In a few short weeks, we will be celebrating the start of a new academic year together. As we get ready for September, we want to keep you informed of our updated plans for healthy campuses.
We will continue to monitor public health directives, data from the Ontario Science Table on COVID-19, and government decisions and will be ready to adapt our plans if needed.
Here are some of the ways we are supporting healthy learning, working and living spaces on our campuses. More details on the points below will be provided over the coming weeks.
- Vaccination status – We strongly encourage everyone to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination and booster doses. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions. Vaccination remains one of the best ways to protect yourself, to avoid serious illness from COVID-19, and to prevent disruption of your on-campus activities. The province has expanded eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to anyone over the age of 18.
Soon, you will be able to provide current details on your vaccination status through U of G’s Vaccination Status system. We encourage everyone to indicate their vaccination status through the system when it is ready. Understanding our community’s vaccination status will help inform our health and safety decisions. At this point, vaccination is not required to access U of G facilities.
- University mask culture – Wearing a mask is an easy way to help protect yourself and your community. This fall, when you are in high-density spaces like classes, labs, elevators and meeting rooms, you are strongly encouraged to wear a tight-fitting, multi-layer mask to help protect yourself and those around you. A medical-style mask is best.
As part of our culture of caring, we will designate a few areas where masks are required, providing students with study spaces where they can feel comfortable that those around them will be masked. If you forget your mask, you can pick up one on campus.
- Access to vaccinations – COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses are available by appointment through Student Health Services. On Tuesday, September 6, U of G will host the Government of Ontario’s GO-VAXX mobile vaccination clinic to make accessing COVID-19 vaccination even easier.
- Wastewater surveillance – U of G will continue with regular testing of wastewater in campus residences. See the surveillance results online. The University reviews the wastewater results regularly and adjusts its response accordingly.
- Access to rapid tests – Remember, if you feel sick, stay home. If you have COVID-19 symptoms and you want to access rapid antigen tests, you can find free rapid tests at pharmacies and grocery stores in the community. Routine testing with rapid antigen tests is not recommended for anyone without symptoms. In the fall, rapid tests will be available through on-campus locations – see the Rapid Testing page of our COVID-19 website for more information.
- COVID-19 call centre and self-declaration forms – U of G’s COVID-19 call centre and self-declaration forms remain in place through the fall. Use the call centre as a first point of contact and complete a self-declaration form if within two days of being on campus you develop COVID-19 symptoms, test positive or are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
- Updating our plans – We are updating our outbreak management plans for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases (such as monkeypox and influenza) so we’re ready for a quick response. We are also updating our continuity of education plans so that students can stay on track if course delivery is interrupted. Our travel frameworks for non-research related travel continue to apply for the fall semester.
We are looking forward to September and the academic year ahead. Watch your U of G inbox for more details on updating your vaccination status, the mobile vaccination clinic and more.
The University’s COVID-19 website is your best source of information on U of G’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.