OCNews

On Dec. 22, 2021, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST) released an updated version of the COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Guidelines (“the RTC Guidelines”) to reflect evolving public health guidance. Revisions include:

• New content: December 21, 2021 Guidance from BC’s Provincial Health Officer: Rationale and recommendation to continue on-campus instruction for post-secondary institutions in January 2022 (attachment 3).
• Updated BCCDC Return to Campus Public Health Guidance to provide clarity on unimmunized individuals (Attachment 2).

The RTC Guidelines will continue to be updated periodically, as necessary, to align with evolving guidance. Watch Okanagan College’s COVID-19 / Return to campus page for updates. Thank you to the OC community for your continued diligence in following public health guidance and OC’s COVID-19 prevention measures on campuses.

Border Crossing Requirements: Limited exceptions to border measures in British Columbia

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) sent out a news release and associated social media posts which includes information on the limited exceptions to the border measures related to the flooding in B.C. (Links below).

As of December 21, unless specifically exempted, all travellers must take a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test before arriving in Canada, regardless of how long they were away. 

• Tests taken in-Canada will no longer be accepted. The pre-entry test must be performed in a country other than Canada within 72 hours of arrival at the land border or within 72 hours of a scheduled flight departure.
• Travellers must either have a negative pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before arriving in Canada or a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before departure to Canada.
• Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests” are not accepted.

Read the full guidance on the Government of Canada website.