As Queen’s attempts to prioritize health and safety leading into the fall term, it’s asking students to track their own symptoms through SeQure.

Initially launched in 2012, the University’s mobile security resource app SeQure now features a brief COVID-19 survey for those visiting campus.

The COVID-19 Self-Assessment survey was created by the Department of Environmental Health & Safety in conjunction with Human Resources and Safety Services, based on recommendations made by Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health and the provincial government.

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The form includes questions about symptoms, recent travel, exposure, reason for campus arrival, and a time-sensitive list of buildings individuals enter to assist public health authorities with contact tracing.

“The SeQure app takes respect for user privacy very seriously and does not track your device’s location,” Kim Murphy, executive director of Queen’s Risk and Safety Services, wrote in a statement. “The responsibility will be on users to fill out the app survey and receive the ‘all clear’ before each visit to campus. It’s quick and simple, and doing so will help keep them, their colleagues or classmates, and the community safe.”

If the user has been deemed “safe” based on their responses, they’ll be issued a green badge with a QR code to be presented to building attendants, athletics and recreation staff, and employee managers upon entering various University facilities for a 24-hour period.

After that time, the green badge expires, and users are required to fill out the questionnaire upon their next trip to campus.

If the user has indicated exposure to or symptoms of COVID-19, the app will display a screen that asks them to discontinue their visit, return home, and complete the Ontario COVID-19 Self-Assessment survey.

Students should contact Student Wellness Services at 613.533.6740 for medical assistance, and those living in residence should follow the COVID-19 Residence Student Isolation Protocol.

Staff and faculty are asked to fill out the Symptoms and Response form and advise their supervisor.

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“Queen’s is working to ensure that those who will be on campus are safe, informed, and have the right tools,” Mark Green, provost and vice-principal (Academic), also wrote in the statement. “We strongly recommend that all students, staff, faculty, and visitors to our campuses download the SeQure app and use the assessment tool, as it will assist administrators and our public health partners in mitigating potential impacts of any potential
COVID-19 transmission.”

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