Due to the prevalence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the Kingston region, KFL&A Public Health strongly encourages all students to get tested for COVID-19 before leaving the KFL&A region for the winter break. This follows the university’s email to students yesterday regarding in-person exams.

• Queen’s is making rapid antigen tests available to students who are asymptomatic, and have not been told they are a high-risk contact of a person with COVID-19. 
  • These tests can be picked up at Grant Hall, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 
  • Students can pick up one rapid test each. 
  • Please refer carefully to the guidance below. If the test is positive, students must isolate in-place for 10 days, and they must get a PCR test.
• If students are symptomatic, or have been told they are a high-risk contact, they must get a PCR test, rather than a rapid antigen test, and self-isolate while awaiting test results.
  • Students can pick up self-swab PCR tests Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm at the southeast entrance of Mitchell Hall (across from Kinesiology building off Division St) from Student Wellness Services. They can also speak to a nurse.
    • Students will be asked to self-swab at home and return within two hours so their sample can be sent to a lab for testing. 
    • Results will be available within 48 hours.
  • Students can also make an appointment for a PCR test at Student Wellness Services to have a health care professional administer the test.
  • PCR testing can also be booked online through KFL&A Public Health.
     
• If the result is positive, students must isolate in-place for 10 days. 
   
• If they are a high-risk contact, they must isolate for the full 10 days, regardless of vaccination status, even if their test is negative. 

Students intending to leave Kingston for the winter break, who have received a negative rapid antigen or PCR test, and who are not high-risk contacts, are encouraged to depart as soon as possible.

If students have already returned home, they are strongly encouraged to seek a single PCR test and isolate while waiting for results.

Support services remain available for students who cannot return home. Queen’s residences remain open for students who cannot travel and students in residence have received a follow-up communication with further details.

Additional information on changes to campus operations will continue to be communicated to the Queen’s community. Please refer to the Safe Return website for up-to-date information.