COVID-19 U of T Engineering Graduate Students FAQs

There are a number of resources you can access to find current information regarding the pandemic, what to do if you’re not feeling well, COVID-19 testing, and best practices to stay healthy.

Visit these resources regularly for updates:

• City of Toronto, COVID-19
• Province of Ontario, COVID-19
• Government of Canada, COVID-19
• University of Toronto, Health & Wellness

Yes. The University has implemented a Policy on Non-Medical Masks and Face Coverings requiring non-medical masks or face coverings to be worn indoors in all common-use spaces on our three campuses and on University premises off campus. This policy is consistent with provincial regulations. Please refer to the guideline for additional details.

Public health authorities recommend that a non-medical mask be used to reduce community transmission of COVID-19, especially when physical distancing may be challenging or not possible. Such use can protect others if the wearer of the mask is infectious. While those with symptoms should stay home, there are cases of transmission of disease from asymptomatic individuals.

Acceptable Face Masks

Public Health authorities recommend using a well-fitting mask, preferably with three layers.

Masks with exhalation valves are not recommended because they are not designed to filter exhaled virus particles or respiratory droplets. This means droplets from a person can be spread in a room, reducing the benefit of the mask. For those who must use a mask with an exhaust valve as part of a medical accommodation, employees should contact their supervisor or divisional HR Office and students should contact their academic lead and Student Accessibility Services.

Face Shields

In general, masks are preferred to face shields when it comes to required face coverings.

A face shield is an extra layer of protection that is usually used in clinical settings in combination with a mask. It does not offer the same kind of protection as a mask because it does not fit securely around the chin, mouth and nose. The benefits of using a face shield on its own without a mask to either provide personal protection or reduce community transmission are unclear, although shields should certainly provide some protection.

If instructors have recommended that masks are not required in their learning and teaching environment, then instructors and students in that class may wear a face shield. Also, if an individual has a medical, religious, or other circumstance requiring accommodation, then that person may wear a face shield instead of a mask. The University has a supply of face shields available for these situations as well as for clinical settings.

Where Masks Need to Be Worn on Campus

The policy applies to lobbies, elevators, hallways and corridors, stairwells, washrooms, service desks, cafeterias and lunchrooms, common areas in residences, study lounges, meeting rooms, classrooms, research and teaching labs, shared or open-space offices, and other locations used in common, including where practising physical distancing may be difficult or unpredictable.

The provincial government requires the use of masks outside any time that physical distancing is not possible.

Certain activities and individuals are exempt from this policy, as outlined in the guideline.

This policy will remain in effect as long as Ontario public health authorities recommend that mask-wearing is necessary in indoor public spaces. It is subject to change and extension at the discretion of the Governing Council of the University of Toronto as public health guidance and understanding about COVID-19 evolves.

For more information regarding mask use on campus, please review the detailed FAQs at Your Guide to Summer and Fall 2021 at U of T.

Yes. The University of Toronto requires that all those intending to be present on our campuses be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The University expects everyone to have their first dose by Sept. 13 and to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15. All members of our community will be required to upload proof of vaccination via UCheck. Instructions for how to provide proof of vaccination will be available soon.

Those seeking an exemption to the vaccination requirement (for medical reasons or other grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code) will be able to request approval via U of T’s Enterprise Service Centre (ServiceNow). Forms are now available and completed requests can be uploaded for review beginning Sept. 2. Those who have already applied for an exemption should continue via the process communicated to them.

Members of our community who are unvaccinated and do not have an approved exemption are not permitted to come to campus.

Those who have an approved exemption or are awaiting their second dose must participate in the University’s rapid screening program, provide proof of a negative test before coming to campus and may be required to observe additional public health measures.

Visitors to U of T campuses will also be required to be fully vaccinated. More details about the process for visitors – including vendors, events attendees, gym members, and others – will be made available soon.

These measures follow the most recent guidance from the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health and have been put in place in consultation with local public health units and experts in the field.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021 at U of T.

The University will support those who are not yet vaccinated to make arrangements to get vaccinated.

Those who have received their first dose but are not yet fully vaccinated are required to participate in the University’s rapid screening program and provide proof of negative tests before coming to campus. They will also receive public health guidance on how to modify their activities to protect themselves and others, and support to become fully vaccinated.

Those who have applied for and received a permitted exemption to the vaccination requirement will also need to participate in the University’s rapid screening program and provide proof of negative tests before coming to campus. They will also receive public health guidance on how to modify their activities to protect themselves and others.

