What we must do, and what will guide us in making decisions
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry continues to advise post-secondary institutions to prepare for face-to-face instruction by this fall. Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Kang said this will take place with all appropriate measures to keep people safe.
CNC continues to prepare for the return to face-to-face instruction. We will work within the organization, with partners in health care, the unions and many others for a safe return.
What has happened in the past two weeks
Town hall with Dr. Bonnie Henry: Dr. Bonnie Henry and other provincial health officials provided a town hall with post-secondary leaders and bargaining association representatives on Monday May 7th. You are welcome to view the hour-and-a-half briefing
Dr. Henry noted that:
- Vaccines now available are safe and effective, and there is confidence in providing first doses of vaccine to all adults by this spring. This will allow for protection prior to the fall return of students;
- Restart 2.0 is under development as we prepare to live in a post-pandemic world. Learnings throughout the pandemic will guide how we interact at home and in the workplace; and
- The virus will likely be with us for a long time, but it will not be as disruptive as it has been in the past 15 months. The objectives are to protect people from severe illness, protect the health care system, and then getting back to our lives.
Travel restrictions: Under the Emergency Program Act, an order restricting non-essential travel between certain regions of the province is in place until May 25. These non-essential reasons include:
- Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities;
- Visiting family or friends for social reasons; and
- Recreation activities.
The order combines B.C.'s five health authorities into three regions of the province. Travel into and out of the regions for non-essential reasons is not allowed and is now prohibited by law. For northern BC residents, travel for non-essential reasons into and out of the area of the combined Northern and Interior health authorities is not allowed. More information.
Vaccine availability expanded: on Sunday May 16th, vaccine appointments were opened to anyone in BC 18 years of age or older. This includes temporary residents such as international students at CNC. They will need a public health number to receive the vaccine, and can obtain one by calling 1-833-838-2323.
At this time of writing, the government is preparing to open vaccination registration and booking invitations for those aged 12 to 17. More information.
What we are doing now
CNC’s journey with COVID-19 has involved distinct times of change, such as the transition to greater online learning in March 2020 and the partial return to class with safety precautions in the fall of 2020.
We can expect a third period of change as we return to greater face-to-face instruction this fall. We will learn to live with the virus and provide our services in different ways than we did prior to the pandemic.
We understand and appreciate the uncertainty many of you may feel while the updated provincial go-forward guidelines are established and we develop a clearer picture of this new normal.
We want to reassure students and employees of CNC’s priority on health and safety. We will continue to work closely with our provincial public health office every step of the way as we return to greater face-to-face learning. We are committed to keeping the entire CNC community informed as soon as we can.
What you can expect to hear next, and how you can help
Health checks: Under provincial law and workplace regulations, CNC employees must complete their COVID-19 health check on any day they will be on a college campus. You must complete this check before starting work. You can do so on-line at either from home before coming to campus, or immediately upon arrival on campus. Employees who do not have access to a computer should complete a paper version and submit to their manager.
Vaccination: Registration and appointment booking for the COVID-19 vaccine continues. We encourage CNC employees to speak with their primary care provider and seek trusted sources of information about specific interventions and their personal health.
You can register at https://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/ or by calling 1-833-838-2323.
The province has provided up to three hours of paid leave to be vaccinated against COVID-19, effective and retroactive to April 19th, 2021. If you require time off work to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination, advise your administrator as soon as you can of your need for time off and how long you require.
On-going safety measures: We must keep following all safety measures even after being vaccinated. While fatigue with the pandemic is real, we must take every step to maintain the health of those in the CNC community and the communities we serve. Two key reminders:
- Face-to-face meetings must only be for essential needs that cannot be reasonably discussed through videoconferencing or by telephone; and
- Please continue to maintain your use of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and adherence to the safety plans of your department and CNC overall.
Further reading: