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
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
'Nobody should be getting away with murder': Grieving mother speaks out after son killed in North Preston, N.S.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.