Q College Official COVID-19 Advisory

Q College Official COVID-19 Advisory

COVID-19 updates

COVID-19 Update – Return to On-Campus Teaching, Learning and Research in September 2021
March 10, 2021

To: All certified private training institutions, and new certification applicants

 

Greetings everyone.

September 2021 Return to Public Post-Secondary Campuses:

  • On Monday March 8, 2021 the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), Dr. Bonnie Henry, advised the presidents of all public post-secondary institutions to prepare for a full return to on-campus teaching, learning and research in September 2021.
  • The Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training also released a statement encouraging students and families to start planning for in-person instruction this Fall.
  • The PHO will work in partnership with sector health and safety experts, WorkSafeBC, partners and stakeholders to update the post-secondary COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines to support the safe and complete resumption of on-campus activities.
  • The updated Go-Forward Guidelines will be made available to support institutions as they work with their local medical health officers and WorkSafeBC to develop more detailed campus-level safety plans for the Fall.

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions.

 

COVID-19 Resources:

  • COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for BC’s Post-secondary Sector are hosted on government’s public website.
  • Guidance and recommendations from the Provincial Health Officer are available online at the COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information website.
  • If you require advice regarding a potential COVID-19 case, please contact your local Medical Health Officer.

Private Training Institutions Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training
203 – 1155 West Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6E 2P4
P: 604-569-0033 | F: 778-945-0606|Toll Free: 1-800-661-7441
privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca

Recent Changes to the Government of Canada Border Restrictions | International Students
February 18, 2021

To: AEST Education Quality Assurance

Dear EQA Institutions:

This email is to provide an update on recent changes to the Government of Canada border restrictions related to international students on study permits.

International students on study permits continue be allowed into Canada for institutions assessed to have appropriate measures in place to ensure that the students who attend the institution can meet applicable obligations with respect to the mandatory quarantine. The list of designated learning institutions with a COVID-19 readiness plan is located here.

Under new requirements for air travel that take effect February 22, 2021, when a student arrives in Canada, they must take a COVID-19 test before leaving the airport and spend 3 days in quarantine at a federal government-authorized hotel. With a clear test result, the student can proceed to the quarantine site identified in their quarantine plan. Ten-days into their quarantine, the student will use a take-home test provided at their arrival in Canada. A further clear result is required before leaving quarantine at 14 days.

The list of government-authorized hotels will be available to students on February 18, 2020.

Institutions should inform students regarding these changes and review their Quarantine Plans to ensure that all information, including quarantine requirements and additional costs, for international students arriving in Canada to attend your institution are up-to-date.

Details on these requirements, and the requirements for travellers arriving at land border crossings, are available on line: Government of Canada expands restrictions to international travel by land and air – Canada.ca

Action by institutions with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan:

  • Please review your institution’s plan for quarantine management and your student communications to ensure the new federal travel and quarantine-plan requirements are incorporated into your plans and student information.
  • Ensure your plans are updated on your website, and all student communication reflects the new requirements.
  • Ensure your students know to have a fully compliant Quarantine Plan, including bookings at the federal facility, before they begin their travel.
  • Continue to remain in contact with and provide support to your incoming students through their full quarantine period.
  • Continue reporting weekly the required data to [email protected]

More information is available from the Government of Canada:

Education Quality Assurance

Corporate Planning, International and Quality Assurance Branch

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

3rd Floor, 835 Humboldt St

PO Box 9157 Stn Prov Govt

Victoria BC V8W 9H2

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (778) 698-9830

COVID-19 Update – PHO province-wide restrictions extended until further notice
February 5, 2021

To: All certified private training institutions, and new certification applicants

Greetings everyone,  

 

Please note the following COVID-19 update for February 5, 2021:

 

Extension of PHO province-wide restrictions

 

BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) has ordered existing COVID-19 province-wide restrictions extended until further notice.

  • All gatherings and events are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions.
  • All non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions.

 

COVID-19 Resources:

Private Training Institutions Branch

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

203 – 1155 West Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6E 2P4

P: 604-569-0033 | F: 778-945-0606|Toll Free: 1-800-661-7441

privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca

COVID-19 Update – PHO Update on Province's Vaccine Rollout Plan
Jan 25, 2021

To: All certified private training institutions, and new certification applicants

Greetings everyone,

Please note the following COVID-19 update for January 25, 2021:

 

PHO Vaccination Rollout Plan

 

On January 22, 2021, BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) provided an update on the province’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan (please see attachment).

 

The plan has four phases and is focused first on protecting those most vulnerable to severe illness. Immunization for the general population is scheduled to take place from April to September 2021.

 

Please visit BC Centre for Disease Control website for more information.

 

During all phases we are all reminded to continue to:

  • Follow Public Health Guidelines including wearing masks, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing.
  • Adhere to province-wide restrictions concerning visitors in private residences and allowable/prohibited events.
  • Avoid non-essential travel. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions. 

 

COVID-19 Resources:

Ian Hendry

Senior Policy Analyst

Private Training Institutions Branch

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

PO Box 9157, Stn Prov Gov’t, Victoria BC V8W 9H2

P: 778-698-9870| F: 778-945-0606|Toll Free: 1-800-661-7441

privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca

COVID-19 Update – Extension of Province-wide Restrictions + Updates re: Varsity Sport and Retail Occupancy Limits
January 7, 2021

To: All certified private training institutions, and new certification applicants

Greetings,  

 

Please note the following COVID-19 updates for January 7, 2021:

 

Extension of province-wide restrictions

On January 7, 2021 BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) ordered an extension to existing province-wide restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, the sections of the gatherings and events order concerning visitors in private residences and allowable/prohibited events (sections A, B and C) that were to expire on January 8th have been extended to February 5, 2021 at midnight.

