Universite de Montreal says professors find masks an 'irritant,' can teach without them again
While at some of Montreal's universities, students are resisting coming back to class at all, at the Université de Montreal they'll be attending lectures from maskless professors.
The Université de Montreal announced Wednesday that it's rolling back the rule that requires lecturers to continuously wear a mask while teaching, as long as they stay two metres from others.
"Giving a three-hour lecture with a mask on was an irritant for many of you," university rector Daniel Jutras wrote in a letter to all staff, posted publicly on the university's website.
Students at U de M are due back in class on Monday, and the mask decision was made this Tuesday, he explained. It was at professors' request.
"Following last week's communication confirming the resumption of teaching activities on January 31, some of you have told us of your skepticism about this measure, which is not applied uniformly in all establishments in Quebec," Jutras wrote.
For most of the last year, the university hasn't been requiring masks for teachers as strictly as it has been for students. Last winter, and again this fall, the university decided that professors could remove their masks to teach while students would wear mandatory procedural masks.
McGill University had the same rule. But as cases spiralled to their highest-ever levels late this fall, McGill tightened its mask rules as of Dec. 14 and hasn't changed them since.
U de M appears to have made a similar move around the same time, but is now backtracking on it.
Jutras wrote that the epidemiological "situation has improved," and he argued the decision is in line with the current recommendations from Quebec's worker safety board, the CNESST.
The CNESST says that anyone who teaches at any level of education may remove their mask in class “for the shortest possible period, the time to communicate," Jutras quoted.
U de M seems to be interpreting that as an entire three-hour lecture, if a professor chooses, though the university urged its staff to wear masks as much as possible.
"We recommend that you remove it only for the time necessary to communicate the material," Jutras wrote.
The same rule will apply to students speaking before a group, whether defending their thesis or giving another presentation.
A spokesperson for the CNESST hasn't responded to a request for comment on whether U de M's interpretation of "the shortest possible period" is in line with how the rule was intended.
It's been well demonstrated that aerosols carrying COVID-19 spread easily through loud talking or singing. That's true in big university classrooms as well, though good ventilation systems help a lot.
However, the mask rule "risked unduly complicating teaching conditions," Jutras wrote.
Quebec has recently announced a slew of rule relaxations, including a plan to reopen restaurants at half-capacity on Monday, with authorities saying they seem to be just past the peak of all-time hospitalizations in the province. There are still more than 3,000 people currently in hospital for COVID-19.
A spokesperson for U de M, Genevieve O'Meara, told CTV News that the university isn't saying the province is at a low point, but "rather that the situation seemed to be improving," as authorities said this week.
Students at McGill were back in class this Monday, though undergraduates in at least two faculties so far have voted to boycott in-person classes. At Concordia, the return date will be Feb. 3, and some students aren't happy about that either.
At U de M, there's currently an online petition by students asking for a hybrid option, to allow some students to choose online classes if needed, which had garnered about 1,500 signatures as of Wednesday evening.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.