Changes and news as of January 10, 2022, 15:00 p.m.

Important measures to limit the spread of the Omicron variant

The meteoric rise of Omicron is just getting started. Both the Trudeau and Ford governments announced a series of measures to slow the spread of this virus. As it has since March 2020, the University of Ottawa will continue to do what needs to be done to protect our students, professors, and support staff, and all members of our communities.

The 2022 winter term

Since public health authorities forecast a very significant increase in the number of COVID-19 infections at the start of winter, the University has decided to postpone the return to campus until January 31, 2022. Classes are being delivered virtually for at least the first three weeks of term. We sincerely thank professors and students for their agility in coping with the current situation.

However, some courses will be offered in person because they require students to be physically present on site. In these exceptional cases, the professors and students concerned will be directly notified by their faculty. In parallel, research activities will continue in person. In all cases, we will take all necessary measures to safeguard the health and safety of all students and personnel.

The same decision applies to administrative and support staff members. The guidelines implemented to guide their return to campus after the holidays will not take effect before January 31. The health and safety of our community has always been our top priority. Postponing the return to campus will allow the University administration to analyze the impact of the virus, in cooperation with public health authorities, in the coming weeks and to better protect all members of the university community.

uOttawa will partner with public health to re-evaluate the situation in mid-January and will continue to take the decisions needed to ensure a safe return to campus this winter as soon as health conditions allow.

For more information please see the full statement here.

Outgoing International Travel

Given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant and the advisory issued by the Canadian Government to avoid all non-essential travel, the University has made the difficult decision to cancel outgoing international exchanges until further notice.

Exceptional travel authorization may be granted to a limited number of graduate students whose travel is deemed essential to the continuation or conclusion of their academic program or research by their faculty. For more information on exemptions, please contact the International Office at uointl@uOttawa.ca and allow at least ten business days for your request to be processed.

Based on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and in alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), the province has begun offering third doses (booster doses) of the COVID-19 vaccine to the following populations if at least three months (84 days) have passed since their last dose:

• Individuals aged 18 and over (born in 1971 or earlier);
• Health care workers; (PDF, 393 KB)
• Designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers);
• Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine); and
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults (16+) and their non-Indigenous household members.

The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health clinic located at the Minto Sports Complex (801 King Edward Avenue, rink #2) is administering both the Pfizer and Moderna booster doses.  To book an appointment at Minto or another community clinic near you, visit the provincial COVID-19 vaccination portal, or call 1-833-943-3900 between 8am and 8pm.

The clinic is open seven (7) days per week from 7:45 am to 8:15 pm.

The uOttawa Assessment Centre is not offering rapid testing to anyone other than those individuals with approved accommodations in place or are waiting for their final dose of the vaccine.

Check back regularly for clinic hours as times may change. Alternatively, you can also book via a participating pharmacy.