Dear King’s community,
Following the guidance of Public Health, yesterday’s decision by Dalhousie, and the advice of King’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee, as of June 10 we will no longer formally require masks in indoor common spaces on the King’s campus.
However, in keeping with our commitment to each other and especially those of us at high risk, masks will continue to be strongly recommended and welcomed in all indoor spaces, including classrooms, common rooms, the library, study spaces, hallways, the gym, chapel, etc.
It continues to be important that we take appropriate steps to support our collective health and wellness — including mask wearing, especially as there are those among us who are at higher risk and remain vulnerable. That said, in the broader community, we are now seeing some individuals masking while others are not. While we strongly recommend the continued use of masks, we ask everyone to be respectful of each other’s individual choice.
If you feel unwell with symptoms of Covid 19, you are asked to stay home and get tested. We also encourage you to continue to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as boosters become available to you. For the latest information and instruction on these topics, visit the Nova Scotia Health website.
As King’s and Dalhousie have done throughout the pandemic, we remain in close consultation with Nova Scotia Public Health. We will continue to assess and evaluate the ever-changing situation. We need to be mindful that the ‘new normal’ includes the possibility of new variants, increased Covid cases and new disease. We commit to reviewing our policy regularly and certainly before the beginning of the new academic year. If required, we are prepared to re-implement enhanced Covid safety measures in the future.
I again give thanks to all of you for the individual and collective effort and sacrifice that you made throughout this pandemic for our community’s health and safety. I know that we will continue to show the same respect for each other and courtesy of care as we continue to attend to our collective health and safety going forward.
Sincerely,
Bill
William Lahey
President, Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Law
