Medicine Hat College is mandating indoor mask use at all times

By COLLIN GALLANT on August 20, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

On Wednesday, Medicine Hat College announced that effective immediately masks will be required in all indoor settings on campus where maintaining a two-metre distance isn’t possible.

That includes classrooms, meeting rooms and common areas in both the Brooks and Medicine Hat campuses, according to a release from the institution. It also asks students, employees and visitors to self assess their health status and stay away if feeling ill. Student orientation at the college begins Sept. 1.

Last week the Medicine Hat Public School Division also told parents that masks will be required in common spaces this fall and measures to keep classes in “cohorts” would be observed.

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education stated in a back-to-school update sent to parents this week that masks are not mandatory in their facilities, but any student choosing to wear one will be “supported.” That policy will be reviewed Sept. 27, and mask-use may be mandated for short periods of time on the advice of health officials, it adds.

The regional Prairie Rose Public Schools has outlined its plan to have as few restrictions as possible this year while following advice of Alberta Health Services, which will not require masks.

All boards require that masks be worn on buses, which is mandated by the province.