Ryerson recorded 77 new COVID-19 cases last week, according to data from the university’s Environment, Health and Safety office (EHS).
That marked an 87.8 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases from the 41 cases which were recorded in the previous week.
The figure was made public by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3904, which represents Ryerson contract instructors and teaching assistants. Ryerson doesn’t directly report the number of confirmed cases recorded on campus, but the information is released to the joint health and safety committee by EHS. CUPE, which has a member on the committee, then releases the information to its members.
According to those CUPE reports, there have been 302 cases on campus this year. The actual number may be higher due to the nature of self-reporting, CUPE president Laurie Jacklin wrote in an email to On The Record.
CUPE 3904 members have also noticed “notable numbers of student absences” in classes recently, Jacklin wrote.
The high case numbers come shortly after Ryerson’s announcement to lift mask and vaccine mandates starting May 1. This decision has raised concerns for immunocompromised and disabled students.
All individuals with confirmed cases are following public health and safety measures, according to Ryerson EHS.
Fiona O'Flynn was a Video Producer and Copy Editor for On The Record News during the winter 2022 semester.
