Due to concerns with the rising cases of COVID-19 within our student population, and in consultation with Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health, Queen’s university is discontinuing in-person exams in Kingston effective immediately.

All remaining in-person exams scheduled for the remainder of the examination period to Dec. 22, will be changed to an alternative delivery format wherever possible. Should an alternative delivery not be possible, then exams will be rescheduled in the new year. Students will be contacted by their faculty or school with further details. This announcement does not affect online exams previously scheduled, which will proceed as planned.

In order to provide faculty with time to move to alternative delivery formats, exams scheduled for Monday, Dec. 13 and Tuesday, Dec. 14 specifically will be rescheduled for a later date.

Starting on Monday, both the Library and the Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC) will implement reduced capacity limits.

Due to the prevalence of the Omicron 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.  

If students are asymptomatic, and have not been told they are a high-risk contact of a person with COVID-19, they should complete a rapid antigen test.  If their test is positive, they must isolate in-place for 10 days. They must also confirm any rapid antigen positive tests with a PCR test.  Queen’s is working on a plan to provide free rapid antigen test kits on-campus as early as possible on Monday.

If students are symptomatic, or have been told they are a high-risk contact, they must get a PCR test and self-isolate while awaiting test results. If they are positive, they 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.  PCR testing can be booked online through KFL&A Public Health. Students can also make an appointment at Student Wellness Services.

Once those students intending to leave Kingston for the winter break 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 will receive a follow-up communication with further details.

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