Reporting of COVID-19 cases at CNC- rights and responsibilities
CNC would like to advise students about their privacy rights regarding personal health information and CNC’s responsibilities on disclosing potential COVID-19 cases at CNC campuses.
In short:
- Your individual health information is private and does not have to be disclosed to anyone at CNC;
- CNC will take all necessary steps to safeguard your privacy; and
- CNC will not disclose information on COVID-19 cases on campus unless Northern Health or the Medical Health Officer directs us to so.
Your right to private personal health information
Personal health is an intensely private matter governed by provincial law.
At CNC, a student must inform instructors and relevant program personnel if they will be absent from a class. However, a student may keep private any and all details around their personal health such as a diagnosis, disease, or condition. That information is only for discussion between a student and their health care team.
In the event someone tests positive for a potentially-contagious illness, public health officials (not CNC employees) are responsible for tracing contacts, arranging testing, or coordinating other measures. We will support health officials’ efforts and defer to their expertise as required.
CNC’s responsibilities, and when we may disclose information
CNC will not publicly disclose information on COVID-19 cases, unless we are directed to do so by Northern Health or the Medical Health Officer.
In working with Northern Health, here is when a student or employee might be informed of a COVID-19 case:
- Health authorities will be in contact with you if you might be a close contact of a case. Anyone who is identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case, regardless of the setting will be notified that they have potentially been exposed and be supported in the appropriate measures they need to take.
- A public exposure alert would be issued when public health officials are unable to ensure they can identify and directly contact everybody who may have been exposed to a potentially infectious case of COVID-19 in a public setting.
- Individuals who have not had close interactions with, or who have been simply present in the same location as a confirmed case do not need to take additional precautions beyond the public health advice and guidance for all British Columbians, for the prevention of COVID-19.
CNC has put in place rigorous safety plans that meet the provincial standards for the services we are operating. We advise members of the CNC community to adhere to COVID-19 protocols on mask use, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and self-monitoring for symptoms at all times.
If you have questions or concerns, call HealthLink BC (811) or take the BC COVID 19 Self-Assessment test, and follow the directions as outlined in the test.