After imposing restrictions on Canadian borders last December due to the Omicron variant and the rising number of COVID-19 cases, higher education institutions such as the University of Toronto once again open study abroad programs for international students.
The announcement was made after the Public Health Agency of Canada relaxed health and safety restrictions on Feb. 28, 2022. Under the new guidelines, Canadians may now travel even if for “non essential” purposes. Moreover, foreigners need only to present either a molecular test or rapid antigen test upon arrival and need not be quarantined.
Despite the relaxed restrictions and guidelines, the University of Canada is still putting health and safety as its top priority. It has, for instance, opened its Student Study Abroad program that aims to monitor international students during their stay to ensure that they can be cared for and given assistance should any issues arise. To this end, these international students are encouraged to register on the Student Study Abroad website.
By the same token, the University of Toronto has earmarked CA$1.5 million to compensate for any losses that may have been caused by various international programs’ closure due to border and health restrictions.
With this, the University of Toronto and the Canadian government itself are hopeful that things will soon get back to normal and that international students will begin returning to their international study programs.
Reference:
U of T announces the return of study abroad programs after border restrictions lifted – The Varsity
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