COVID-19 University of Sydney media statements
Update: Thursday 24 February
The Vice-Chancellor wrote to all staff and students with an update on University operations.
- From Friday 25 February, restrictions on masks will ease in most indoor settings across NSW, including office buildings and classrooms.
- The University will continue to encourage staff and students to wear masks in the classroom environment, particularly when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Staff will no longer be required to wear masks in the office.
- Masks will continue to be required in clinical settings, laboratories, workshops, and other environments according to the relevant public health orders and local COVID safety plan.
- Masks may continue to be worn by staff and students as a personal preference in areas where they are not required.
- We continue to encourage students and staff to maintain their vaccination and booster status. We will continue to expect that unvaccinated students and staff are able to provide evidence of a negative PCR test within three days prior or a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) taken on the same day.
Update: Tuesday 11 January 2022
The University has created a webpage listing COVID-19 positive case locations on campus, from the previous 14 days. A link to the page is here.
Update: Tuesday 7 December
Positive case in the Madsen Building
Today we received information from NSW Health that a person who attended the Centre for Classical and Near East Studies Library in the Madsen Building from Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 December has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you attended the library during this period please monitor for symptoms and get tested if you have even the mildest of symptoms. You will receive an alert via the Service NSW app if any further action is required.
In order to protect the University community as best as possible our spaces have continued to undergo routine and enhanced cleaning.
Further information
Call the Shared Service Centre on 9351 2000 or email covid19.taskforce@sydney.edu.au if you have questions. COVID-19 updates are available on our website.
Please continue to follow health and hygiene advice. Our priority is always the health and wellbeing of our staff and students, and we will continue to maintain best practices for the safety of our community.
Update: Friday 3 December 2021
Confirmed case attended Fisher Library
Today we received information from NSW Health that a person who attended Fisher Library on Tuesday 30 November has tested positive for COVID-19.
Please monitor for symptoms and get tested if you have even the mildest of symptoms. You will receive an alert via the Service NSW app if any further action is required.
In order to protect the University community as best as possible our spaces have continued to undergo routine and enhanced cleaning.
Call the Shared Service Centre on 9351 2000 or email covid19.taskforce@sydney.edu.au if you have questions. COVID-19 updates are available on our website.
Update Tuesday 30 November
Teaching arrangements and financial position
Today the Vice-Chancellor wrote to staff with an update plans for the safe reactivation of the University campus for the start of the teaching year in 2022, and our financial position as we near the end of Semester 2.
The full email is here.
Update: Tuesday 9 November
Confirmed cases on campus
NSW Health has informed us today that two University buildings have been identified as COVID-19 exposure sites, as follows:
- Carslaw Building on Monday 8 November
- Fisher Library on Saturday 6 November
If you were in these locations during this time, you will receive further information from NSW Health via the Services NSW app used for checking in. In the meantime please monitor for symptoms and get tested if you have even the mildest of symptoms.
In order to protect the University community, our spaces have continued to undergo routine and enhanced cleaning.
Update: Friday 15 October 2021
Update on our return to campus plans
Last night Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mark Scott wrote to staff with an update on the University's deliverately cautious and gradual approach to returning activity to campus, that will build on what worked well last year to ensure that have adequate systems and processes in place to align with the NSW Government roadmap for further significant changes from 1 December.
The full email can be read here. And the Vice-Chancellor's email to students today is available here.
Update: Monday 11 October 2021
Positive case at Carslaw computer lab
On Monday our Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott wrote to impacted students and staff, to inform them NSW Health has advised a student who used the Carslaw computer lab has tested positive to COVID-19, and they are considered casual contacts. The student attended the lab every day from Saturday 2nd to Saturday 9th October inclusive and was infectious during this period.
The full email is here, including guidance on health management and available support.
Update: Monday 11 October 2021
Pop-up NSW Health vaccination clinic at University of Sydney
Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney have worked together to establish a free pop-up vaccination clinic in the University's Great Hall, for everyone in our community.
Anyone aged 12 and over is eligible to receive a free Pfizer vaccine.
You do not have to have a Medicare card to get your vaccination at the mobile clinic, but if you have one, please bring it with you to your appointment.
Location: The University of Sydney Great Hall, Science Road, Camperdown
Dates: Monday 11 – Wednesday 13 October, Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 October
Times: 10am – 4pm
Bookings: via bit.ly/mycovaxvc70, walk-ins also welcome.
Full media release here.
Update: Thursday 7 October 2021
Preparing for a safe and gradual return to our campuses
Today Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mark Scott wrote to students and staff with an update on the University's preparations for a safe and gradual return to campus.
Update: Thursday 19 August 2021
Remote learning extension, research funding and financial support available
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mark Scott wrote to staff and students today, to advise our remote delivery of Semester 2 teaching will be extended for an additional four weeks until at least mid-semester break – 27 September.
Support for our students and staff was also highlighted, including additional financial support for HDR students and a research support fund.
Update: Tuesday 27 July 2021
Positive case in Chemistry and Madsen buildings
We received confirmation yesterday that a staff member in our School of Chemistry has tested positive for COVID-19.
Access to some spaces in our Chemistry and Madsen (Geosciences) buildings are being restricted and deep cleaning is underway.
We have advised our community to immediately get tested, self-isolate, and wait for further instructions from NSW Health if they visited those buildings (Chemistry Building 19 and 20 July, Madsen Building 20 July).
More details available here.
Update: Friday 24 July 2021
Positive case at Sydney Dental School
We were advised early Friday morning that a staff member at our Sydney Dental School in Westmead has tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing and deep cleaning is underway.
More information available here.
2020 media statements
Our 2020 COVID-related media statements and updates are collated here.