Coming back to campus after a pandemic can feel daunting. Over the past year, many have embraced new norms in daily life. With a changing public health situation on the horizon, having a clear sense of the expectations around community health and safety will be important for York’s return to campuses.
As planning continues, one thing is clear – all members of the York community will share in the responsibility of keeping others safe on campuses in the Fall and Winter terms.
Vaccines play an important role in keeping everyone on York’s campuses healthy by reducing the severity of illness and protecting those around us
Vaccines play an important role in reducing the severity of illness and protecting those around us. Everyone who is able is strongly encouraged to receive their vaccines over the summer months to protect themselves, their families and the community. Getting vaccinated is also a way to contribute to positive change at local, national and global levels.
But vaccines are just one part of the health and safety picture. Committing to a community of care at York will be essential during the transition back to campus. This means that all community members will have a shared responsibility for:
- observing all COVID-19 health and safety regulations while on our campuses;
- supporting community well-being through healthy personal behaviours and actions;
- maintaining compassion, kindness, and empathy towards one another amid times of uncertainty and difficulty; and
- respecting personal health and privacy in balance with the protection of public health.
Educating students, staff, faculty and instructors about the shared commitment, especially in the weeks leading up to the return, will be essential. As the months continue, weekly updates will be shared via mass communication in Wellness Wednesday Return to Campus Special Issues and in monthly YFile features.