COVID-19: Information and Resources for Staff & Researchers

• Student Services has put together a list of dedicated supports for students over the holiday season, which includes Keep.meSAFE, a 24/7/365 mental health counselling service available to all McGill students.

• Organizational Development and My Healthy Workplace have put together a Care Calendar for over the holidays and beyond, which features club discussions, training modules, relaxation capsules, and more. Staff also have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, which is available 24/7/365.

Reminder, all Principal Investigators and their research personnel must follow approved directives in case someone develops symptoms and/or comes in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Failure to comply with these directives will result in the indefinite closure of the non-compliant laboratories, as well as adjacent laboratories in open-concept configurations.

McGill Guide for Supervisors to deal with individuals with COVID symptoms or with confirmed COVID diagnosis on campus

Security guards will be at entrances to:

• Monitor hand washing and wearing of procedure mask
• Screen family caregivers/visitors using the COVID questionnaire at designated entrances

As a result:

• All Entry to The Neuro on University Street will be via the accessible (wheelchair) entrance only. 
• All Exit will be via the door off the main lobby.  Note people with reduced mobility and in wheelchairs will continue to use the accessible door to exit.   

There are no changes to the North Wing L3 and BTRC entrances

• As of Saturday, March 12, security guards are NO LONGER verifying the Vaxicode of people at the entrances of The Neuro.  
• No longer identifying caregivers with bracelets 
• MUHC Adult Family Presence and Visiting Policy returns to regular visiting hours pre-pandemic. 

How to Report:

If you were at The Neuro or on campus in the 48 hours before symptoms or a positive test, Neuro (McGill) employees or graduate students must

1. now call 514-398-3000 (McGill Security)
   • McGill has created an interactive questionnaire that will guide you through the steps you need to take.
2. inform their supervisor

• the supervisor will then inform Diana.Montenegro [at] mcgill.ca (subject: COVID%20Reporting) (Diana Montenegro).

To request access to The Neuro for an External Vendor or Visitor, please fill out: External Vendor Access Request Form

 As of Wednesday, November 3, McGill faculty, staff, and student employees will no longer be required to fill out the Minerva self-assessment form before visiting campus. However, you are still expected to do a self-evaluation.

• Prior to coming to campus each day, all students, faculty, and staff are to review the new Self-Evaluation webform on the Coronavirus site, which will assess whether individuals should be coming to campus or not. This form does not collect data but directs anyone experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms to the necessary follow-up steps.
• If individuals answer “yes” to any of the questions, they will be given follow-up actions which may include reporting symptoms to the Case Management Group, filling out a Minerva self-assessment form, or filling out the Academic Accommodations Request form.

If necessary your Supervisors Must:

1. inform you to stay home
2. forward the email (generated from the self-assessment form) to diana.montenegro [at] mcgill.ca (Diana Montenegro)
3. telephone McGill security at 514-398-3000 immediately to initiate the follow-up process.

You now also need to report IF:

• you were at The Neuro or on campus in the 48 hours before your symptoms appeared (or in the 48 hours before the date you got tested, if you are asymptomatic and received a positive test result) OR
• you need accommodations because you are unable to work or study

McGill is asking people who were on campus to report as soon as possible in order to begin cleaning and disinfection procedures.

Montreal Public Health has also asked the University to carry out contact tracing for any medium- or high-risk contacts that happened at McGill including The Neuro.

How to Report:

If you were at The Neuro or on campus in the 48 hours before symptoms or a positive test, Neuro (McGill) employees or graduate students must

1. now call 514-398-3000 (McGill Security)
   • McGill has created an interactive questionnaire that will guide you through the steps you need to take.
2. inform their supervisor

• the supervisor will then inform Diana.Montenegro [at] mcgill.ca (subject: COVID%20Reporting) (Diana Montenegro).

Updated May 13, 2022

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE MASKS ARE MANDATORY IN THE FOLLOWING BUILDINGS

While masks will no longer be required as of Tuesday May 24 on the McGill University campus, they will continue to be mandatory in MOST indoor public spaces at The Neuro including elevators, corridors and hallways. Please see below for details.

• Main buildings (Rockefeller, Penfield, McConnell and Webster Pavilions)
• North Wing 

Current rules continue to apply. Masks need to be worn at all times in all indoor public spaces including elevators, corridors and hallways. All other procedures remain in place. 

• Masks can be removed while eating and drinking if you can respect the 2-metre distance from others,
• Masks can be removed for meetings and events in our conference rooms, if you can respect the 2-metre distance from others,
• Employees with any signs or symptoms of COVID should avoid being present at work and need to go get tested,
• Respect infection control guidelines on when to isolate and when you should return to work if you are exposed to a COVID positive case, symptomatic or test positive yourself.  

• NO access to the hospital floors. Researchers are encouraged to use floor B1 for essential movements within the complex. Please avoid use of floors 1 and 2 of main complex.
• Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in reduced access, exclusion from the building, and/or disciplinary measures.

Lunch/ break rooms can be used, but physical distancing guidelines (2 metres) must be followed, and surfaces must be wiped down after use.

• Respect maximum occupancy sign outside each common room.
• Eating outside is encouraged
  • BTRC, NW L3 and NW L2 Terraces are open
• Café Vienne 
  • To access Café Vienne you must wear a mask and take the Rockefeller elevator or stairs.
  • Please note no eating shall take place in the hallways, please consider options noted above.

It is of paramount importance that all community members involved in on-campus research activities comply with established safety protocols.

For more information: See Appendix 1 of Directives: Principles and Procedures for Research on campus

• McGill directives on preventing the spread of COVID-19 on campus
• General Guidance for Personal Protection and Decontamination in the lab (PDF)
• Principles for the safe use of research microscopes in the Neuro’s Microscopic Cellular Imaging Facility during research ramp up