Melbourne University is pushing for mask wearing and La Trobe has extended its vaccination rule as staff and students eschew remote learning.
Melbourne University has directed students to wear face masks inside classrooms and La Trobe has extended its on-campus vaccine mandate until October, as universities seek to prevent campuses from being swamped by the latest wave of COVID-19 infections.higher education providers last week to return to remote learning and working “at this time of heightened transmission and risk”.
Returning students have been told by email that, “through to the end of winter, students and staff are expected to wear masks when in classroom settings, except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication or when a particular activity requires the removal of a mask”. “The vice-chancellor and the provost are hellbent on returning everyone to campus and don’t want to hear anything other than the implementation of their fantasy land of a return to campus,” he said.
“I’m lucky because I’m triple vaccinated and I feel confident about being able to survive [COVID], but I don’t think it’s going to make people who are disabled or chronically ill feel safe.”