Health & safety

Our safety programming is informed by guidance and direction from the provincial health officer and the Post-Secondary Public Health Guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

Due to our high rate of vaccination, Island Health does not consider UVic a high-risk setting.

If you're sick

Please do a daily health self-assessment before coming to campus.

If you're sick or have symptoms of COVID-19:

please stay home until you feel well enough to return to regular activities and no longer have a fever
let your instructor or supervisor know about your absence
- students: learn what to do if you have to miss class
use the COVID-19 self-assessment tool to see if you should get tested
call 811 if you need medical advice
follow the BCCDC guidance for how to self-monitor and self-isolate

People who have COVID-19 are no longer required to self-isolate for a defined period of time. Read the health and safety update.

Additional information for:

students needing academic concessions or accommodations
students living in campus housing
faculty and librarian leaves of absence and medical accommodations
staff leaves and accommodations
wellness resources
Communicable Disease Protocol: Self-assessment and sick leave

COVID-19 tests

Rapid antigen at-home test kits for COVID-19

COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits are available to students, staff and faculty.

You can pick up a rapid test kit at 3 locations on campus using your ONECard. You do not need to make an appointment.

UVic Bookstore, open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Campus Security, open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Welcome Centre in the Jamie Cassels Centre, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Student Wellness Centre, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm (closed 12-1 pm) and Wednesday, 10 am–4:30 pm (closed 12-1 pm)

Please do not attend these locations if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. You can send someone to pick up a kit on your behalf.

Masks

Masks are no longer required in most indoor public spaces across the province.

While on campus, we strongly encourage you to wear a mask in indoor spaces where you may be close to others or feel more comfortable doing so.

Wearing a mask in public indoor settings is a personal choice.

In some health-care settings you must wear a medical mask when requested by a health-care professional. Check with the facility about their masking policies before your visit.

Forgot your mask?

You can pick up a single-use mask at the Welcome Centre (located in the Jamie Cassels Centre) during regular business hours.

Recycling single-use masks

Find out where to recycle your disposable masks (including surgical masks, KN95, and N95 styles) in the designated bins around campus.

Vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and protect against infection.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone 6 months and older. You can get vaccinated even if you don’t have a BC personal health number or other documentation. It doesn't matter if you are a Canadian citizen or not.

UVic employees are entitled to up to 3 hours of paid leave to be vaccinated against COVID-19, if required.

Proof of vaccination - care locations

students, faculty members, researchers and post-secondary institution staff members are required to show proof of vaccination to access care locations for training or research purposes
unvaccinated students, faculty members, researchers and post-secondary institution staff members are not permitted to access care locations for training or research purposes

Cleaning & additional safety measures

As per BCCDC guidelines, there are no COVID-19-specific cleaning requirements. Educational spaces are cleaned and disinfected following our usual protocols.

Hand sanitizer

We are continuing to supply hand sanitizer stations at all main entrances to buildings, and have added more stations in buildings with higher occupancy levels to promote hand hygiene.

Building air quality & ventilation

Building ventilation continues to meet WorkSafeBC requirements and UVic has introduced more ventilation measures as part of our COVID-19 health and safety plans.

For more information on these topics, visit the UVic Communicable Disease Safety Plan.

Travel safety

With approval, university-related travel is now allowed to countries and regions listed by Global Affairs Canada (Travel Health Notices) at “Level 1: practice usual precautions” and “Level 2: practice special precautions.”

Where travel is allowed, you're expected to understand the risks and restrictions in place at your destination.

Find COVID-19 travel safety information for students, faculty and staff.

Wellness resources

For students

book an appointment with the Student Wellness team (counsellors, physicians, spiritual care providers and more)
SupportConnect is a free and confidential 24/7 mental health service for UVic students
graduate students with a valid BC MSP number can use telehealth services to talk to a licensed physician online or over the phone
there are many community resources for health and wellness available to you throughout the Greater Victoria area