This update is provided for archival purposes only.
Public Health guidance and University of Waterloo operations may have changed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our COVID-19 frequently asked questions.
On December 30, 2021, the Government of Ontario made changes to PCR testing eligibility and case and contact management guidance. These changes, made to help the province effectively manage the impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, mean that we are making changes to the protocols for what the University community needs to do if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19.
As we begin the winter term amidst a changing Omicron landscape, I am providing an update to University research operations and travel guidance.
There are few updates and changes from our current framework of research activities, initiated in mid-December. The changes identified below help us minimize disruptions to research activities as much as possible. These measures rely on our collective efforts to make appropriate decisions to minimize the risk of transmission so that we can continue to ensure the safety of our community, and so that further protocols are not required to navigate the current phase of the pandemic.
As a follow-up to the messages from the President and Provost regarding campus activities sent earlier this week, the Office of Research has reviewed research protocols to ensure research can continue, while keeping our communities safe. Earlier today, all faculty members received a message from the Vice President Research and International providing direction on research activities and international travel in light of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 – Global Travel Advisory. I am sharing the key messages from the Office of Research as these changes may influence your research activities.
In follow-up to the message from the President and Provost on campus activities, sent earlier this week, the Office of Research has reviewed research protocols to ensure research can continue, while keeping our communities safe. Further, we are providing an update on international travel in light of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 – Global Travel Advisory, issued Dec. 15.
Earlier this week, we asked you to make some changes to the way that we work at Waterloo considering the Omicron variant of COVID-19. We asked you to:
cancel all in-person end-of-year gatherings and all non-essential meetings on campus, and
work from home whenever possible.
We have endeavoured to ensure students can complete requirements for the current term. The last in-person exams are scheduled for Friday, December 17, with the remaining exams next week scheduled to be online.
