Dear Students,
This afternoon, the Nova Scotia government announced the introduction of a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all persons entering the province from New Brunswick, effective 8:00 AM tomorrow morning (Saturday, January 9, 2021). This requirement will impact a number of StFX students who intend to return from New Brunswick. We recognize that this announcement is sudden and, for safety’s sake, encourage our students from New Brunswick not to rush their return to Antigonish in an effort to avoid the implementation of this new rule.
With that in mind we ask everyone, especially New Brunswick students and their families, to pay close attention to the information within this email.
IN THIS MESSAGE
1. In-Person Classes to begin Monday, January 25th
2. NB students are to return to Antigonish by Sunday, January 10th
3. NS, PE and NL students are asked not to return until Sunday, January 24th
4. Mandatory travel-related information from the Province of NS
1. IN-PERSON CLASSES WILL BEGIN Monday January 25th
The start of in-person classes at StFX has been delayed to Monday, January 25th in response to the impact of this new quarantine requirement to allow students from New Brunswick to complete the isolation requirement. As communicated in the fall all classes will begin in an online format as of January 13, and now will continue online until our in-person format resumes on January 25th. Classes scheduled to be online for the entire term, will remain online.
2. NEW BRUNSWICK STUDENTS ARE TO RETURN TO ANTIGONISH BY SUNDAY, JANUARY 10th
NB STUDENTS RETURNING TO RESIDENCE
• All residence students from New Brunswick are required to return to StFX no later than 8:00 pm, Sunday, January 10th. This will allow enough time to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine before in-person classes resume on the 25th. Please be aware that all students arriving from New Brunswick as of this afternoon and returning to residence will be required to isolate.
• When New Brunswick students arrive on campus, they should proceed to the Keating Centre where they will be checked in and issued a red wristband to show they are isolating. Do not proceed to your residence room until you have come to the Keating Centre. The Keating Centre hours of operation are:
Saturday, January 9 12pm – 8 pm
Sunday, January 10 12pm – 8pm
• Students in quarantine will be supported with three meals a day as per our existing quarantine protocols. We strongly encourage you to read our Quarantine Protocols for Residence Students document to stay informed with how quarantine is managed on campus and your responsibilities as a student.
If you have questions, concerns, or need more information, we strongly encourage you to contact us as soon as possible via @email
NB STUDENTS RETURNING TO OFF-CAMPUS ACCOMODATIONS
• All off-campus students from New Brunswick should also make plans to return to their accommodations within Antigonish NO LATER THAN Sunday, January 10th. Again, this will allow enough time to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine before in-person classes resume on January 25th. Please note no student will be able to return to campus and resume in-person classes until after their 14-day quarantine is complete.
• Students returning from NB following the holidays and isolating in off campus accommodations should follow these guidelines shared by Public Health;
o have your own separate room in the home (like a bedroom, basement or attic)
o wash your hands before leaving the separate room
o wear a non-medical mask when outside your separate room
o avoid contact with people you live with
o use a separate bathroom or use the following cleaning protocol for a shared bathroom - clean high touch surfaces (like doorknobs, taps, toilet handle and sink) after each use
o have food and beverages prepared by others and delivered in a non-contact manner
o don't share dishes, drinking glasses and cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding and other items with others in the home
o keep your personal items (like toothbrush, cups, cell phones, tablets and laptops) separate from others in the home
o don't share food or drinks with others in the home
If you expect to have difficulties following these guidelines, then everyone in your household must quarantine.
• We strongly encourage you to read our Quarantine Protocols for Off-Campus Students document to stay informed with how quarantine is managed off-campus and your responsibilities as a student.
• Off-campus students in quarantine will be supported via our Neighbours Helping Neighbours program, which provides deliveries of groceries and other essential items. The student is responsible to cover the cost of items purchased. To register for this program, visit www.alumni.stfx.ca/groceries.
• If you have questions, concerns, or need more information, we strongly encourage you to contact us as soon as possible via possible via @email
3. STUDENTS FROM NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND OR NEWFOUNDLAND ARE NOT TO RETURN TO ANTIGONISH UNTIL SUNDAY, JANUARY 24th
With the start date of in-person classes moved to Monday, January 25th, all students from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland are asked not to return to Antigonish until Sunday, January 24th. This timing will allow students from these provinces to return to campus for the start of in-person classes while limiting their exposure within the community.
4. MANDATORY TRAVEL-RELATED INFORMATION FROM THE PROVINCE OF NS
Effective January 9th at 8 a.m., any traveller from New Brunswick must now complete a 14-day self-isolation period upon arrival in Nova Scotia.
Students who started their travel in Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador and who are travelling through New Brunswick with minimal or no stops will not be subject to the 14-day self-isolation period. Try not to make any stops in New Brunswick. If a brief stop is necessary, please ensure you practice public health protocols such as keeping a physical distance of two metres away from other people, wear a non-medical mask, and wash or sanitize your hands often.
As a summary of the current requirements, students arriving in Nova Scotia from anywhere except Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador need to:
1) Complete a Nova Scotia Safe Check-in Form before arriving: https://travel-declaration.novascotia.ca/
2) Self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in the province
3) Complete a digital check-in daily during self-isolation
Students are also encouraged to get a COVID-19 test on day 6, 7, or 8 of self-isolation. Schedule your test using the COVID-19 self-assessment tool: https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
While the border restriction with New Brunswick is not retroactive, students who arrived from New Brunswick or had visitors from that province in the past 14 days are encouraged to get tested immediately and consider a second test five to seven days later. They are encouraged to self-isolate while waiting for the first test result.
International students must also use the federal government’s ArriveCAN app to provide their information to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Students can download the ArriveCAN app or call 1-833-641-0343 for assistance. International students have particular self-isolation requirements. Learn more.
Questions? Visit the Coronavirus website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/education/#post-secondary or email @email.
Anyone in Nova Scotia who thinks they have symptoms of COVID-19 should do the COVID-19 self-assessment. You can call 811 if you cannot complete the self-assessment online.
In closing, we recognize this announcement by the provincial government is sudden and may create challenges for New Brunswick students and their families. Still, since the beginning of COVID-19, we have all needed to adjust to rapidly evolving circumstances and this latest development is no different. With that in mind, we greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we all work together to keep the StFX and wider Antigonish communities safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Yeo
Vice-President, Students
St. Francis Xavier University
