Unvaccinated students could be barred from sports, other activities in Quebec post-secondary schools

The Quebec government is following through on its plan for post-secondarystudents to have as normal a fall semester as possible, but those who are not fully vaccinated maynot be allowed to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Danielle McCann, Quebec's higher education minister, has unveiled a series of guidelines for areturn to in-person classes.

In May, the minister said students would no longer have to remain physically distanced in classrooms as long as the vaccination coverage was deemed sufficient.

During an interview with Radio-Canada on Friday, McCann said three-quarters of post-secondary students in Quebec are either fully vaccinated or have at least booked an appointment for their second shot.

"I want to thank students for having answered the call," she said. "The more students we have whoare vaccinated with two doses, the smaller the risk of an outbreak will be."

Preventing students who are not fully vaccinated from taking part in sports or other on-campus activities regardless of the vaccination rate within a school is being considered and discussions with public health officials are ongoing, McCann said.

In a written statement,the ministeralso said that more details about access to on-campus sports and activitieswould be made clearonce the government releases details for its vaccine passport system.

Here are other key elements fromthe plan:

• Students will no longer be required to maintain a physical distance inside classrooms.
• A two-metre distance will be required in physical training rooms, between tables in restaurant areas,during singing classes and other similar activities.
• In common spaces, a one-metre distance between students is encouraged, but not mandatory.
• Students will not need to wear masks during class,while sitting in a library or during a meal. Elsewhere inside the school, wearinga maskwill be mandatory.

Different ruleforschools deemed higher risk

According to McCann, eachuniversity in the province was able toreach the government's vaccination target, butsix of the province's 48 CEGEPshave not, including four in Montreal.

McCannsaysAndr-Laurendeau, Ahuntsic, Collge Rosemont, Marie-Victorinas well as CGEPde Sept-les on Quebec's North Shore and CGEPde Saint-Flicien in the Saguenay region are all considered to be at higher risk due to weaker vaccination coverage.

As a result,students in those schools will have to wear a mask at all times, even while seated during class or at a library.

According to the minister, this rule could evenbe imposed on a school that met the government's vaccination goal, if ever the epidemiological situation in itsregion gets worse.

Each school is required to have a plan in place in case in-person classes are no longer possible.

There is also a possibility that schools will set their own rules.

McGill University announced Friday that it would go above and beyond what the government was requestingand requirestudents to wear masks, even when they are seated in classes and in libraries.