The Government of Ontario has recently updated the gathering restrictions for the entire province in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

As Ontario works hard to limit the spread of COVID-19, I’d like to encourage you to consider your Thanksgiving and Reading Week plans and limit your social interactions during the break. We encourage students living on campus to consider staying here the entirety of Reading Week. If you are going to travel to see your family, please limit the persons in your social gathering to immediate family. Health agencies are cautioning that with the reopening of the province and the opening of schools, expanded social circles increase risks to the community.  Watch Dr. Eileen De Villa explain.

I’d also like to remind you about health and safety measures to safeguard your continued health, reduce the risk of transmission and limit future outbreaks of COVID-19:

• wear a non-medical mouth & nose covering in all indoor public spaces (on and off campus) and when you can’t maintain 2-meter physical distance;
• practice physical distancing and frequent handwashing;
• use of hand sanitizer when handwashing is not available;
• avoid touching your face; and
• self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.

Travelling during the pandemic
If you are planning on travelling home, whether within Ontario or beyond, for Thanksgiving and/or Reading week, minimize contact with those other than your immediate family “bubble.”

If you are thinking of travelling internationally during Thanksgiving and/or Reading Week, I ask that you carefully consider whether or not you need to travel.

Students living in York Undergraduate Residences, York Apartments or the Quad are not permitted to quarantine on campus. You may choose to quarantine at a suitable off-campus location of your choice that meets the federal requirements, or you may request quarantine accommodation through York.

York will help students returning from international travel over the break make arrangements for quarantine. Students will be responsible for paying for these accommodations. For more information, please visit our Quarantine & Entry to Canada FAQs.

For questions regarding international travel and general international student wellbeing, please email iadvisor@yorku.ca.

What to do if you feel ill
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms you should immediately go to your room to self-isolate and contact Toronto Public Health (TPH), Ontario Telehealth [TOLL FREE 1-866-797-0000] or your health care provider to receive medical support based on your individual symptoms. If you live in residence contact your Don (or the Don on Duty) or Community Assistant on duty to report your symptoms. You will be provided immediate direction and support.

Voluntary Disclosure 
Any disclosure you make to your Faculty administrative staff or instructor is completely voluntary. Should you choose to disclose you are COVID-19 positive, the person to whom you make the disclosure will:

• Advise you to self-isolate and not come to our campuses until cleared by your local public health unit.
• Advise you to contact your local public health unit if you have not already been contacted by them directly. Your public health unit will provide you with instructions for self-isolation, self-monitoring or other actions to be taken if required.
• Provide you with appropriate course consideration information and health and wellness resources.

Out of respect for privacy, we will not share the specifics of any case. We will continue to provide updates with relevant information. If necessary, Public Health will follow up with individuals directly.

Support & Resources
If you have questions or concerns about staying safe on or off campus, please contact the Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR), oscr@yorku.ca, 416-736-5231. You can also reach out to OSCR if you need referrals and support, both internal and external to York, help with complex issues or assistance with personal issues related to the pandemic.

I hope you have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving and productive Reading Week.

Sincerely,

Lucy Fromowitz
Vice-Provost Students