U of R suspends classes due to COVID-19 concerns

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the University of Regina has decided to suspend classes for a short period of time and will no longer provide face-to-face teaching the rest of the semester.

The U of R made the announcement Saturday morning, saying all classes including online courses are suspended from March 16 to 19. After that, no face-to-face instruction will take place the rest of the semester.

The university will stay open during the time.

In a written statement, the U of R said this decision was made to help reduce the possibility of COVID-19 being spread on campus, ease the stress students are experiencing, and allow the faculty and teaching staff to make the arrangements to deliver coursework to students and communicate with them about the continuation of academic programming.

Teaching at a distance will be the only form of instruction allowed the rest of the winter semester.

A process for final exams is being decided on and students will be told well ahead of time.

The University of Saskatchewan announced on Friday it would be suspending classes Monday to Thursday and will be providing online courses the rest of the semester.

Sask Polytechnic has cancelled or postponed all non-essential gatherings but, as of Saturday afternoon, classes will continue as scheduled.

Negative tests

On Saturday, the university also announced that it was still COVID-19 case-free.

Two students had been self-isolating with flu-like symptoms, but the university said the tests for the virus came back negative.