Niagara College now requires staff and students to wear enhanced personal protective equipment where physical distancing is not possible.
In a recent release, Niagara College said in consultation with Niagara Region Public Health, and in light of the spread of the new United Kingdom variant of COVID-19 in Ontario, it has implemented the enhanced PPE requirements on campus.
A medical-grade face mask and eyewear is now required for all staff and students attending classes, labs and workspaces where it is not always possible to maintain a physical distance of two metres.
The college said a reusable fabric face mask is acceptable when outside of classrooms and labs and when physical distancing can be maintained,
It will be providing staff and students enhanced PPE with medical-grade face masks and eye protection.
The college will address staff and students who have a medical exemption that prevents them from wearing PPE on a case-by-case basis.
The college also implemented schedule changes.
To comply with provincial orders regarding on-campus/in-person instruction that requires classes and labs to be limited to 10 students or fewer plus faculty, several courses will be re-sectioned to ensure class sizes are within provincial limits.
- Sean Vanderklis is a Niagara-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.
