Protecting yourself and your co-workers
To ensure the health and safety of yourself and members of the UWindsor community, employees are required to follow health and safety protocols, including reporting illness and not attending campus when feeling sick.
Visit the Guidance for COVID-19 Positive, Presumed Positive or Close Contacts page for more information.
Illness must be reported to covid19reporting@uwindsor.ca.
The following documents outline the protocols and responsibilities for employee groups:
COVID-19: Employee Guide to Reporting Illness, Infection and Testing and Employee Privacy
As with other employee illnesses and health information, reasonable measures must be taken to protect the identity of an employee with respect to COVID-19. No names or identifying details should be given when information is communicated to other individuals and/or departments. The University will take appropriate actions to mitigate any possible risks in the workplace.
Upon receipt of your email to covid19reporting@uwindsor.ca, you will receive the following guidance:
Thank you for reporting your illness/absence. Please refer to the applicable COVID-19 reporting section below, and follow the isolation requirements, return to campus information, and additional reporting procedures provided.
1. COVID-19 Symptoms OR a Positive COVID-19 Test Result (PCR or Rapid Antigen Test)
Isolation and Return to Campus Instructions
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have received a positive result for COVID-19 on a PCR or rapid antigen test, you must self-isolate, complete the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment and follow public health direction.
Do not return to campus until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present. Asymptomatic individuals with a positive test result do not need to self-isolate unless symptoms develop. If symptoms develop, they should self-isolate immediately. For those living in high-risk settings or those who are immunocompromised additional isolation requirements may be required, please complete the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment and follow public health direction provided.
Per public health direction, you are advised to inform your close contacts of their potential exposure to COVID-19.
Close contact means*:
- having been less than two metres apart for at least a cumulative duration of 15 minutes in a 24-hour period with a COVID-19 positive or presumed positive individual, within 48-hours (2 days) before their symptoms began, or, if no symptoms, the date of their positive test; or:
- living in the same home.
* This definition does not apply to individuals who wear prescribed Personal Protective Equipment.
Provided your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (and gastrointestinal symptoms resolving for at least 48 hours), you may return to campus provided:
- You have not been provided with other direction from public health, or your health care provider.
- You are not returning to a high-risk setting (definition of high-risk setting found here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/exposed) *Please note for student placements, your return date may be different. Please contact your placement coordinator for further details.
- You can maintain public health measures when returning to campus
- You will self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate immediately if symptoms develop.
Regardless of vaccination status, you must follow additional public health measures: For 10 days after symptom onset (or 20 days for immunocompromised individuals): maintain masking in public settings, do not visit or work in any highest risk setting, do not visit vulnerable individuals (e.g. immunocompromised individuals or seniors).
Please note: The day of symptom onset, or if no symptoms, the positive test date is considered Day 0. You will not be permitted on campus during this time period. Please be reminded that upon your return to campus, you must continue to wear a mask and conduct a self-assessment for COVID-19 each day before arriving to campus and to follow public health measures.
Should you have any questions or concerns, or require further health information, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Additional Reporting Procedures
Employees: Forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
Students:
- Students who are unable to complete an assessment due to illness should report their illness using the Illness Reporting form in UWinsite.
- If you are in a student placement, you are asked to follow your faculty’s and/or departmental/school procedures.
- If you are a student employee, you must forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
- If you are a student living in a University residence, report your illness to Residence Services.
Contractors:
Contractors must notify the University representative who arranged the work/activity/visit on campus and confirm the instructions you will be following regarding your return to campus.
Should you have any questions or concerns, or require further health information, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. If you have questions regarding your specific situation or return to campus date, please contact safety@uwindsor.ca.
Please be reminded to continue to wear a mask and conduct a self-assessment for COVID-19 each day before arriving to campus and to follow public health measures.
2. Close Contact with a Positive or Presumed Positive Case
Isolation and Return to Campus Instructions
If you have been identified as a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19 or had close contact with a person who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you must complete the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment and follow public health direction.
Close contact means*:
- having been less than two metres apart for at least a cumulative duration of 15 minutes in a 24-hour period with a COVID-19 positive or presumed positive individual, within 48-hours (2 days) before their symptoms began, or, if no symptoms, the date of their positive test; or:
- living in the same home.
* This definition does not apply to individuals who wear prescribed Personal Protective Equipment.
If you've been exposed to someone with symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result you must:
- self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure.
you are NOT required to self-isolate and may continue to attend campus following your close contact with a positive/presumed case of COVID-19 provided:
- You are asymptomatic;
- You have not been provided with additional isolation requirements from public health our your healthcare provider;
- You can maintain public health measures: Wear a well-fitted mask in public (including schools and child care, unless under 2 years of age), physical distance and maintain other public health measures for 10 days following your last exposure if leaving home. You should NOT visit or attend work in any highest risk settings and not visit individuals who may be at higher risk of illness (i.e. seniors or immunocompromised) for 10 days after your last exposure.
*Please note for student placements, your return date may be different. Please contact your placement coordinator for further details.
Should your situation change (e.g., symptom onset, positive test result, or the close contact is no longer required to self-isolate), please provide an update to: covid19reporting@uwindsor.ca and follow the directions that apply to your new situation.
Should you have any questions or concerns, or require further health information, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Please be reminded that upon your return to campus, you must continue to wear a mask and conduct a self-assessment for COVID-19 each day before arriving to campus and to follow public health measures
Additional Reporting Procedures
Employees: Forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
Students:
- Students who are unable to complete an assessment due to illness should report their illness using the Illness Reporting form in UWinsite.
- If you are in a student placement, you are asked to follow your faculty’s and/or departmental/school procedures
- If you are a student employee, you must forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
Contractors:
Contractors must notify the University representative who arranged the work/activity/visit on campus and confirm the instructions you will be following regarding your return to campus.
3. Travel
Isolation and Return to Campus Instructions
If you have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days, and have been advised to quarantine, self-isolate, or you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, you must follow the directions provided to you upon entry by the Government of Canada.
You may return to campus after your quarantine period ends as determined by the Government of Canada, provided you are asymptomatic, and you have been given no other direction from federal or public health authorities.
Should your situation change (e.g. symptom onset or confirmed positive), please follow the directions provided above that apply to your situation.
Should you have any questions or concerns, or require further health information, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Please be reminded to continue to wear a mask as required and conduct a self-assessment for COVID-19 each day before arriving to campus and to follow public health measures.
Additional Reporting Procedures
Employees: Forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
Students:
- Students who are unable to complete an assessment due to illness should report their illness using the Illness Reporting form in UWinsite.
- If you are in a student placement, you are asked to follow your faculty’s and/or departmental/school procedure.
- If you are a student employee, you must forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
4. Awaiting Test Results
Isolation and Return to Campus Instructions
If you are asymptomatic and currently awaiting COVID-19 test results, you must self-isolate per public health direction.
Please note: If you received a negative test result and you are experiencing symptoms or have been identified as a close contact, you must follow the isolation requirements and return to campus instructions as noted in the appropriate section above.
Additional Reporting Procedures
Employees: Forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
Students:
- Students who are unable to complete an assessment due to illness should report their illness using the Illness Reporting form in UWinsite.
- If you are in a student placement, you are asked to follow your faculty’s and/or departmental/school procedures.
- If you are a student employee, you must forward a copy of this email to your Supervisor, to confirm the instructions that you will be following and your expected return to campus date.
5. COVID-19 Support Services and Resources
Employee Support Services and Resources
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Student support services and Resources:
Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Kind Regards,
Health & Safety
Visit this page for information regarding student illness reporting.