To: Dr. Erika Paterson
From: Han Li
Date: February 15th, 2022
Subject: Proposal for Enhancing COVID Protection for On-campus Dining at UBC
Audience Description
The intended readers for this report are staff from UBC Community Planning and Programming. Senior Policy Planner, Celene Fung; Community Programs and Outreach Manager, Gabriella Scali, and Coordinator Debbie Yeh.
Introduction
Coronavirus has posed a significant challenge to daily life and work in the past few years and greatly affects UBC students’ campus life and studies. Coronavirus is challenging to end soon, with the BC Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 667 confirmed new cases in a single day yesterday. With UBC back on campus and many students gathering on campus for activities, there is a high possibility of rapid spread if someone is tested positive.
UBC students participate in various campus activities, including lectures, club activities, and daily activities. To prevent the spread of COVID, UBC has implemented several measures, including masks compulsory during indoor activities and regular seating for each class during the semester. However, on-campus dining has many risks, especially indoors. Students remove their masks to eat where air circulation is slow and without social distance guaranteed, leaving students with a greater likelihood of infection if exposed to the virus. Preventing the spread of coronavirus by increasing the safety of dining on campus will prevent panic and ensure the reputation of UBC as a safe campus
Statement of Problem
COVID spreads mainly through two aspects. One is through respiratory droplets from an infected person; the other is by touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands. Besides, certain environmental conditions facilitate the transmission, such as re-circulated air. Therefore, many students gather in confined spaces during meal times without wearing masks for a long time, putting students at high risk of getting coronavirus. There are two main reasons: First, students remove their masks to eat and talk in confined spaces where they cannot keep their distance. Second, students have to wait in line for long periods to order or heat their meals due to the similarity of mealtimes.
Proposed Solution
One possible solution to the problem of enhancing COVID protection for on-campus dining is to have acrylic transparent anti-droplet isolation boards in confined dining areas. This baffle effectively prevents the virus that travels through sneeze and cough from further spreading in the space. It is reusable, and each student can disinfect and clean it up with alcohol after eating. As it is transparent, students can communicate without obstructing eyesight.
Scope
To assess the feasibility of setting transparent anti-droplet isolation baffles excluding private-owned restaurants, I plan to pursue five areas of inquiry:
1. What action does UBC take presently sticking to students’ on-campus dining?
2. How many areas need these boards? How many baffles are required?
3. How many students agree to have isolation boards?
4. What is the suitable board size (various spaces have different lengths)?
5. What are the costs of isolation boards and their installation?
Methods
My primary data sources will include consultations with AMS Student Nest connecting students with UBC. Besides, I will also inspect some restaurants having isolation boards to evaluate them as examples. If possible, I will conduct a questionnaire survey of whether students accept isolation boards.
Secondary sources will include some E-sources related to the acrylic transparent anti-droplet isolation board.
My Qualifications
I possess robust information searching and collecting ability and negotiation experience due to my previous work experience. Therefore, I can collect detailed information about the isolation board for AMS. Besides, I have a business bachelor’s degree; therefore, I am familiar with business reports and field trips.
Conclusion
Overall, UBC needs to take action to enhance its COVID protection for on-campus dining. By answering the five questions mentioned above, I can estimate whether installing a transparent anti-droplet isolation board is reasonable. Once with your approval, I will start my research.
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