Red River College mandates fall-term masks across campuses

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This article was published 21/08/2020 (2041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Beginning Aug. 31, anyone inside a Red River College campus will have to mask up.

The college sent an email to staff and students Friday saying that they — and any visitors — will have to wear non-medical masks on campus, effective the first day of fall term. Wearing a face mask is encouraged currently, the email reads.

Assiniboine Community College announced Aug. 12 that staff and students would be expected to wear face masks or coverings. That same day, Brandon University said masks would be required inside its buildings.

The University of Winnipeg recommends face coverings, but they’re not mandatory, according to the institution’s website. The University of Manitoba will address its position next week, a spokesperson said.

Both universities are offering primarily online course delivery.

Many of Red River College’s fall programs will be completely online. Some courses, however, will blend online and on-campus learning. Students in plumbing, culinary arts and health-care aide classes, among other programs, will have some in-person instruction.

Red River plans to begin Phase 3 of its reopening plan Aug. 31, when no more than 40 per cent of a campus population can be on site at a given time. The phase is anticipated to end Dec. 31.

“The requirement to wear a mask, even if you have no symptoms of COVID-19, adds an additional layer of precaution and helps protect those around you from the spread of infection,” the college’s announcement reads.

The school will provide one disposable mask a day to staff and students who need it, but the campus population is being advised to bring their own non-medical masks to cover nose, mouth and chin.

“We must also remain vigilant with respect to practising proper hand hygiene and maintaining physical distancing wherever possible,” the statement says.

The college is urging people who feel ill to stay home.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca