Indoor Dining Spaces | Ancillary Services

Update: May 1, 2022

Effective May 1, 2022:

All dining spaces on campus are operating in accordance with current provincial and municipal health regulations/guidance.
The requirement for daily health screening with YU Screen for those coming to our campuses has been paused.
2-meter physical distancing in eating areas is encouraged but not required.
Eating/drinking in instructional spaces will continue to be dictated by the University’s Mask Protocol. As such, eating/drinking is not permitted in instructional spaces unless for urgent health reasons.

We understand that students, faculty, and staff who are on campus need places to eat and drink. In this guide, you will find information on: 

Where you can eat or drink on campuses. 
General guidelines for eating and drinking on campus, including restaurants, campus eateries, workspaces and instructional spaces.

This guide will evolve as government and/or public health guidance changes. 

Key Reminders

Masks may only be removed while eating and drinking.
Complete YU Screen before coming to campus, every time you come to campus. 
Please do not come to campus if symptomatic or feeling unwell.

A list of campus restaurants and their hours of operation is available on the Food Services website.

Keele campus

Glendon campus

Based on public health guidance and campus safety measures, it is recommended that York community members eat in designated areas, including cafeterias or lunchrooms while ensuring that the following safety precautions are considered and/or followed: 

Only remove mask when actively eating and drinking.   
If you are not eating and are seeking space for study, please consider using the library or other study spaces, where masks are required.  
Maintaining a 2M physical distance from others is encouraged, if possible.  
Please do not move dining tables and chairs.
Limit your time in designated dining spaces to allow other community members access to the space. 
Follow signage or markings that control traffic flow; avoid congregating if possible.  
Consider using available outdoor spaces or open areas for eating or drinking.  
Regularly clean or disinfect high touch or shared surfaces.  
Wash or disinfect hands before/after eating or drinking.

Individuals with offices may close their doors to remove their masks and eat/drink.

Many faculty and staff members and student employees share open workspaces. Individuals may briefly remove their masks to eat/drink at their desks, following these guidelines:  

Designated areas for eating are determined through the area’s health and safety COVID-19 risk assessment.   
An individual’s isolated workspace (e.g., office) can be used for eating only when they are alone and the door is closed.   
Open workstations may also be used to eat and drink if the space was assessed and considered to be safe, where cleaning/disinfecting occurs, and where 2-metres physical distancing can be maintained from others. In this case, masks can temporarily be removed for eating.

Other health and safety measures to consider include the flow of traffic in the eating area and/or closing cubicle doors, where possible. Under no circumstances should food or beverages be consumed in areas such as lab spaces, where infectious materials, hazardous chemicals or hazardous drugs are used, handled, or stored.

Please be considerate and rotate eating times to ensure everyone in your workspace is masked whenever possible. Always try to minimize the duration of time that your mask is removed while eating or drinking. 

Eating and drinking is not permitted at this time in instructional spaces, unless for an urgent health reason.  If you need a sip of a beverage or a bite of food for health reasons in these spaces, please do so quickly and only removing your mask briefly to do so. 

Food and drink may be consumed in meeting rooms. Please be considerate of those who may not wish to participate in eating in a communal setting and allow for 2M distancing between attendees.

For any other space outside of the options above, individuals are encouraged to be physically distanced while eating or drinking, at a minimum of two (2) metres apart. This includes lounges and kitchenettes.  

Information about food at events is available on the TUUS website.