The University of Guelph has updated its masking policy ahead of the scheduled return to in-person learning at the campus on Jan. 31.
Cloth masks will no longer be considered an acceptable safety requirement, instead, those on campus will be required to adhere to wearing at minimum a medical-style mask.
“At minimum, students, faculty and staff are required to wear a medical-style mask while on site. Cloth masks are currently not considered acceptable for wear at U of G locations. This decision will be reviewed as pandemic circumstances evolve. Health Canada currently indicates that medical masks provide better protection from COVID-19 than non-medical masks,” the university said in an updated statement on its Safety Protocols and Best Practices web page.
The U of G will continue with its required masking when indoors, as well as outdoors when a distance of two metres can not be maintained.
These requirements align with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s Section 22 Order on face coverings.
An immediate response from the U of G on why these changes were just now being implemented was not returned.
The costs to purchase the masks from the bookstore, and if students would be able to access the bookstore while wearing a cloth mask to purchase the required medical masks were also not responded to.
