Residence Services - H1N1 Information

 

Residence H1N1 Questions

What do I do if I have influenza-like symptoms?

The measures below are provided by PEI Department of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada as a guide to self-care if you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms:

  • Based on national recommendations, we are advising that if you have symptoms of influenza-like-illness (ILI) then you should stay at home until you are symptom free and are able to return to work or school and participate fully in your regular work or school activities. If your symptoms worsen, see your health care provider. Where possible, we strongly encourage you to return home to be with your family, so that you can get the support you need, and as an added precaution to help prevent spreading the disease to others. If you cannot return home, stay in your room as much as possible. 
     
  • Clean hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
     
  • Wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. When done correctly, this is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of infections.
     
  • Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
     
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth after shaking hands or touching hard surfaces like counters and door handles or other surfaces that may harbour influenza and other viruses.
     
  • Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected.
     
  • Stay at least two metres (six feet) away from people who are experiencing influenza-like symptoms. This is called social distancing and includes staying away from crowds when influenza is circulating in the community.
     
  • Other steps to keep yourself healthy include healthy eating, maintaining an active lifestyle and getting enough rest and sleep.
     
  • For links to more information about self-care methods, please visit www.fightflu.ca

  • Contact your RLA by phone or email (rather than in person), or the Residence Life Coordinator (Amy) by phone (628-4368) or email (arietschel@upei.ca) to let them know that you are feeling ill. 
     
  • Email friends or other students who are enrolled in the same classes as you are to arrange for note taking.  We recommend you also contact your professors by phone or email to notify them that you will be missing classes.
     
  • The above content is subject to change. Please visit www.gov.pe.ca/health and www.fightflu.ca for the most up to date information.


What do I do if my roommate is ill?

  • Should your roommate become ill with influenza-like symptoms, notify your RLA or the Residence Life Coordinator immediately. 

  • Please note that individuals with symptoms, and/or their roommates, will not be moved to an alternate location. Students are advised to take all of the necessary precautions to assist individuals with symptoms, and to protect themselves. 
     
  • Socially distance yourself from your ill roommate to the extent possible and follow the recommended preventative measures.

What do I do if someone in my residence community has influenza-like symptoms?

For information about the measures that should be used to avoid contracting an influenza, please visit www.flightflu.ca. It is also important to notify your RLA or the Residence Life Coordinator that there is someone in your residence community with influenza-like symptoms.  This will help us ensure that the proper care is provided to the individual.   

If someone is experiencing influenza-like symptoms, how do they purchase meals? 

For residents who are self-isolating themselves in residence, support will be provided to ensure that meals are arranged and delivered to them.  Once the Residence Life Coordinator has been informed of the individual with influenza like illness, arrangements will be made with food service staff so that take-out service is available. Residents who are ill should make arrangements with their roommate or friend to pick up the meal at the dining hall and deliver it to the room. If this is not possible, residents should contact the dining hall directly (0435) to arrange for meal delivery. Meals will only be delivered to the door, as food service staff will not enter the room.


If someone is bringing a friend or "buddy" schoolwork, what precautions should be taken? 


If you are bringing schoolwork or meals to an individual who is socially distancing him or herself, you should decide if you want to transfer what you've brought directly to the student who is ill, or whether you'd prefer to leave it outside their door. As social distancing is encouraged to prevent the spread of influenza, residents should feel comfortable transferring any items without making direct contact.

Regardless of your choice, you should remember  to wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. 

 


How do I socially distance myself in a community where I share a bathroom and/or kitchen facilities? 


In a residence where we live in such close proximity together, it becomes even more important that we take steps to protect ourselves and others:  

  • Remain in your room as much as possible.
     
  • Notify your RLA / RLC so that they can assist with monitoring your health progress and arrange for meals if necessary. 
     
  • When you must leave your room, carry and use hand sanitizer regularly and/or wash your hands regularly. 
     
  • Attempt to maintain 2 metres distance between yourself and others to avoid the spreading of influenza symptoms. 
     
