Oshawa, Ont. – Yesterday, the Regional Municipality of Durham announced that non-medical masks or face coverings will be mandatory in public and enclosed indoor spaces effective Friday, July 10. Public health advice and research has found evidence that the use of non-medical masks or face coverings can have a positive impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19 where physical distancing, hand washing and respiratory etiquette are also put into practice. 

While post-secondary institutions were not explicitly referenced in the list of establishments that are required to enforce mandatory masks, Durham College (DC) will adopt this best practice in good faith to help keep our community – and each other – safe, and to support the excellent work our Region is doing to flatten the curve of COVID-19.

To support the health and safety of students and employees while on campus, effective July 10, DC will also require individuals to wear a non-medical mask or face coverings when inside any college building. Such spaces include hallways, elevators, classrooms, meeting rooms and other common areas. Exceptions apply to those who have health, respiratory and sensory issues; various disabilities; are unable to remove the mask without assistance, or other valid reasons.

For more about how DC is keeping its students and employees safe while on campus, please visit our COVID-19 webpage.

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About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, we offer approximately 13,400 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and nine apprenticeship programs, including the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Science and Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management.

We enable students to develop the career-ready skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market by connecting them with expert faculty and offering quality programs. With a focus on experiential learning through field-placements, applied research, co-ops and other hands-on opportunities, DC grads have the skills and knowledge employers need.

The Oshawa campus features DC’s newest building, the Centre for Collaborative Education, which represents the college’s commitment to working with local business and community partners while bringing together local, Indigenous and global communities and members of key business sectors.

DC’s Whitby campus is home to the Skills Training Centre, where students receive hands-on training and instruction in industrial-grade shop labs for carpentry, HVAC, welding, elevating devices and crane operation, among others. The campus also features the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, which includes Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Shelly Totino
Communications and Marketing
905.626.0675
shelly.totino@durhamcollege.ca