IPC Update

March 16, 2022 | Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator

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Dear Staff, Faculty and Students,

We are well on our way to the end of the winter term and with the lifting of almost all of the provincial pandemic restrictions, everyone is itching to relax and breathe freely. It’s important to remember that even though most restrictions have been lifted, we are still in a pandemic and the threat of a new COVID-19 variant still looms large so we must not let our guard down. While going without a mask in your lives away from clinical and simulation spaces is perfectly acceptable, we remind you that dental infection prevention and control (IPC) is still in effect in all of our clinical and simulation spaces.

We remind you that all other dental IPC rules remain unchanged at this time and must be adhered to. Below are the specifics on remaining pandemic IPC rules for anyone who works or learns with the School of Dentistry.

• Continuous mask wear and continuous eye protection (either face shield or safety glasses) is still required by all staff, faculty and students when anywhere inside Kaye Edmonton Clinic. These precautions will remain in place until AHS advises us otherwise.

• A head cover will continue to be part of the clinical attire requirements going forward. 

• FFW screening will continue unchanged until such time that we receive new standards from AHS. 

• Continuous mask wear and continuous eye protection are required by all staff, faculty and students in the Simulation Lab. This rule has been in place prior to the pandemic because it allows the learner to learn and practice the skill as it will be performed on patients - with full head & face PPE in place. 

• Mask wear is very highly recommended in all classrooms and other campus shared spaces where physical distancing (greater than 2m away from all other people) isn’t possible.

Have IPC Questions, Concerns or Positive Comments? Email dentIPC@ualberta.ca.

Sincerely,
Dr. Khaled Altabtbaei, IPC Officer
Ronna Richardson-Lozano, IPC Coordinator