We are reposting the following memo from Dalhousie, to make sure members have seen it:
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COVID update: Mask requirements extended to June 10; Campus Check program suspended as of May 1
As previously communicated, Dalhousie will be adjusting vaccination requirements for students, faculty and staff effective May 1.
However, mask requirements will now be extended to June 10th, after Convocation. This reflects concerns regarding the current increase in COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia and the associated impacts on our Dal community and university operations.
- Masks will continue to be required for most indoor common spaces and other appropriate settings until at least Friday, June 10. More information on where masks are required can be found here. Masks will also be required at Spring Convocation ceremonies in May and June in both Halifax and Truro; more detailed instructions will be sent to invitees in the coming weeks.
- We continue to encourage all members of our Dal community to get their vaccine and booster doses to help maintain and strengthen our already impressive vaccination rates. As of May 1, students, faculty, and staff will no longer be asked to provide proof of full vaccination to work and study on campus. Although the Campus Check program will be suspended, we will continue to monitor health and safety risks to our community and will consider reinstating Campus Check if necessary.
- Enhanced health and safety requirements (including masks) may continue to apply beyond June 10th in health-care settings and contexts, in alignment with the health-care sector in general. This includes students, faculty and staff in Faculties that intersect with health-care settings (Medicine, Health, and Dentistry) and in our Student Health and Wellness clinics in Halifax and Truro.
Given the current COVID situation, extending our mask requirements is the right thing to do for Dalhousie. As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to consult with Public Health and experts in our community. If the situation improves, we may be in a position to lift mask requirements earlier than June 10; we will also be prepared to extend them further if need be.
We continue to expect members of our Dal community to take important steps for our shared health and wellness:
- Stay home if you have symptoms or aren’t feeling well and get tested. Remember: it’s still a legal requirement to self-isolate if you have COVID symptoms or if you test positive — it’s also the right thing to do.
- Continue to wear your mask in spaces that pose a greater risk of infection. In spaces where you are in close contact with others or assembled in large numbers, wearing a mask helps protect your health and the health of those around you.
- Get your booster shot(s) and keep up with the latest vaccine guidance. As vaccine guidance evolves, stay up to date with your shots as additional booster doses become available to reduce your risk of infection and serious illness.
For the latest COVID information, including important government resources for testing and self-isolation, visit the Nova Scotia Health website or dal.ca/coronavirus.