Western University announced Monday it had dropped its mandatory mask policy due to the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) issuing a “promising update” on respiratory illnesses including COVID. In a Feb. 6 website statement, the university said, “Effective today, Western will move from mandating masks in instructional spaces to strongly encouraging masks in crowded indoor…

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board, the city’s largest board, ended a heated, emergency evening meeting debating a motion to reinstate mask mandates in schools without a vote on Nov. 22. The motion before the board would require staff and students to wear surgical or N95 masks in all schools, except for musical/performing arts or sports activities…

Amid calls from some for a renewed provincial mask mandate, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones told reporters outside the legislature on Nov. 16 that wearing a mask is a personal decision. “Personal choice is important here, and we should not be passing judgment on people who wear a mask or not wear a mask,” she…

Our public health agencies such as the CDC and NIH, and television medical experts seem unable to address key health messages that could have a dramatic effect in reducing risk of severe sequelae in higher-risk populations such as the minority and African-American population to the scourge of SARS-CoV-2. These agencies and media echo chambers squandered…

Commentary Caste systems are not merely unjust; they are also ugly to behold. Commenting to me once on India’s caste system, when I was a child, my father said, “People in this country still use the word ‘untouchable,’ which is if you think about it a very unlovely term.” While India’s caste system persists despite…

A social media photograph of three UMass Amherst freshmen—outdoors, off-campus, and not not wearing face masks—was sent to the university’s administration and led to their being suspended for the semester.

A social media photograph of three UMass Amherst freshmen—outdoors, off-campus, and not not wearing face masks—was sent to the university’s administration and led to their being suspended for the semester.

Mandatory mask restrictions are in place for many venues across Greater Sydney as New South Wales works to contain COVID-19 outbreaks while avoiding harsh lockdown measures. The state reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, five of which from western and southwestern Sydney and linked to the Berala cluster. “What we want to do…

New South Wales has reported 10 cases of community transmission of COVID-19, with five linked to Sydney’s northern beaches cluster. The Avalon outbreak that began earlier this month now totals 144. The 10 cases reported on Thursday, compared to 18 the day before. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said almost 28,000 tests were conducted in the 24…