM staff
You will need to connect to UM’s VPN and then will be able to connect to a terminal server configured solely for you use by MedIT. Access detailed instructions here (PDF).

 

 

Forwarding Cisco phones

If you are working off campus during the pandemic and would like to forward your office phone to another number, follow the steps below.

  • VPN in to the University of Manitoba
  • Visit https://smacs.ad.umanitoba.ca
  • Login with your UMNetID and password
  • Follow the steps to forward your phone

Global phone message

If you are working off campus and have not forwarded your office phone, it is recommended that you update your outgoing message to the following:

Hello, You’ve reached ____________ in the department/college/unit in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.  I will be working from home for the foreseeable future to maintain social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, this phone line will not be monitored as frequently. The best way to contact me during this time is to email me at ____. Thank you for your understanding.

Return to work

The documents below will support units with requests to be on site for work, training or research that cannot be conducted remotely.

Setting up VPN

To connect to your work computer from off-campus, you first need to install and configure the UM VPN client software. Please see the instructions from MedIT  (PDF) for details.

Zoom User Information

Social distancing and spacing

Below you will find a list of links to PDFs showing the appropriate spacing to maintain social distancing across classrooms, study spaces and gathering areas.