  • Ensure that others are aware of your health so that they can check on you and assist as required. 
     
  • Follow the recommended guidelines for caring for yourself and preventing further spread of the virus.
     
  • Do not attend social events or spend time in the lounge, libraries, etc.


Will residents be informed if someone in their community is experiencing influenza-like symptoms?

Illness due to influenza-like symptoms is confidential health information that cannot and will not be shared with residence communities.  The University’s role is to maintain individual privacy and to treat individuals who are ill with care, dignity and respect.


What cleaning supplies should I have in residence?

It's important to stock your residence room with the necessary cleaning supplies during your stay in residence. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, soap is the most important of all cleaning supplies, as regular soap and water will remove the virus from your hands.  You may also wish to have hand sanitizer available for times when you do not have access to soap and water. Do NOT use anti-bacterial products to stop influenza as it is a virus and not bacteria. 

Keep common surfaces clean. Doorknobs, light switches, telephones, keyboards and other surfaces can become contaminated with all kinds of bacteria and viruses. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of these surfaces with normal household disinfectants can help. Viruses can live on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours.  No special disinfectants or waste handling practices are required for influenza; regular household or commercially available cleaning products are sufficient for this purpose, and waste handling would be according to usual standards.

 


What are the cleaning procedures in residence?

Common areas in residence are cleaned every day by our professionally trained staff, who devote additional energy to high touch surfaces. All residents also have a responsibility to contribute to the cleanliness of our residences by maintaining clean rooms and respecting common areas.


What happens if full-time residence staff are ill?

Residence Services has extensive plans in place to ensure that residents will continue to receive the same level of service and should expect regular continuation of business. 


Does the residence community environment have a higher risk of infection?

The risk of contracting influenza within a residence community is no higher than the risk in any group gathering or public place.  Remember that your behaviour does affect your chances of contracting influenza so it is important that you don’t share belongings and do follow the recommendation outlined to stay healthy.


What should I not share with my friends? 

Do NOT share anything that comes into contact with your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). This would include items such as food, drink, drinking containers, lip balm/lipstick, toothbrush, pens and pencils (as someone may have had them in their mouth). Since the virus can survive on surfaces from a few hours to a few days, ensure that you are washing your hands regularly before and after you are touching any surfaces.

 

How can I cook in shared facilities and not become ill?

Before you begin cooking, ensure that all cooking surfaces are clean. Even if surfaces look clean, it's important to wipe all surfaces before cooking and use only dishes that have been washed.  Visit www.fightflu.ca for more information regarding influenza prevention. Hand sanitizers are located throughout the residences, but remember that hand sanitizers should not replace regular hand washing using soap and water.
 

What happens if the food service staff members are ill?

All contractors and UPEI staff are required to follow self care procedures as instructed by the provincial Department of Health.  Ill staff members will be instructed to self-isolate and will not be at work in residence communities. 


Will any residence facilities close due to maintenance or isolation problems?

There are no plans at this time to close any residence facilities.  Should circumstances change, Residence Services would revisit facility plans to ensure the health and safety of our residents.  Potential decisions to close the residences will be made in consultation with senior administration at UPEI, as well as the PEI Department of Health.

 

Will programming/committee meetings continue in residence?

 

Programming and regular meetings are scheduled to progress as planned.  However, if you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, you are asked not to participate and to follow the recommendations listed above.  
 

 

Can I have visitors/guests if I’m ill in residence?


If you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, we recommend that you should be maintaining social distance to the fullest extent possible - this means that you should not be having any guests in residence.  Should you wish to return to your family home to rest and recuperate, your family/friends can come and pick you up at the front of your residence. 

 

Can something be done to prevent ill visitors/guests from entering residence?

It is the personal responsibility of all residents to demonstrate cooperation and good judgment by not inviting guests who are ill into any residence community. If you know that a friend or family member is experiencing influenza-like symptoms, please do not allow that person into residence.  
 

 

What resources are available to residents?