Coronavirus update: travel outside Canada suspended

This message was originally sent to students by Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor

We are suspending all travel outside Canada that is not vital to our academic mission

The global COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. We are giving this direction because we want to protect the health, safety and wellness of our community. We also want to help reduce the spread of disease. 

Travel suspended outside Canada

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) described COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Global Affairs Canada has issued active travel health notices for several destinations. 

In light of these changes we have decided to suspend all travel outside Canada that is not vital to our academic mission until further notice.

Travel that is vital to our academic mission includes, but is not limited to:

• co-op work terms overseas (if work terms cannot be deferred to another term)
• exchange programs
• school of optometry clerkship program (if clerkships cannot be deferred to another term)

Travel that is not vital to our academic mission includes, but is not limited to:

• participating in academic conferences or presentations
• meetings with academic partners or collaborators
• professional or personal development 

If you are uncertain or need advice about this rule, please discuss with your professor, faculty advisor, or in the case of co-op students, your co-op student advisor.

All University-sanctioned travel to all areas of China and Iran remains suspended - regardless of whether the travel is vital to our academic mission. Effective immediately, we are also suspending all travel to destinations that Global Affairs Canada lists as "avoid all non-essential travel" or "avoid all travel". This is in line with our current travel policy.

You don't have to travel if you don't want to

You do not have to travel on behalf of the University if you do not want to do so - even if the travel is vital to our academic mission.

If you are on co-op and feel the need to end your work term early due to COVID-19, speak with your work term supervisor and your co-op student advisor.

If you do travel, the University expects you to take all reasonable precautions to reduce the likelihood of exposing the university community to increased risk when you get back. For most people, this may mean you need to monitor for symptoms or self-isolate.

Consider alternatives to travel

If you have upcoming travel plans, either personal or University-sanctioned, you ought to consider:

• is the travel vital to our academic mission?
• what is the risk at your destination?
• can you make alternate plans like videoconferencing?  

More information is coming

We are keeping the University’s COVID-19 website up to date with information. As always, please If you have questions or concerns about coronavirus and Waterloo, please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca and our teams will help to find the right campus contact.