Community Update #23 - Ontario Declares Provincial Emergency

Community Update #23 - Ontario Declares Provincial Emergency

As you may be aware, today the Ontario government declared a second Provincial Emergency, issuing additional public health restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19. As part of this announcement, a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with the exception of essential trips and for essential work will come into effect on January 14 at 12:01 a.m.

The announcement poses no impacts for on-campus classes. The University has approved a limited number of courses requiring in-person classes, with imposed gathering limitations, in addition to other health and safety measures that meet current public health requirements. At this time, we can confirm that YSpace will be closing in alignment with the current provincial order, with plans to re-open once the 28-day period lapses. Innovation York will continue to offer virtual support to affected entrepreneurs and staff in the interim. We are reviewing other impacts and further information will be forthcoming soon.

As the City of Toronto is already in a state of lockdown, the community has already been adhering to provincial and public health guidelines. The accommodations that the University made for the winter term adhere to the new recently announced restrictions. The following apply to any activities undertaken on our campuses:  

  • Teaching and research will continue as organized, with no immediate change to classes, research laboratories or studio-based activities
  • On-campus activities will continue to adhere to mandatory masking requirements, social distancing and gathering limitations of 10 people in an instruction space and up to 50 individuals in the School of Nursing
  • Residences will remain open for students requiring housing and residence staff will continue to support those who live on our campuses
  • Libraries will remain open for curb-side pickup

Should any additional information about the Emergency’s impact on currently scheduled activities be forthcoming, it will be communicated directly to affected instructors, students and staff.

We continue to actively monitor the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and communicate government restrictions as well as public health guidelines as they evolve. For the most current information, we encourage all community members to visit the YU Better Together website on a regular basis.

Rhonda L. Lenton  
President & Vice-Chancellor