At-home rapid testing kits available for pick up starting September 1

On August 31 the following email was shared with graduate students

To: All students and employees, including employees of the Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo

From: Kate Windsor, Director, Safety Office

Date: August 31, 2021

Subject: At-home rapid testing kits available for pick up starting September 1

Note: This email is for information.

At-home, rapid antigen testing kits will be available for pick up at all campuses (including satellite campuses) and during off-hours starting September 1. Testing kits are available to employees, faculty and students.

As part of our mandatory proof of vaccination program you must test negative on a rapid antigen test no more than 72 hours before coming to our campuses and buildings if:

• you are not yet fully vaccinated or
• you are seeking or we have granted you an accommodation.

The rapid antigen testing program is also available to anyone on campus as long as you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19. 

The main campus Rapid Antigen Testing Site will remain open and you can book your appointment online. If you have never done a rapid test you should book an initial test at the rapid screening site before you start self-testing at home.

We will only give test kits to current employees, faculty and students. You will need to provide identification to collect test kits. One kit is available per person to start. Each kit contains 25 tests, and will last approximately 3 months if you are coming to campus five days a week.

You can collect test kits at the following locations:

Main campus:

• Rapid Antigen Screening Site located in the Student Life Centre (SLC) 2134 and 2135 during operating hours
• SLC Turnkey Desk outside of the Rapid Antigen Screening Site operating hours

Stratford:

• Main administration desk during normal operating hours

Kitchener:

• From the Administrative Officer, PHR 6004/6001 during building operating hours
• After normal building hours, request a kit from the security guard on duty

Cambridge:

• ARC 2106, the main office, during building operating hours
• After normal building hours, request a kit from the security guard on duty

If you test positive on a rapid antigen test you must immediately self-isolate and book an appointment at the Health Services COVID-19 Testing Assessment Centre or any public health testing site for confirmation PCR testing. Refer to the COVID-19 information website for more information.

Kate Windsor,
Director, Safety Office

Remember: We are urging you to submit your proof of vaccination or start the process for accommodation as soon as possible by visiting Campus Check-In.

• If you are a student living in Campus Housing residences or AFIW residences that have already supplied proof of vaccination or sought an accommodation you do not need to resubmit your information.

To submit your proof of vaccination, you can upload your vaccination record or receipt. If you were vaccinated in Ontario, copies of your receipts are available on the Government of Ontario website.

If you were vaccinated elsewhere in Canada copies of your receipts are available on the relevant provincial website that you can find links to on the Government of Canada website.

For anyone who was vaccinated in Canada, copies of your receipts are available on the Government of Canada website.

If you were vaccinated outside of Canada, proof can include vaccination receipts or letters from physicians, hospitals, or government agencies that include the date you received the vaccine, the name of the vaccine and the number of valid doses you have received.

To apply for an accommodation, you can follow the prompts in the proof of vaccination form.

SUBMIT YOUR PROOF

More information is available on the COVID-19 information website.

COVID-19 testing, rapid screening and vaccination is available through Campus Wellness for all University of Waterloo students, employees, postdocs and their family members.

If you are struggling with your mental health during these changing times, reach out for support through Human Resources, Occupational Health, Here247 and Wellness Together Canada. Ongoing employees can access supports through Homewood Health, the University’s Employee and Family Assistance Program partner or at 1-800-663-1142.