The University of Guelph could soon see some new residences moving on to campus — but it will not be students.

On Tuesday, the university announced it will be providing temporary housing, starting this week, for health-care workers and emergency responders looking to live apart from their families in order to avoid potentially bringing the coronavirus home with them.

“Health-care workers and emergency responders are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Irene Thompson, the university’s director of student housing services, states in a news release.

“Many of these critical workers are concerned about the possibility of carrying the virus home and exposing their family members. Providing them with housing options felt like something tangible the university could do to help.”

Carrie Chassels, the university's vice-provost for student affairs, tells the Mercury Tribune talks to open up the school’s dorms started about two weeks ago.

“We have a number of people at the university who felt that there would be a need, and started talking about the possibility that we might be able to provide temporary accommodations,” she says.

“We also had some inquiries from some health-care workers who were calling around to see what options were available in the community.”

There are currently 172 students still living on campus, occupying one section of the university’s residences. In total, the university’s student residences can accommodate approximately 5,000 people.

Chassels says this does not mean 5,000 people will be calling campus their temporary home, as the university has to meet certain health and safety criteria advised by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, such as people staying one to a room, and each person having their own washroom facilities.

The university says accommodations can be made for families if necessary.