April 21, 2021
Regretfully, a series of recent developments has required us to extend our spring shutdown by several weeks, causing disruptions to planned operations in May and June 2021.
On April 5th 2021, due to several cases of COVID-19 among staff members, we moved the facility to Warm Standby, a mode intended to prevent equipment damage while minimizing the staff complement required to run the facility. This has resulted in significant delays to planned essential maintenance work.
Based on our investigations we revised and strengthened our COVID safety protocols, and beginning April 19th 2021 staffing levels have begun to increase, however, users will not be allowed onsite until further notice.
Additionally, subsequent to a major power outage on April 8th 2021, which impacted a significant area of our city, a leak was discovered in the liquid helium transfer line that supplies the storage ring radio frequency cavity. We are unable to store electrons in the storage ring until this problem is resolved. The investigation is ongoing and we expect to have more information soon, now that a limited number of staff are back in the building.
The duration of the repair and the impact to the current outage are unknown at this time, but there will be no user beam until June 18th 2021 at the earliest, with the remainder of beamtime in June also at risk. This represents a loss of several weeks of user beamtime, and we are deeply sorry for the effect this may have on our users’ research projects.
Thank you for your patience as we work through these issues.
April 12, 2021
As of today, we know that eleven employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals are self-isolating and we are investigating to identify and notify close contacts, working closely with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. We wish our affected colleagues a speedy recovery and continue to check in on their wellbeing.
To protect our staff, their families and our community, our facility will remain in warm standby mode until at least Monday, April 19, 2021. Based on our ongoing investigations, we will revise and strengthen our COVID safety protocols, as needed.
Our spring outage work will continue once it is safe to do so, currently planned to restart April 19, 2021, and all scheduled users will be informed if there is an impact to the scheduled start of operations, currently planned for May 20, 2021.
The safety of our staff, users, and community continues to be our first priority.
April 9, 2021
The CLS is aware that six employees have tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The individuals are self-isolating and an investigation began immediately to identify close contacts.
Out of concern for the safety of CLS staff, their families and communities, we have moved into a warm standby mode until at least Monday, April 19, 2021.
In accordance with our protocols, close CLS contacts of the affected employees have been notified and have contacted Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) for further evaluation. The CLS Health and Safety team will continue to liaise with the SHA and affected employees, as required.
Our spring outage work will continue once it is safe to do so, currently planned to restart April 19, 2021, and all scheduled users will be informed if there is an impact to the scheduled start of operations, currently planned for May 20, 2021.
The safety of our staff, users, and community continues to be our first priority.
February 2021
CLS is in normal operations, with limited staff working onsite and strict safety protocols. No visitors are allowed.
Due to local public health restrictions requiring all international travellers to self-isolate for 14 days, no international users are permitted onsite.
Since local public health recommendations also include limiting inter-provincial travel, only a limited number of local Saskatchewan users have onsite access, after receiving authorization from the relevant beamline responsible scientist and completing the required safety training. We are taking this extra precaution to minimize exposure to our staff and their families.
Researchers in other locations are continuing to use the CLS through remote access. In an effort to help fight this global pandemic, we have a special call for proposals for any work that will actively contribute to finding COVID-related treatments or vaccines, or improve conditions for frontline workers. This call is open to researchers from any institution, in any location.
For information on how to submit a proposal or access the CLS, please visit our users webpages or contact us.
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