Given current evidence of increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Brock University will maintain its COVID-19 vaccination policy and will continue to require the use of masks while indoors on campus beyond the Winter Term.

These requirements will be re-evaluated regularly in the coming months and a separate announcement regarding the Fall 2022 Term will be made over the summer.

“Brock’s top priority remains the health and well-being of the campus community,” says Lynn Wells, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “Public health measures such as vaccine mandates and wearing a mask when indoors allowed for a successful and safe return to campus in the fall, and we’ll continue to rely on these measures beyond the Winter Term as we assess the public health situation in the region and across the province. I want to thank the Brock community for its continued patience and co-operation as we move into this new phase of the pandemic.”

The decision to continue the vaccination and masking mandates was made in consultation with Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner, Public Health, who fully supports the University’s ongoing efforts to keep its community as safe and healthy as possible.

“I applaud Brock University for its leadership maintaining masking requirements and vaccination policies,” says Hirji. “These measures will continue to protect students, staff and visitors. Niagara and Ontario are now into the early parts of a sixth wave of COVID-19; locally, we have seen a two-and-a-half-fold increase in persons hospitalized for COVID-19 in the last couple of weeks, and unfortunately may see more hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks.

“The actions Brock University is taking will allow the important activities on campus to continue unimpeded while maintaining a level of safety that everyone has enjoyed this past academic year. I continue to urge everyone to get up to date with three doses of COVID-19 vaccine and continue to wear masks in indoor spaces and when in crowded spaces outdoors so that we can protect ourselves, but more importantly, the vulnerable people around us. I hope Brock University can serve as a role model for other organizations in maintaining masking requirements and vaccination policies as we experience the current surge of infections.”

Brock continues to monitor public health developments and will adapt its COVID-19 response as required.

Over the Spring/Summer Term, Brock will make rapid antigen tests, medical masks and KN95 masks available to students, staff and faculty. Further information will follow.

Please continue to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, do not come on campus.

Brock will continue to update the community on a regular basis via The Brock News.