Has the University of Alberta closed research facilities?

Only essential research is happening on campuses, with the majority being conducted remotely.

The majority of U of A research is being conducted remotely, with only essential research happening on campuses. That includes "research related to COVID-19, [research] involving animal care and maintenance of breeding colonies, research that is part of essential clinical care activities, and any other exceptional research deemed essential by a dean and previously registered with EHS by March 20, 2020."

The University of Alberta is at the end of its winter term, and since the pandemic began it has been "creatively mobilizing teams and resources to quickly move the majority of ... academic and research activities off-campus while health measures prevent in-person classes and groups."

The university has now shifted to planning for the fall semester, and in an update from President David Turpin, he said planning committees for research, academics and operations are hard at work.

"The sooner we are able to make a decision about the fall, the more time all of us will have to prepare courses in new formats, plan for the reopening of research labs, adapt our operations, and put in place the safeguards needed if and when we resume some in-person activity," Turpin said.

The university has also said that the province's relaunch strategy has no immediate consequences for the school, but more information is available on its website.