With COVID cases still rising in B.C. and the Fraser Health Authority struggling to keep up with contact tracing, the University of the Fraser Valley is asking students to help out.
In a weekly newsletter emailed to students Thursday, Dr. Alisa Webb, UFV’s Vice President, Students suggests the university carry out its own contact tracing.
“As Dr. Bonnie Henry has noted over the past couple of weeks, Fraser Health is struggling to keep up with the rapidly rising numbers and the related contact tracing,” Webb noted. “This is why UFV, with close attention to privacy legislation, would like to gather voluntarily submitted reports of positive COVID-19 test results and COVID-19 exposures from UFV students, faculty, and staff.”
READ MORE: ‘Sick Out’ aims to pressure B.C. schools over masks, class sizes
READ MORE: Health Canada expects first COVID vaccine to be approved next month
Webb said UFV will continue to take direction from the Fraser Health Authority, which will continue with its own contact tracing.
“This new step simply allows UFV to begin assessing the potential risk to support a safer campus environment and ensure that people are supported,” she said. “For students, this means getting you quicker access to the supports that you might need, whether academic, financial, or other if you’re dealing with a positive case of COVID or have been exposed to the virus.”
Students who want more info on voluntary reporting can visit ufv.ca/media/assets/risk-and-safety/covid-19-safety-response/operations-guidelines/Reporting-a-positive-covid-19-test.pdf
Whether students inform UFV or not, they are still asked to follow Fraser Health Authority guidelines.
Information on what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive can be found here and here.
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.