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.

Changes to COVID safety protocols

Thursday, March 4, 2021

This message was originally sent to employees by the director of safety, Kate Windsor.

  • We are making some changes to safety protocols for people who come to campus.
  • If anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 or is waiting for COVID test results, you must self-isolate and not come to campus.
  • You may need to wear medical grade masks if you can’t maintain physical distancing while you work or study.

As local public health guidance has recently changed, please be aware of two recent updates to safety protocols that affect anyone coming to campus. 

Stay home if anyone you live with has symptoms

The COVID-19 Campus Check-In self-assessment that must be completed before accessing campus now includes the question: Does anyone in your household have COVID-19 symptoms or is anyone in your household waiting for test results after experiencing symptoms?

If you answer yes to this question, as with any other question in the self-assessment, you will fail the screening. This means you must self-isolate and contact your health care provider or Health Services via the University’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-UW-COV19 (1-833-892-6819).

Make sure you are wearing the right kind of mask

Starting March 8, 2021, we have new requirements for personal protective equipment for instructional areas and workplaces.

For most students, if you can keep two metres’ distance from others, non-medical masks are appropriate. In most classroom settings, you must bring your own mask or face covering. Your mask should be made of two or three layers of tightly woven material and cover the nose, mouth and chin. Using a filter as a middle layer in your non-medical mask adds an extra layer of protection.

Where physical distancing of two metres cannot be maintained, such as in some labs or clinical training, PPE is required. Your instructors or supervisors will identify when PPE is needed, provide appropriate PPE and communicate requirements for specific tasks.

You can find the full PPE guidelines on the COVID-19 website.

These protocol updates keep us in line with the latest recommendations and requirements from the Ontario Ministry of Health and are in place to keep campus safe.

Thank you for continued work to protect yourselves and each other.