As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, face masks have become a part of everyday life. In Quebec, it is mandatory to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces, which includes retail stores, shopping plazas, and grocery stores. While face masks are important for health and safety reasons, colourful and personalized[Read More…]
Tag: covid-19
McGill aims for online and in-person options after Education Minister’s decision to reopen schools
McGill is standing by its May 11 decision to offer instruction primarily through online delivery platforms for the Fall 2020 semester after Education Minister Jean-François Roberge’s announcement on June 16 that schools across Quebec can reopen in September. McGill will conduct all essential class activities through remote instruction, but hopes[Read More…]
Open letter on Frosh 2020
To the McGill community, Frosh has long been a cornerstone of the McGill experience, allowing new students to meet their peers while participating in social activities. Like so much of our lives right now, Frosh 2020 has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges that this pandemic presents,[Read More…]
Understanding the psycho-social effects of social distancing
At the start of each school year, McGill’s campuses bustle with life. Separated friends reunite, while eager newcomers explore the grounds in awe. However, with McGill’s announcement that the Fall 2020 semester will proceed remotely, the usual energy of campus life is anticipated to be changed drastically. Remote semesters are[Read More…]
COVID-19 calls for a shift in how McGill students view the elderly
Michelle Wilson was shocked to find her father looking unrecognizable during a window visit to his nursing home in May, his lips cracked and arms ridden with sores, despite reassurance from staff that he was doing just fine. He died shortly thereafter. There’s no shortage of stories like this: Blood-curdling[Read More…]
McGill prepares to celebrate the class of 2020 with virtual convocation ceremonies
McGill will celebrate the class of 2020 on June 18 and June 19 with virtual convocation ceremonies due to physical distancing regulations spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier announced on April 24 that the in-person convocation ceremony will be postponed until Spring 2021 provided that public[Read More…]
COVID-19 pandemic spells trouble for wildlife
A jaguar prowls the deserted streets of a small town in Colombia. It turns, catching the scent of two hunters in the distance, but it’s already too late: They shoot before it can flee. Many animals have suffered a similar fate, according to conservationists, since the beginning of the COVID-19[Read More…]
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit aids many students while leaving others behind
The federal government’s Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) program, which provides a monthly deposit of $1,250 or $2,000 aiming to alleviate financial insecurity caused by COVID-19, has left a group of students scrambling to pay bills. The benefit is available until August 2020 but is only accessible to domestic students,[Read More…]
Up to bat: The persistence of coronaviruses in bats
Scientists predict that many coronaviruses similar to the strain responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), have their origins in bats. While several coronavirus strains can infect and sicken humans, bats appear to remain unaffected while carrying the virus.[Read More…]
McGill needs to rethink its mental health response to COVID-19
Living through a pandemic is mentally demanding, if not extremely jarring. Concerns over a parallel mental health epidemic have prompted international organizations and the Government of Canada to funnel resources into virtual mental health services. On May 3, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $240 million investment to support virtual[Read More…]
