McMaster University in Hamilton extends mask requirement to end of May
Published April 13, 2022 at 11:32 am
McMaster University in Hamilton has announced that it will extend its masking policy on its campuses until the end of May.
In a letter signed by the university’s president and provost, the school made the decision in light of recent COVID-19 modelling that shows infections are increasing and suggests the peak of the sixth wave is still weeks out.
“As a result, we have decided to extend McMaster’s mandatory mask mandate to the end of May 2022,” the letter, dated Wednesday (April 13), said.
“This means that everyone at a McMaster site must wear a mask in all indoor settings including classrooms, libraries, crowded spaces and close workspaces. Mask requirements continue to be in place for our hospital and clinical partners.”
Mac announced at the end of March plans to pause its mask and vaccine requirements for the spring and summer terms, starting May 1. This was in keeping with the dropping of vaccine and masking mandates at the provincial level.
Earlier this week, the scientific director of Ontario’s panel of COVID-19 advisers said wastewater surveillance suggests the province is seeing between 100,000 and 120,000 new cases each day.
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While Ontario’s top doctor, Kieran Moore said on Monday (April 11) that the province would not be bringing in a new mask mandate, he did not rule out a future return to masking to curb the spread of the virus.
He also announced plans to increase access to COVID-19 antiviral treatments and expanded eligibility for a fourth dose of the vaccine to individuals 60 years of age and older who are five months out from their first booster shot.
“Masking is one of the most effective ways of reducing the spread of COVID,” Mac’s president and provost said in the letter.
“This was reinforced this week by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore. It is also the easiest and most respectful way that students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus can help to improve the safety of interactions on campus.”
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