Conestoga College to pause vaccine, mask mandates on July 1
Conestoga College announced on Thursday the institution would be placing a pause on all vaccination and masking requirements starting on Friday, July 1.
Referencing the increasing provincial relaxation of masking and vaccination requirements in public settings, the college said the decision is attributed “to a number of positive indicators, including reduced case counts, test positivity rates, and hospitalizations related to COVID-19.”
“Conestoga continues to believe that vaccines and masking are important safeguards in our efforts to protect the health and safety of our college community,” reads a statement attributed to John Tibbits, president and chief executive officer of Conestoga College, in part. “However, the landscape has changed somewhat as government and public health policy directions have evolved away from mandatory compliance with such measures.”
While no longer required, the college said it will continue to strongly encourage the wearing of masks in large crowds where physical distancing is not possible. It will also continue to make masks available for free.
The college is still encouraging individuals to get their COVID-19 vaccine if they are eligible, despite the requirement for proof of vaccine no longer required.
Vaccine clinics will continue to operate on-campus.
“The pause in Conestoga’s vaccination and masking requirements relates only to accessing our own campus buildings and facilities,” reads part of the statement. “Students in some of our programs may be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to participate in work-integrated learning activities such as placements or co-op work terms based on the policies and guidelines in place at their work sites.”
The announcement comes less than two weeks after two universities in Waterloo region announced the end of masking mandates.
The University of Guelph will be pausing its mask mandate at the start of July.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.