On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared a pandemic in the wake of the global propagation of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

College Initiatives

As a result, the College has taken many necessary measures to help promote the health of its students and of its personnel by :

• Sending memos and reminders to staff and students publicizing healthy measures to help prevent the propagation of the virus such as washing your hands, coughing and sneezing in your arm or sleeve, etc.
• Implementing and publicizing 2 directives (one for staff and one for students) to ensure that anyone with flu-like symptoms stays at home for a period of at least 7 calendar days.  Memos have been sent to staff and students to keep them up-to-date on the procedure to follow when sick.  Communications have been continuous to both staff and students.
• Sending a letter to parents of students under 18 years of age to inform them of the measures being taken by the College to address the threat of the H1N1 pandemic.
• Installing hand sanitizers at all entrances and at numerous locations throughout the building.
• Organizing a contest opened to all staff and students on how to promote healthy habits.
• Making available boxes of tissues and masks for those who needed them.
• Hiring additional caretaking staff to help with the disinfecting process of all door knobs, stairwells and the elevator on a daily basis, in addition to the regular cleaning protocols.
• Posting on its web site a Decision Chart that provides guidelines to help staff and students determine the appropriate course of action to take relative to the nature and severity of their symptoms.  Other important information concerning the H1N1 was also advertised on the College web site to help keep everyone informed.
• Modifying the greeting on the College voice mail system in order to direct staff and students on how to report their absences when sick.
• Informing and reminding all staff and students during the entire pandemic period of how to stay informed by visiting the web site of Pandémie Québec and the web site of Public Health of Canada and by advertising the different locations of the vaccination centers in our region.

On January 7, 2010, the Québec Director of Public Health announced the end of the second wave of Influenza A (H1N1) in the province.

In light of the current situation in Québec, the College would like to take this opportunity to remind you to continue to use the various health protection measures that were put in place last year, such as hand washing and respiratory etiquette. These measures are also effective in curtailing the spread of the seasonal flu virus and other illnesses and to remind everyone that any new cases of H1N1 should be reported through the measures put in place last year:  personnel should notify their immediate supervisor and/or use the Omnivox system and students should notify Student Services.