Queen’s Residence Life and Services’ 2021-22 Residence Community Standards provides guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to the report, Residence Life is committed to ensuring the safety and prosperity of its students.

Masks continue to be required outside students’ rooms and in all indoor common areas. Furthermore, the report stated that physical distancing is being enforced through restrictions on group gatherings and lines for food services.

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“We must all actively work together in protecting the health and safety of our community by taking steps to minimize the potential spread of viruses, including COVID-19.”

The report added that failure to follow the set and potentially incoming rules for the 2021-2022 year can result in educational sanctions, loss of privileges, and eventual removal from residence.

Penalties include losing access to certain residence buildings, removal from residence, and other sanctions as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

The report stated that students must also isolate in their residence room if they feel ill or suspect any signs of COVID-19.

“If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status, you are required to get tested and isolate pending your test results,” Residence Life announced.

Residence Life noted the requirements outlined are subject to change based on the “evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Journal spoke with two first-year students living in residence to discuss the current community standards.

“If COVID gets worse, will bus routes stop? That would change my whole way to get anywhere,” Mikayla Densham, ArtSci ’25, said in an interview with The Journal.

Living on West Campus, Densham said she’s nervous about the risk of going back online.

“Going back to online school wouldn’t be fun, and I think that it would take a toll on some people and their well-being.”

Amyn Dehal, ArtSci ’25, added that COVID-19 regulations have been reasonable in an interview with The Journal.

“I think that the COVID-19 regulations have been attainable, but I don’t know that they’re being well followed and even when they are, the positive effects it should be having are possibly being counteracted through large gatherings.” Dehal said.

With files from Rida Chaudry.