Colleges that mandate students to wear masks on campus are few and far between, especially with the start of the autumn semester and another wave of COVID-19 infections on the horizon.
Despite the fact that provinces and territories no longer require masks, several colleges and universities have made the decision to maintain mask policies for the protection of faculty and students.
One of the rare universities with mask rules is the University of Manitoba.
To return to work physically is safer, according to research associate Julie Lajoie. The professor explains that the University of Michigan follows research closely, emphasizing the importance of mask quality and explaining why N95 masks are crucial.
14 of the 83 universities surveyed by The Canadian Press via email, interviews, and online alerts said they would make employees and students wear masks in a variety of on-campus situations.
Wearing high-quality N95 masks on campus is still suggested in locations with high indoor foot traffic or capacity, as well as when using public or shared transportation, according to a statement from the University of Alberta. In some circumstances, such as in clinical settings where Alberta Health Services mandates the wearing of masks, masks will be necessary.
Student stability is something that University of Alberta Student Union President Abner Monteiro is concerned about.
The more forecasts we can provide them with, the better, said Monteiro. With all of the changes on campus and the choice to go online or in person, students had very little time to plan for the semester, which was one of the main issues we saw last year.
We want to prevent that from happening again this semester because it was a significant concern for us.
Student of music Ryan Simmons from Edmonton said he preferred the vaccine mandate to the mask mandate.
Simmons, whose COVID-19 immunizations are up to date, said, “It’s a higher education school so I hope most of the students are clever enough to get a booster shot.”
According to Simmons, colleges ought to send notifications to students urging them to get boosters. When asked about the mask, Simmons replied, “I’m totally cool with that. As long as I can attend school, I am happy.
The use of masks and immunizations will both be encouraged, but neither will be required for the upcoming fall semester, according to MacEwan University.
Some students will continue to wear masks when the new semester starts, whether they are necessary or not.
Student at Victoria University Cleome Wilkinson intends to wear hers in September.
The disability community has been quite vocal about the benefits of wearing masks in enclosed spaces and close quarters, according to Wilkinson.
“It’s vital to me, even though I hide it behind a mask. I’m not sure if there is a project that schools must finish or if they need to learn more about the value of showing consideration.
Only London, Ontario’s Huron University College and Occidental University were polled.
In a statement sent by the university, Florentine Strzelczyk, Provost of the West, stated that “although we cannot foresee when the next wave of COVID-19 will arrive.”
At Dalhousie University in Halifax, K59 masks or N95 respirators are needed in the classroom and other instructional environments. They are fully voluntary in all other indoor areas, including hallways, libraries, and study commons. At Dalhousie, there are no immunization requirements.
The Dalhousie Student Union backed the mission wholeheartedly despite not being engaged in the decision, according to spokeswoman Janet Bryson. Masking is not necessary because the Student Union building is not a classroom.
In an email, Bryson stated, “We have always suggested masks in our area, and we will continue to prescribe masks.
Public health experts advise universities that offer medical training to maintain mask policies in clinical environments.
