Resuming limited campus operations in provincial COVID-19 Red zone

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

• The Region of Waterloo is now in the Red – Control zone of the province’s COVID-19 framework
• Limited in-person course activity will resume on February 22
• Some campus services and operations will resume to pre-holiday break levels

Effective today, Waterloo Region has transitioned out of the provincial shutdown and into the Red – Controlzone of the province’s revised COVID-19 response framework.

This allows us to gradually resume some teaching, research and other operations in line with our safe and staged return to campus. We expect to return to our operating levels from before the holiday break when the provincial stay-at-home order began on December 26.

• In-person course activity will begin after reading week on February 22 for courses that were originally scheduled to be in person this term but were moved online because of the stay-at-home order. Essential courses that continued in-person throughout the shutdown at a reduced capacity of 10 students can return to original class sizes. You can find a list of all in-person undergraduate and graduate courses on the COVID-19 website.
• Courses originally scheduled to be online this term will continue online.
• Some research activity that was suspended due to the shutdown will resume. The Office of Research will share more details with faculty and researchers today.
• Travel between regions of the province, especially from areas in Red - Control or Grey - Lockdown status, should be limited to essential purposes.
• Access to offices and non-lab space may resume to levels that were permitted prior to the provincial stay-at-home-order.
• On Monday, February 22 the Davis Centre Library will re-open for studying, with limits on occupancy.  The Library’s Special Collections & Archives will also re-open on an appointment basis. See the Library’s website for hours of operation.
• Student residences remain open. 
• Some Food Services outlets will begin to reopen after reading week with limited seating. Visit their website for hours.
• Athletics facilities have reopened as of today, but are limiting the number of people who can use facilities at the same time.
• Print + Retail Solutions will remain closed for in-person shopping for now. Limited locations may open on March 1, as the situation allows. Curbside pick-up service will continue.

If you are coming to campus, remember to complete the mandatory self-screening questionnaire through Campus Check-In for each visit.

While I am pleased to move out of the shutdown and resume some operations, we must remember that the Red – Control zone still means stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus remain in place. We should stay at home as much as we can, remain diligent and continue to do our part by following all government and University safety protocols.

It is also important as we continue working in pandemic conditions to remember to seek support if you need it, and to continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I hope to share news with more positive developments in the near future.