This page was last updated on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Holland College continues to monitor developments about the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 

We know that you have lots of questions, and we will try to provide you with as many answers as we can at this time on our Closure and Program Delivery Q & A page.

Effective immediately, the college has moved to essential services delivery until further notice. Managers and supervisors have been in contact with their staff to determine which employees are deemed essential. 

College residences remain open at this time. Students living in residences who would like to return home are encouraged to do so, if it is possible.

The Centre for Community Engagement (CCE) is now closed until further notice.

Holland College has temporarily suspended all on the job training placements, including clinicals and practicums, until further notice.

Alternate delivery of courses will commence on Wednesday, March 25. Students should check their email for directions from their instructors. These alternate delivery methods (primarily distance). These alternate delivery methods will be in place for the remainder of the term.

The Holland College Early Years Centre is closed in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Public Health Officer and Province of PEI. The Culinary Institute of Canada’s food services: The Dining Room, The Marché, and The Grab & Go, are closed for the remainder of the term.

Holland College special events have been cancelled or postponed.

Resources

The World Health Organization website provides information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Visit this page for daily updates.

Visit the PEI Government and Government of Canada websites for updates from the Chief Public Health Office of Prince Edward Island and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Advice for Travelers

The Chief Public Health Officer is advising individuals to self-isolate for 14 days following all out of province travel.  If you had international travel prior to March 8th you should continue to monitor for symptoms for the 14 day period.  During this period if you have symptoms call 8-1-1 for further instruction.

 

Public health risk is continually reassessed and updated as new information becomes available.

 

Other steps Holland College is taking to prepare

• Holland College already has a stringent cleaning protocol for all spaces; however, the college has increased sanitization efforts to multiple times per day specifically to high frequency touch areas such stair rails, doorknobs, door surfaces, countertops, and other areas.
• We have formed a COVID-19 Response Committee, which will meet on a regular basis and update staff and students as required.
• We are in close contact with the Province’s Chief Public Health Officer, who will keep us apprised of any updates to the situation.

If any staff or students are feeling anxious about COVID-19, we encourage them to speak to a counselor, or contact a health care professional. Holland College has a number of supports for students through Student Services, including counselling: counselling@hollandcollege.com and the International office: international@hollandcollege.com or 902-566-9377. Holland College students can also access in-person or phone based counselling services 24/7 through the Aspiria Assistance Program at 1-877-234-5327.  We encourage you to use these resources if you have concerns.

Staff and faculty should contact the college's Employee Assistance Program by visiting https://www.workhealthlife.com/ or calling 1-844-880-9142.

If you are a student and you have specific questions about COVID-19, please use this email address to contact our Student Experience Team: student-inquiries@hollandcollege.com.  The team will do their best to respond in a timely manner.

If you are a staff member with questions, please email staff-inquiries@hollandcollege.com.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as required.

How you can prepare

Follow the advice of the province's Chief Public Health Officer.

The best defense against COVID-19 is to practice routine prevention measures.

• Maintain good social hygiene, including social distancing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Click here for more information
• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
• Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes.
• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones).
• Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
• If you are planning to travel, or have questions regarding travel, please consult the latest public health advice here.
  

Download the HC Safe app for the most up to date information. The app integrates the college's emergency, closure, and security systems, providing users with up-to-the-minute notifications in the event of an emergency or a closure at a Holland College location. The HC Safe app is available free of charge in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to, or may be experiencing symptoms of, Covid-19, please call 811 for assessment information.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, call the provincial hotline: 1-800-958-6400. You will be asked to leave a message, and someone from the chief public health office will return your call within 24 hours.