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(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Thompson Okanagan colleges and universities are tightening their COVID-19 policies following the provincial health officer’s latest order.

Thompson Rivers University is requiring students, employees and visitors to wear masks indoors per Dr. Bonnie Henry’s mandate that masks must be worn in all indoor public and retail spaces.

Masks may be removed if “you are working in a cubicle space in an open office that is physically distant from other cubicles and/or engineered controls are in place to create separation. This includes when you are seated and physically distanced in open study areas like HL 190, but masks must be worn when unseated, you are taking part in certain athletic or fitness activities," according to a statement issued on TRU's website, Nov. 20.

TRU has suspended all face-to-face social gatherings until further notice and is reducing on-campus numbers and services, according to the statement. Dr. Bonnie Henry’s order also bans social gatherings and will remain in effect until Dec. 7.

“This means that starting Monday, we are making adjustments to the hours in-person student services are available. Please visit our Campus Services and Spaces webpage for updates on accessing services remotely and in person. At this time, we are not making any changes to approved on-campus learning activities,” according to the notice.

At Okanagan College campuses, mandatory mask use came into effect Nov. 16, requiring everyone to wear a non-medical mask while moving through indoor shared spaces on campus. The OC Coyotes season has also come to an end as the Pacific Western Athletic Association announced the cancellation of basketball for the 2021 Winter season, according to a statement on its website.

At UBC Okanagan, mask mandates were already in effect in September, and many student support services were already moved online and events postponed until the new year. More information on UBCO’s policies can be found online. 

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