The Government of Ontario said Monday it would soon start to ease COVID-19 restrictions across the province, but students, faculty and staff are encouraged to be smart and stay safe during Reading Week Feb. 15 to 19.

Brock University is closed Monday, Feb. 15 for the Family Day provincial holiday and Tuesday, Feb. 16 for the President’s Holiday. It’s also a week when many students typically head home or elsewhere for a break.

The Government of Ontario has announced Niagara region will remain under a stay-at-home order until Tuesday, Feb. 16. Regardless of any changes to provincial or Niagara regulations the government announces in the coming days, Brock will remain in Stage 1 (Grey) of its own COVID-19 framework until at least Monday, Feb. 22. All previously announced restrictions and operational impacts as outlined below remain in effect. Updates to Brock’s framework will be provided as soon as they become available.

Public health guidance recommends avoiding all travel except for essential reasons. Anyone leaving the region for travel of any kind during Reading Week or the Family Day long weekend must follow local public health guidelines and complete the pre-screening tool on the Brock Safety App prior to returning to Niagara. If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact public health and self-isolate. If you do not register COVID-19 green on the Brock Safety App you will not be able to access campus.

With Brock remaining in Stage 1, a number of areas across the University are impacted in order to abide by public health guidelines. This information includes schedule changes based on the University being closed for Family Day and the President’s Holiday:

• Campus security is available 24-7 via phone at 905-688-5550 x4300/3200, email at security@brocku.ca and through the Brock Mobile Safety App.
• Screening access to enter Brock’s main campus can be completed at the main entrance to the Rankin Family Pavilion from Monday, Feb. 15 to Friday, Feb. 19 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Screening access can also be gained through a checkpoint at the Roy and Lois Cairns Health and Bioscience Research Complex from Tuesday, Feb. 16 to Friday, Feb. 19 between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Indoor social gatherings are not permitted, and outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people, provided physical distancing can be maintained.
• All meeting and event spaces are closed.
• Food service at Guernsey Market will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15. Guernsey market services will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Tuesday, Feb. 16 to Thursday, Feb. 18 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. All food from Guernsey Market will be takeout only. Indoor dining remains suspended until further notice.
• University residences will continue to operate as planned. Further information can be found on the Residences website.
• Brock Central will be closed Monday, Feb. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 16. Services will be available on the phone or via email Wednesday, Feb. 17 and Thursday, Feb. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Brock Central can be reached via its website, by calling 905-688-5550 x 3052, or by emailing central@brocku.ca
• The James A. Gibson Library is only open for contactless book pickup. Study space is closed.
• The Computer Commons is closed.
• The Campus Store will be closed Monday, Feb. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 16. Items purchased between Friday, Feb. 12 and Tuesday, Feb.16 will be shipped Wednesday, Feb. 17, when the campus store resumes online-only operations.
• All sports and recreation facilities are closed.
• Research access will continue throughout Reading Week. Usual hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be in effect from Wednesday, Feb. 17 to Friday, Feb. 19. Monday, Feb. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 16 are holidays, so authorization is possible under extenuating circumstances only with the same policy applying for the weekends. Hours on holidays and weekends are limited to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Researchers are asked to consult the Associate Dean, Research in advance if extenuating circumstances necessitate access on the weekends or holidays.
• For the latest guidance on research access, please visit the Brock Coronavirus FAQ for research.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to monitor their email, brocku.ca and Brock social media accounts for further updates on Brock’s current COVID response level and any impact it may have on operations.

For more information about Brock’s COVID-19 response and a full list of frequently asked questions, please visit brocku.ca/coronavirus