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 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
The BC Government has now begun the next phase of CNC’s Safe Restart plan. This second of four steps began on Tuesday June 15th, and has relaxed restrictions on personal and organized gatherings, travel, businesses, as well as sporting activities and exercise.
The plan as well as updates on current restrictions and orders are available on the government of BC website.
What we are doing now
The BC Government’s restart plan has provided guidance on how life may return to a more normal state following the more extensive restrictions.
However, as provincial orders may be eased over time, there may be a slight lag in changes at CNC. This will allow us to be certain our safety plans effectively meet provincial standards and are consistent with partners in the post-secondary sector.
Here is the latest at CNC:
Travel to CNC campuses
As travel restrictions within the province have been lifted, travel between campuses is permitted for any CNC related activities. Staff should consider whether a trip is necessary. If your trip is for a face-to-face meeting, those meetings will still require pre-approval;
Return to workplaces and face-to-face meetings
Throughout the pandemic, CNC has been considered an essential workplace. This has allowed for limited on-site and face-to-face meetings with approval. We will continue with this approach until further notice. Public Health has stated that workers can begin gradually returning to work. Anyone considering returning to campus must discuss with their supervisor first; and
Organized gatherings
Any requests for organized gatherings will require the same approval as face-to-face meetings. If approved, an organized gathering will require a COVID-19 safety plan whether it is inside or outdoors.
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 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
Please follow all safety measures even after being vaccinated.
- 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: