Sault College to keep masks in place for rest of school year, Algoma University mulling it over (updated)

The Sault’s two postsecondary educational institutions will be keeping their mask mandates in place for students, staff and faculty members for the rest of the current academic year.

“At this time we are maintaining our safety measures until the end of the semester. We will reassess at that time,” said Rick Webb, Sault College spokesperson in an email received Monday.

“Our internal team is meeting later in the week to discuss this,” said Megan Parlowe, Algoma University communications officer Monday.

"(Algoma University will be keeping its mask mandate in place) until the end of the winter term, which goes until the end of April. However, as always with the evolving nature of COVID-19, we will continue to work closely with Public Health and Ontario's Universities and continue an open dialogue about mandates," Parlowe said in an update sent by email Tuesday. 

The comments from Sault College and Algoma University come after the Council of Ontario Universities stated on its website Friday “in order to minimize uncertainty and disruption and to continue to support our students, staff, faculty and university communities, Ontario’s universities will maintain their COVID-19 vaccination and masking policies until at least the end of the current term.”

The policy statement from the Council is in contrast to the position taken by Ontario school boards, most of which are cautiously lifting mask restrictions  when elementary and secondary school students return to classrooms after March Break.