Update from College Secretary and Director of College Health Service to staff and students
19 February 2021
Dear students and colleagues,
It is reassuring to see that the containment of the COVID-19 virus has been good in Trinity up to now. The reason we are faring well is due to the positive student and staff behaviour, but also because of the decisions being made and rolled out at all levels in College. We would like to thank you all for your role in this.
The adaptation of our protocols when necessary, early identification of cases, vigilance across the Trinity community by colleagues in Schools and areas such as security, housekeeping, accommodation in Trinity Hall and on the main campus, and regular communication has helped the mitigation of cases to prevent them from developing into major outbreaks. However, we cannot be complacent, and we all need to continue to adhere to the public health guidelines (i.e. wearing face coverings, hand washing, cough etiquette and physical distancing), especially in student residences.
COVID-19 vaccines for students on clinical placements
As the vaccination programme is rolled out nationally, it is good to see that some of our students on clinical placements in St James’s Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital were beginning to be vaccinated this week as they now fall into the Government’s Group 2 category of ‘frontline healthcare workers’.
Changes to Library Booking System
From next Monday, 22 February new changes will be introduced to the Library Booking System. Public Health has advised that “if an individual were to develop COVID-19, any person who has spent a cumulative period of more than two hours during a 24 hour period in an enclosed space with that person would be considered a close contact and would be required to self-isolate for 14 days.”
In order to minimise this risk, the Library is implementing a revised booking system from Monday 22 February, that limits readers to 1 hour 45 minutes at a specific workstation. The reader then takes a 15 minutes break outside before moving to their next ‘booking’ which is another workstation elsewhere in the Library. To facilitate the implementation of the change, advance bookings for Tuesday 23 February onwards will only be possible from 10pm on Monday 22 February. For further details please see the Library website.
Stay safe. Stay well. Bígí slán agus sábháilte.
Kind regards,
John Coman, Secretary to the College
Seán Ó Comáin, Rúnaí an Choláiste
Dr David McGrath, Director, College Health Service
An Dr Daithi Mac Craith, Stiúrthóir, Seirbhís Sláinte an Choláiste