On January 7, 2021, the Provincial Health Officer announced the extension of province-wide restrictions that have been in place in B.C. since November 19, 2020, until February 5, 2021, at midnight. This order affects the UBC Point Grey, Robson Square, Okanagan campuses and off-campus UBC sites within British Columbia.

UBC’s top priority is the health and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff. For the latest updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19, please visit: https://covid19.ubc.ca/

Some reminders for the start of term:

• Assess yourself daily for symptoms of COVID-19 before coming to campus and follow any instructions given to them from Public Health authorities.  Stay home if feeling unwell.
• Use the BC Self-Assessment Tool if symptoms present themselves or you come into contact with a person with COVID-19, and follow the instructions provided.  For more information, please visit the Self-assessment webpage.
• All faculty and staff must maintain a physical distance of 2-metres, and wear a non-medical mask in common, indoor spaces, as outlined in the relevant COVID-19 Safety Plan. In situations where faculty and staff are unable to wear a mask, an approved face shield can be considered if written into an approved COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• Supervisors should monitor their workplace COVID-19 Safety Plan and communicate reminders and key changes to their teams on a regular basis. The Provincial Order on Workplace COVID-19 Safety Plans states: “post a copy of your COVID-19 Safety Plan on your website, if you have one, and at your workplace so that it is readily available for review…”. Be sure that any virtual or physical copies are the most up-to-date and have been shared with the relevant Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC) for their review.
• Familiarize yourself with the most up to date version of the COVID-19 Campus Rules. The last update was published on December 15, 2020.
• Review the updated Provincial Restrictions, as required. If Orders have been implemented that are relevant to your faculty/department/scope of work, for example, Sport & Recreation, visit WorkSafeBC to review new and updated advice.
• The BC post-secondary Go-Forward Guidelines delineate the difference between ‘gatherings and events’ and ‘Educational Activities’ (pg. 16). Even though some activities may be exempt from the restrictions, there are still some things to consider:
  • Those who can work from home should continue to do so.

• • Some work areas on campus may be governed by other guidelines, so it is important to keep informed about provincial guidance & safety requirements for your sector

• • Occupational and Preventative Health is available to all staff, faculty, and paid students who have questions or concerns about their health and safety in the workplace, including questions around COVID-19

• • Student resources and support can be found by visiting https://covid19.ubc.ca/information-for-students/

More WorkSafeBC Resources:

• Mental health effects of COVID-19 in the workplace: Guides for workers and employers
• Worker Health Checks – advice on daily health assessments

More UBC Safety Resources

• Reoccupancy Safety Planning:
  • COVID-19 Guiding Principles
  • Safety Planning Process
  • Determining Safety Plan Risk
  • Templates & Resources – including guidelines and COVID-19 safety plan templates
  • Communication Resources – includes signage to download
  • COVID-19 Safety Training & COVID-19 Campus Safety Rules
  • Submit Your Safety Plan
  • FAQ: COVID-19 Safety Plan

• COVID-19 Health & Safety:
  • Working Safely on Campus During COVID-19
  • Reporting COVID-19 Exposure
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Non-Medical Masks at UBC
  • FAQ: COVID-19 Infections & Contact Tracing
  • COVID-19 Self-Assessment Requirements

• Find your faculty or department Approved COVID-19 Safety Plan by visiting: https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/covid-19-safety-plans/

If you have general health questions about COVID-19, you can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 toll-free in B.C. For the deaf and hard of hearing, you can call 7-1-1 or contact them through Video Relay Services. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages.

If you have non-health-related questions about topics such as child care, travel or business call Service BC at 1-888-268-4319.