Due to the increase in the Omicron variant of COVID-19 cases in the NWT and in an effort to protect the health and safety of the Aurora College community, we will be pivoting to online learning for most programs for the two-week period of January 10 through January 21, 2022. In-person classes will resume on Monday, January 24.
There will be a limited number of exemptions for classes that require face-to-face learning, specifically, certain skills labs in Health, ENRTP and Trades programs. These classes will continue under restrictions laid out in our current exemption plans.
Also during January 10-21, Library Services will pivot to contactless delivery of materials and services. Students and employees will be unable to physically access the libraries during this period.
Internet connectivity issues are ongoing across the NWT. The issues are TSC-based and are being worked on, but have been resulting in several service interruptions. Please be prepared for further potential interruptions to the MS Team platform and other internet-dependent programs. This is not an Aurora College issue; there is nothing our IST team can do.
The restrictions, processes and rules we have in place make our workplaces very safe. However, as individuals and employees we must remain cautious, conduct our own risk assessments, and continue to engage in healthy practices such as cleaning personal workspaces, good hand hygiene and respiratory practices, and the use of physical distancing where appropriate.
It is still possible for COVID-19 cases to occur and taking simple proactive measures like the ones mentioned here will help keep the risks low. If you have concerns regarding your mental or physical health during this transition, please speak with your supervisor about your situation.
Most importantly, we ask that if you aren’t feeling well, please stay home. Similarly, if you live with an individual who is not feeling well, please stay home. Additionally, if you’ve had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you notify your manager and follow the recommendations of the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer.