Campus COVID-19 update for the fall term

Welcome to a new academic year at UVic! We would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief update on the current on-campus activities and guidance related to COVID-19. 

While COVID-19 is still with us, there are steps we can each take to lessen its impact on campus, within peer groups and as individuals.

Follow these health and safety steps to help keep yourself and our campus safe:

• Daily health assessment: Everyone coming to campus is required to do a daily health assessment. 
  If you are sick, stay home and follow public health guidelines. 
• Vaccination: Vaccination remains the most effective means of protection against the more serious effects of COVID-19 illness. We encourage you to get your booster dose when you are eligible later this fall.
• Masks: We encourage you to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, particularly if you are close to others or feel more comfortable doing so. Masks are required in some healthcare settings, such as the Student Wellness Centre. More detailed information about types of masks and how to use them is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) website.
• Rapid tests: Free COVID-19 rapid test kits are available to students, faculty and staff at the UVic Bookstore and Campus Security Services during their regular business hours.
• Hygiene: Regularly wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and cough into your arm instead of your hand.

Additional campus safety measures

• Building ventilation on campus has been enhanced and meets WorkSafeBC requirements. 
• Hand sanitizer is available at all main building entrances.
• Our communicable disease safety plan outlines the communicable disease prevention measures that everyone needs to follow. 

The university is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all students, faculty and staff. We continue to follow all public health orders and the health and safety measures required by the Provincial Health Officer, as well as the public health guidance developed specifically for post-secondary institutions by the BCCDC. These guidelines have recently been updated, and we continue to use these recommendations to inform the university’s COVID-19 actions and guidance.

We continue to monitor and prepare for any adjustments that may be required as a result of COVID-19.

For more information, please visit the UVic COVID-19 website.

Thank you for doing your part to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our community and for supporting each other to keep our campus healthy and safe.