How Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions are handling masks this fall

Some Nova Scotia post-secondary schools will require masks in all indoor public spaces, while some will require them only in some areas. Others have dropped mandates altogether.

While masking is no longer required in Nova Scotia, some post-secondary institutions are taking extra precautions against COVID-19 this fall.

The province dropped most of its masking requirements in March, and all other health protections, including mandatory self-isolation for positive cases, in July. However, some restrictions stay in place in high-risk settings such as health-care facilities.

As COVID-19 cases remain high, this is what the province’s universities and colleges have planned as the fall semester draws closer.

On Aug. 11, Dalhousie University announced that masks will be required in all indoor instructional spaces during scheduled teaching time, beginning Sept. 1 until at least the end of the fall term.

Masking will be voluntary in other campus spaces such as residences, athletic facilities, workspaces and research labs, but it’s “strongly recommended” in libraries and learning commons, as well as gathering spaces where physical distancing may be limited.

Masks will also be required at Student Health and Wellness Clinics in Halifax and Truro, as well as in other health-care contexts. Faculties of medicine, health and dentistry may also have additional health and safety protocols to follow and students can expect additional guidance from their faculties.

Instructors, as well as students presenting in class, may remove their mask while lecturing as long as they can fully maintain two metres of distance from all others.

As well, students in music classes where they must remove their masks in order to properly learn are asked to keep their masks on when they’re not actively training.