December 17, 2021
Dear Members of the Research Community,
While the COVID situation continues to change, I am writing to confirm that – at this time – we are making no changes to our current research protocols.
Thanks to your diligence, our research community has remained safe and been incredibly productive through much of the pandemic. To ensure this continues, please stay vigilant on daily screening through MacCheck, masking and handwashing and, while our labs have no capacity limits, I encourage you to practice physical distancing whenever feasible, given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. And, in keeping with the University’s current directives, please work remotely whenever possible.
If you are engaged in fieldwork, please adhere to McMaster’s policies and all public health restrictions of the community in which you’re conducting your research. Please also be mindful of evolving travel restrictions and advisories.
If your research is conducted at an off-campus site, including our host hospitals or MIP, please adhere to site-specific protocols in addition to McMaster’s requirements.
Given the current circumstances, this is good news and a direct reflection of your efforts to keep our research community safe. Thank you for that and for your contributions to McMaster’s research enterprise over the last year.
I will be in touch early in the new year should we need to alter our course, particularly for human participant research, based on public health guidance and the situation at the time.
I wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy and healthy 2022.
Karen Mossman
Vice-President, Research
Update from the VPR: COVID-19