Those who do not receive an approved exemption and who do not have their first vaccine dose cannot come to campus.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021  at U of T.

Vaccine approvals are subject to change. If you are immunized with a vaccine that has not been approved by Health Canada, the University will work with you based on current health-care guidance and help facilitate immunization with an approved vaccine. You may wish to speak to your local health-care provider for guidance if you have questions.

Health Canada also provides guidance for those who are partially or fully vaccinated with a non-Health Canada approved vaccine.

For more information regarding vaccine clinics and resources, please see the UTogether COVID-19 vaccines page.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021 at U of T FAQs.

Students, faculty, staff and librarians who are not yet vaccinated due to an approved exemption (i.e. medical, religious) or are in the process of becoming fully vaccinated must register in the University’s rapid screening program.

You will be provided with an at-home, rapid screening kit, along with a video that explains how the kit works. These kits are provided by the provincial Ministry of Health at no cost to those participating in the rapid screening program. You will be expected to screen yourself at home at least twice a week and will be required to take of photo of your test result and upload it to the UCheck app. A negative test result must be uploaded before you come to campus.

If you screen positive, you must notify the occupational health nurses at ehs.occhealth@utoronto.ca. They will refer you for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result, provide guidance on self-isolation and arrange supports as needed.

You will no longer have to use the rapid screening kit once you become fully vaccinated, unless you experience COVID-like symptoms.

U of T community members who are fully vaccinated but have reason to engage in regular rapid antigen screening can also enrol in the rapid screening program.

More information will soon be available on the UTogether rapid screening page.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021 at U of T.

The University’s Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) staff will have access to proof of vaccination documentation for verification, which will be disclosed through a secure database that is approved to hold the most confidential data assets at the University, including health information. It requires the highest level of confidentiality and has rigorous security requirements to safeguard data protection. This process complies with all provincial privacy standards for health information.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021 at U of T.

Yes! The University has supported the province’s vaccination efforts by supplying space and volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine clinics on its three campuses, in partnership with local hospitals. So far, more than 400,000 doses have been administered at the U of T-hosted vaccination sites and pop-ups.

More information on how to book a vaccination on campus is available on the UTogether vaccine page.

Cross-posted from Your Guide to Fall 2021 at U of T.

Everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc.) should stay home, not work, self-isolate and complete a self-assessment using the UCheck web portal. A number of dedicated assessment centres have been established across the Greater Toronto Region to facilitate assessment and testing. Information on locations is available on local public health websites, including Toronto and Peel Region. If you live in other regions you can find your local health unit here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx

If you are advised by a public health authority that you have tested positive for COVID-19, please contact ehs.occhealth@utoronto.ca immediately.

Taken from: https://www.utoronto.ca/utogether/faqs

This is certainly a stressful and uncertain time. Start by contacting your graduate administrator for advice on academic matters, including course enrolment. If you are feeling distressed, please use the resources available to you, including 24/7 counselling services, on the U of T directory of health and community contacts. In an emergency, call 911. 

We know that this year has been difficult for many. The Faculty is committed to fostering a culture of care and support. The Faculty’s new Mental Health Programs Officer put together a web page of the mental health resources and supports that are available to all U of T Engineering students.

For the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mental health, you might find the following helpful:

My Student Support Program (MY SSP)

U of T’s My SSP provides students with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour counselling support in 146 languages.

Navi: Your Mental Health Wayfinder

U of T students now have a more streamlined way to discover mental health resources and supports. Navi, short for navigator, is a chat-based service that acts as a virtual assistant for students who want to learn more about the mental health supports available to them at the University of Toronto.

U of T Engineering’s Talk to Someone Right Now Page
The Talk to Someone Right Now page lists support services that are available 24/7 for U of T Engineering students. Resources for ongoing support are also provided.

Wellness Together Canada  

Wellness Together Canada was recently funded by the Government of Canada in response to the spike in incidences of mental distress since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The site provides online support for mental health and addiction by providing customized wellness programs and provides self-guided courses and apps, an online community of coaching and support, and one-to-one counselling.

CAMH Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic 

It is normal to feel anxious and afraid while we deal with the effects of this pandemic. We know this situation is stressful for everyone; people living with mental illness and addictions may be finding it especially difficult to cope. If you or someone you know is struggling, the resources on the CAMH Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic site are there to support you. Remember: no matter where you are or what you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone.