March 13, 2020

Current Situation
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dalhousie University announced today that all classes will be suspended from March 16-20, 2020. The University will remain open during this time.

The Faculty of Medicine will be providing specific updates via email and at https://medicine.dal.ca/news/covid.html to supplement information already provided by Dalhousie University. Below are the immediate impacts to Faculty of Medicine operations, as more information becomes available, we will continue to keep you informed.

Travel
All non-essential student, faculty and staff travel for university purposes is now suspended. Any exceptions must be approved by the Provost.

In line with Public Health advice, all those who have travelled internationally should self-isolate upon their return for 14 days. For employees, this time will not be taken from an employee’s vacation or sick leave bank; employees self-isolating are expected to work from home, where possible.

Faculty and Staff Impact

• Dalhousie University will remain open.
• All faculty and staff are to continue their clinical and professional responsibilities during this time.
• Where possible, units can consider having employees work from home and meet via video or teleconference.
• Supervisors should use their discretion to approve these arrangements.

Student Impact
Med 1 & 2:

• Class suspension period coincides with reading week break. No change.
• It is expected classes will resume via remote teaching the week of March 23^rd. More information will be provided next week.

Med 3

• Clerkships will take place as scheduled.
• Dalhousie Medical School clerks are required to self-isolate for 14 days following any travel outside of Canada with an arrival date after 12:00 p.m. on March 13^th.
• All self-isolating clerks must report their status to their clerkship coordinator and to their campus Student Affairs office (Dr. Joanne MacDonald for Nova Scotia and Dr. Lisa Sutherland for New Brunswick). Self-isolating clerks must also submit a Leave of Absence form to the Undergraduate Medical Education office.

Med 4

• PIER 4 lectures scheduled for March 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th will take place remotely at the scheduled times.
• Login information will be provided by Med IT on Monday morning.
• Further information about the rest of PIER 4 will be forwarded early next week.

Residents

• Dalhousie Medical School residents are required to self-isolate for 14 days following any travel outside of Canada with an arrival date after 12:00 p.m. on March 13^th.
• All self-isolating residents must report their status to their program director and to their campus Resident Affairs office.
• To ensure the safety of residents and patients, Dalhousie Medical School has cancelled all electives for residents scheduled to be performed outside of the Maritimes.
• All international electives will be cancelled for those who have not yet arrived in Canada. These restrictions will remain in place for at least three months.
• Residents beginning electives at the NSHA anytime after today, who have not previously worked at the NSHA (including trainees from elsewhere in Canada) must be reported to Medical Services prior to beginning work.  Supervisors are asked to notify physicianrecruit@nshealth.ca.
• The Postgraduate Medical Education office is collecting information and will communicate with residents next week regarding rescheduled exams and certifications.
• PGME is recommending the cancellation of in-person academic half days for programs where more than 20 people would normally attend.
• Dedicated learning time should still be protected and programs are encouraged to look for alternate methods of curriculum delivery such as videoconferencing or e-learning modules.

Graduate Students

• Graduate programs will continue, and students may continue their work.
• In person classes at Dalhousie will be suspended for next week.  Depending on the size of the class, small classes may be able to continue on a case-by-case basis, either in person or digitally.
• Research activities can continue.

Additional Information
Prevention and preparedness remain key advice:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue (throw the tissue away)
• Clean high-touch surfaces and objects often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

A reminder that the Public Health Agency of Canada and Nova Scotia Public Health remain the best source for up-to-date public information on this rapidly changing situation. More information related to Dalhousie can be found at www.dal.ca/coronavirus.