News

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Winter term: masks strongly recommended but optional

Update for the UWaterloo community

While COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses continue to circulate in our community, there is now less risk of disruption to our academic activities so a mask requirement will not continue. However, given the ongoing impact of these conditions for members of our community, we strongly encourage you to think of the people around you and help limit the spread of COVID by wearing a mask in indoor settings this term.  

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Masks now required for indoor academic activity

Update for undergraduate students

You must wear a mask for all indoor academic activity for the rest of the term.

Your health and safety are top of mind as we respond to changes in COVID-19 trends and make decisions about our campus communities. We have been monitoring the latest data from Public Health Ontario and the Region of Waterloo and keeping in touch with colleagues in public health to inform our plans for the health and safety of our campuses.  

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Masks now required for indoor academic activity

Update for employees and graduate students

Before the start of this term, we wrote to you to confirm the University’s COVID-19 health measures for the Fall term. Since then we have continued to monitor the latest data from Public Health Ontario and the Region of Waterloo and remain in communication with colleagues in public health to inform our plans for the health and safety of our campuses. 

Recently, we have seen increases in COVID-19 hospitalization locally, and there are emerging trends from test positivity and wastewater that suggest increasing levels of COVID in the community now and in the near future. Taken together with higher rates of seasonal flu and other viruses, these trends mean we need to act now to protect our the most vulnerable in our community and to minimize disruptions to the end of term exam season.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Extra information on masking

Update for instructors

We have shared a message with everyone today confirming our decision to return to mask-wearing for any indoor activity that is part of academic course delivery. We’re making this change now to protect members of our community as the data trends point to increased levels of COVID and other airborne diseases in circulation. We also want to try to reduce the amount of disruption these trends could cause to the exam season.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Masks and rapid antigen tests now available

Update for students

As we head into the second week of classes for the Fall term, it is exciting to see the campus bustling with the energy of new and returning students. Here are a few things to note about helping keep yourselves and your peers safe.  

Monday, August 22, 2022

Updating you on Fall health and safety

A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor and James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic & Provost.

In two weeks’ time we will begin a new academic year, welcoming new and returning students to our campuses. Over the summer we’ve kept up-to-date with the latest data from Ontario’s Science Table on COVID-19 and with colleagues in public health to inform our plans for the health and safety of our campuses this Fall.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Suspending our mask requirement after June 30

Today, we’re making the decision to suspend our mask requirement after June 30. In addition to the lifting of provincial and municipal mask requirements noted above, this decision is also consistent with a variety of indicators including campus data, case counts, test positivity rates, local hospitalization and wastewater data, and consulting public health guidance.

We’ve all seen the value of wearing a mask to help limit the spread of a variety of diseases from COVID-19 to the common cold. Wearing a mask is a good way to show you are being considerate of the people around you. Please respect the choices of others in our community who may wish to continue to wear a mask.

If you haven’t done so already, please make sure you keep your vaccination information current with Campus Checkin (https://campuscheckin.uwaterloo.ca).

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

ACTION: Update or submit your proof of vaccination

Update for the UWaterloo community

As you may be aware, though we recently extended our proof of vaccination requirement until the end of the Winter term, the University will not require proof of vaccination in order to come to campus from May 1, onwards.

However, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, the evolution of the virus and the course of disease activity are difficult to predict. The University has made it clear that it may be necessary to bring back the proof of vaccination requirement at short notice.  If a proof of vaccination requirement is reinstated at a future date, all employees and students would have to have a valid proof of vaccination on file in order to be permitted to come to campus. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Research update on Human Participant Research

Update for employees

This message is to provide information for researchers regarding safety plans, masking, and proof of vaccination requirementsfor human participant research, including research with vulnerable populations.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Face covering requirement extended until further notice

Update for the UWaterloo Community

Earlier this week we sent you an update about health and safety at the University for the spring term. We have previously announced that our plans to relax some of our requirements at the start of the spring term on May 1 were based on public health conditions.