National Taiwan University makes face masks mandatory in class

National Taiwan University has made face masks mandatory for all students and faculty. Starting Wednesday, everyone must wear a mask during class or lab work. Those who don''t have a mask will be able to "borrow" one from the university, but they''ll have to bring back a fresh one within the week. If you want to enter NTU’s campus, you first have to show your ID. As a virus precaution, the university banned all visitors in mid-March. On Wednesday, it went a step further and made face masks mandatory.NTU announced its mask requirement on social media. From Wednesday on, all students and faculty are required to wear face masks during class and lab sessions. Those who don’t have a mask can “borrow” one from administrators. A new, clean mask will have to be returned to staff within one week.NTU studentAlmost everyone is wearing masks. Very few people aren’t wearing them, but still, there are some that don’t.NTU studentIf everyone has a mask, it should be safer. After all, classrooms are small and there are so many people inside.Several students were unaware of the new rules on the first day of implementation, but most said they were pleased to have the requirement. Some expressed qualms about the honor system by which borrowers are asked to return a fresh mask.NTU research assistantPeople have different habits. They might slip up and give back a soiled mask. That’s a little dangerous.NTU studentIt’s a matter of being honest. The school should register who has borrowed a mask and ask them to return it. Whether they do obviously comes down to the individual student. But most people will do the right thing, I think.Alternatively, a class can collectively decide not to wear masks. If they choose to go that route, they’ll have to file an application to the school and leave 1.5 meters of space between every desk during classes. Individual students can also ask to attend the class remotely.Since Monday, all classes with 100 students or more have switched to distance learning, in a move to reduce the risk of an outbreak on campus.