As most students are aware, the University of Toronto has once again made changes to ensure the health and safety of students and staff due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant. All in-person classes have been moved online until Monday, January 31, and students have been encouraged to delay their return to residence until after January. However, residences are still open with new restrictions as of January 9, and Burwash Dining Hall has returned to providing take-out only meals. Most employees are required to work remotely until January 31 and will be supporting students virtually, while some spaces, such as certain libraries, remain open.
Before the winter break, the Goldring Student Centre closed for the term on December 16, along with The Cat’s Eye lounge and Ned’s Cafe. There have been no substantial updates so far on how these spaces might reopen. As of the first week after winter break, Ned’s Cafe is open for takeout only and the remaining facilities in Goldring (including The Cat’s Eye) are closed, though this information only pertains to the week of January 10. The Strand reached out to the Dean’s Office for comment about a potential reopening timeline, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Caffiends will be closed for the month of January but is hoping to reopen in early February. Updates on The Cat’s Eye and Caffiends can be found on their Instagram pages, @viccatseye and @caffiendsvic.
All UofT Sports & Rec buildings will be closed and activities postponed until at least January 26. Memberships can be extended once they reopen or refunded by sending the facilities an email. Online fitness programs are being offered to help students stay active; further updates and information can be found on UofT’s Kinesiology & Physical Education website. The Hart House Fitness Centre is also temporarily closed, but the Hart House building remains open, including the Library, Reading Room, and Map Room.
Some library hours have also changed. The Hart House library is open, with hours posted on their website. Robarts Library and Gerstein Science Information Centre are open at 50 percent capacity as of January 10. E.J. Pratt and Emmanuel Library will reopen on January 17, with hours posted on their websites. As for libraries near Victoria College, the John M. Kelly Library at St. Michael’s College is closed but will resume pick-up service on January 10; the John W. Graham Library at Trinity College is closed; and the University College Library is open as of January 10. All library requesting services, including holds, interlibrary loans, scan & deliver, and intercampus delivery will also resume on January 10.
Many supports and services are still available to students. The Office of the Dean reopened virtually on January 6 and can be contacted by email; the Office of the Registrar & Academic Advising also reopened virtually, and can be contacted by phone or email to book an appointment or ask questions; Accessibility Services continues to provide one-on-one appointments virtually or by phone; and Health and Wellness is open for virtual consultations (students should call first to make an appointment).
Moving forward, students can find general updates at utoronto.ca/utogether, as well as a comprehensive list of mental health supports and services at mentalhealth.utoronto.ca. Although in-person activities are limited, students are encouraged to avail themselves of the virtual services above and to stay safe while making use of the spaces that are available.
