New COVID-19 hotline

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

• You can now call the University’s new COVID hotline, 1-833-UW-COV19 (1-833-892-6819), for support if you test positive for COVID-19, experience symptoms or think you may need to quarantine or get tested.

Students,

I’m pleased to announce the latest measure in our COVID-19 response to help you quickly access accurate health information and support. 

Beginning November 16, you can call the University’s new COVID hotline, 1-833-UW-COV19 (1-833-892-6819), for information and support if you test positive for COVID-19, have concerns about COVID-19 symptoms, or have questions about self-quarantine or testing. 

When you call this hotline, you’ll speak directly to a registered nurse who can answer your questions, guide you through what to do next and contact Public Health to start the contact tracing process.

When should I call this number?

You should call this number if you:

• test positive for COVID-19
• have concerns about COVID-19 symptoms
• think you may need to self-quarantine or get tested for COVID-19

For non-health related and other COVID-19 questions, you can continue to email coronavirus@uwaterloo. 

Should I still call the hotline if I test positive but haven’t been to campus recently or I’m living outside of Waterloo Region?

Yes, you should still report to this hotline if you test positive for COVID-19 no matter where you are located. The staff on the line may still be able to provide some health guidance, advise on next steps or point you to information on academic accommodation and other considerations. If you are outside of Waterloo Region, you should also make sure you report to your local health authority.

What are the operating hours of the hotline?

Beginning Monday, November 16, Health Services staff will be available at the hotline number from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Outside of these hours, including weekends, you can submit your questions through a web form, which will be available on the Health Services website. You can expect to hear back within 24 hours.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.

Are there alternatives to phoning this number?

Instead of calling this number, you can submit your questions or report your COVID-19 case through this web form (available November 16). 

Learn more

You can learn more about our COVID-19 safety measures, protocols and tips on the university’s COVID-19 website.

Warriors, let’s continue to protect each other as we continue into the term.