Sask. universities tweak public health policies as province moves ahead on removing restrictions

While the province of Saskatchewan is dropping its proof ofvaccination or negative test requirements as of Monday, those requirements will remain in place for now at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan.

Earlier this week, Premier Scott Moe announced the province's proof of COVID-19 vaccination policy will end on Monday and its masking requirement will not be renewed when itexpires at the end of the month.

The U of R said in a news release that students, facultyand staff who regularly go to campus will need to continueprovidingproof of vaccination againstCOVID-19.

The release saidunvaccinated people, or those who are undeclared, will be "required to self-conduct rapid antigen tests three times per week, and submit those test results to the vaccination portal."

The self-testing protocols will remain in place until April 11, the last day of classes for the current semester.

The university will not require proof of vaccination for periodic visitors who are attendingan on-campus event or activity, starting Monday.

The U of R will keep masking requirements until further notice and says it will evaluate themas the term continues.

Mask use continues at U Sask

The University of Saskatchewan, which has requiredall members of the campus community to befully vaccinatedto participate in on-campus activities, willrequire those who are unvaccinated andon campus regularly to do rapid tests three times a week andupload results to the university until April 8.

Test kits will be supplied by the university, according to a Friday news releasefrom the U of S.

In the release, the university said 99 per cent of its campus community isfully vaccinated.

Maskingin all indoor locations onall campuseswill continue to be required until April 30.

As of Monday, though,visitors to campusdo not need to showproof of vaccination.

"With the effects of the pandemic projected to continue in Saskatchewan for a while longer, we believe the health and safety measures outlined above are necessary to ensure the safety of our campus community and beyond, which is our top priority,"the release said.

"This approach will enable us to successfully complete winter term and offer the level of in-person activity originally planned."