Some universities cancel in-person exams

Some universities are adjusting their plans for end-of-semester exams in response to the rise in COVID-19 cases. 

The University of Victoria in British Columbia will not be holding any further in-person exams this month. The school said its instructors have been asked to offer alternative exams online or in another format.

Effective Monday, we will no longer hold in-person exams. This is part of enhanced health and safety precautions being implemented in response to rising COVID-19 numbers. https://t.co/XB6GaTzwqP pic.twitter.com/RjQfdOg8Se

— UniversityOfVictoria (@uvic) December 13, 2021

 Queen's University in eastern Ontario has also postponed in-person exams due to rising COVID-19 case counts in the community. Exams will be changed to an "alternative delivery format" if possible, and those that must be done in person will be postponed until the new year.

 The school initially said students who were concerned about the local COVID-19 situation could choose to defer their exams, but later said it would postpone all in-person exams and reduce capacity limits at its library and athletics centre. 

The changes come after the Kingston, Ont., school confirmed a virus outbreak in the student community, and after the local health unit announced a case of the Omicron variant not linked to travel.