By Thea Gribilas and Sarah Tomlinson
This article has been updated as of Sept. 9, 2021 to reflect the most accurate information from the university.
Ryerson will now require students, staff, faculty and community members to provide proof of vaccination in order to come to campus in the fall, Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi announced on Friday.
“To protect the health and safety of community members on campus and to comply with the recommendations from public health authorities and the provincial government’s mandate, Ryerson, like other post-secondary institutions in Ontario, will require individuals to submit proof of vaccination,” the announcement reads.
As of Sept. 8, Ryerson community members can submit proof of vaccination through the RyersonSafe app or on desktop computers, according to an email announcement from the university. Community members have until Sept. 20 to submit their proof of vaccination. Students who are not fully vaccinated or who have not received an approved exemption from the university will no longer be allowed on campus or access in-person university activities off campus as of Oct. 18.
“This enhanced vaccine requirement is in addition to the extensive health and safety precautions implemented through the pandemic that will continue to be in place,” the statement reads.
As previously reported by The Eye, the university announced on Aug. 13 that students would be required to attest to their vaccination status in the fall semester before coming to campus. The university previously said that it would only require proof of vaccination in the winter 2022 semester.
Effective Sept. 7, those who are not fully vaccinated or who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status will have to get tested in order to come to campus.
Individuals who have an exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code or have a medical exemption “may be permitted to attend campus.”
In addition, health screenings will be enforced prior to every visit on campus through the RyersonSafe app or the RyersonSafe Health Screening webpage. Students may be required to show proof of screening when accessing certain buildings like the library or the Sheldon and Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre.
As previously reported by The Eye, students living in residence and student athletes are required to be fully vaccinated with a Health Canada or World Health Organization approved COVID-19 vaccine.
The university is also offering voluntary COVID-19 rapid antigen testing to vaccinated community members participating in higher risk activities, such as living in residence or participating in athletics. Testing will be available as of Aug. 30.
Students will now only be required to maintain a one-metre distance after the provincial government announced that colleges and universities would no longer be required to be physically distant in classroom settings nor will there be class capacity limits.
Ryerson community members will still be required to wear a mask at all times in indoor settings “in a manner that covers their mouth, nose, and chin.”
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