  • All events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions.
  • All non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.

PHO updates re: varsity sport and retail occupancy limits

 

Varsity sport

On December 24, 2020 BC’s Public Health Officer (PHO) amended the Gatherings and Events Order to expand and clarify restrictions on sports and fitness activities. These changes include permitting varsity sports subject to conditions, such as allowing participants to train or practice only with their home institution, ensuring participants maintain three-metre physical distancing, and prohibiting spectators.

             

For the sake of clarity, “varsity sport” includes only formally recognized sports rather than intramural or other informal fitness activities. It is defined as follows:

  • “Varsity sport” means a sport for which the eligibility requirements for participation are established by a national association for the regulation of intercollegiate athletics, or which is designated as a varsity sport program by a post-secondary institution, and includes fitness training, sport training, practice and competition.

Retail occupancy limits

Previous guidance on retail occupancy limits has been incorporated into the Gatherings and Events Order to emphasize the need for stores and malls to prevent overcrowding and congestion. This includes requiring operators to calculate maximum occupancy based on five square metres/person in publicly-accessible areas.

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions.

 

COVID-19 Resources:

If you require advice regarding a potential COVID-19 case, please contact your local Medical Health Officer.

Ian Hendry

Senior Policy Analyst

Private Training Institutions Branch

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

PO Box 9157, Stn Prov Gov’t, Victoria BC V8W 9H2

P: 778-698-9870| F: 778-945-0606|Toll Free: 1-800-661-7441

privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca

Non-medical mask requirements in all indoor public settings and workplaces
November 25, 2020

November 24th an Order in Council (OIC) and Ministerial Order were issued as the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced alignment of the Province’s measures under the Emergency Program Act with the Provincial Health Officer’s (PHO) guidance, mandating that masks must be worn in indoor public places.

  • Masks are required in all indoor public spaces, including in all post-secondary institutions where people circulate freely, such as hallways, stairwells, elevators, etc. but they are not mandatory in non-public areas such areas as classrooms and enclosed office spaces where individuals can maintain physical distancing.
  • Post-secondary institutions may implement more stringent mask requirements based on their individual situations.
  • The mask requirement does not apply to people unable to wear a mask or put on or remove a mask on their own.
Clarification on daily COVID-19 health screening – WorkSafe BC Requirement

All employers, including post-secondary Institutions, have an accountability to ensure that every worker performs a daily COVID-19 health check before entering the workplace.

  • Health checks are mandatory self-assessments conducted by workers (not by the employer). Workers are to confirm with their employer, in written or verbal format, that they have reviewed the complete list of entry requirements (included on this COVID-19 entry check poster) and that none of the prohibited criteria apply to them for that day.
  • It will be up to individual institutions on how best to implement. However, the WorkSafeBC website provides a number of examples for consideration.
Evolving PHO guidance

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions.

 

COVID-19 Resources:

Education Quality Assurance
Corporate Planning, International and Quality Assurance Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
3rd Floor, 835 Humboldt St
PO Box 9157 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H2
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (778) 698-9830

 

To: Private EQA Designated Post Secondary Institutions

November 2020

Greetings,

Yesterday BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) ordered new province-wide restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Some of these restrictions previously applied to the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Regions only. As of November 19, 2020 they apply to the entire province. Below is a summary.

Masks are required in all indoor public settings and workplaces
  • This applies to common areas where people circulate freely, such as hallways, stairwells, elevators, etc. but not to restricted areas such as enclosed office spaces where physical distancing can be maintained.
  • The mask requirement does not apply to people unable to wear a mask or put on or remove a mask on their own.
Social gatherings
  • No social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your household or core bubble. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • A person who lives alone may have up to two other people visit if they are people with whom the person regularly interacts.
Events
  • All events and gatherings as defined in the PHO Gatherings and Events Order are suspended until further notice.
    • NOTE: this does not apply to educational activities offered by post-secondary institutions to deliver and/or support student learning and development.
    • Please see page 15 of the COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for BC’s Post-Secondary Sector for more information on educational activities.
    • Events such as convocation ceremonies are not considered educational activities.
Athletic Activities
  • Please review the Athletic Activities section of the new province-wide restrictions.
  • The following high risk indoor group physical activities must be suspended:
    • Spin classes
    • Hot yoga
    • High intensity interval training
  • Gyms and recreation facilities that offer individual workouts and personal training sessions can remain open as long as they have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that is strictly followed.
  • Games, competitions and practices can continue with no spectators and no travel.
Travel
  • All non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.
  • Essential travel within BC includes:
    • Regular travel for work within your region
    • Travel for medical appointments and hospital visits

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response. Please share this update broadly within your respective institutions.

COVID-19 Resources:

Education Quality Assurance
Corporate Planning, International and Quality Assurance Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
3rd Floor, 835 Humboldt St
PO Box 9157 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H2
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (778) 698-9830

 

Return to New “Normal” Recovery Plan

September 2020