COVID-19 Update: BCCDC guidance, Return to Campus Guidelines, rapid testing

By College Relations | January 28, 2022
           

Text of "COVID-19 update" is overlain on a grey background

Hello everyone, 

As January draws to a close, I want to thank you all for continuing to support one another as a learning community throughout these first weeks of the term.  

The OC community has done an outstanding job of adhering to the public health guidance and on-campus expectations, and I encourage us all to remain diligent and thank you in advance for doing so. It remains particularly important we all continue to avoid coming to campus if feeling unwell, and to consult the BCCDC page for guidance on isolation, testing and managing our health. If you need support, reach out.  

This week brings the following important COVID-19 updates: 

Updated BCCDC Guidance and Return to Campus Guidelines

The BCCDC has updated its public health guidance for post-secondary institutions to support in-person learning for the winter academic term. This new guidance supplements the revised Return to Campus Guidelines. Please familiarize yourself with these documents as they contain the latest guidance on everything from mask wearing to contact tracing to isolation and testing. 

Post-secondary Rapid Test Kit Strategy 

The BCCDC and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST) has confirmed that rapid tests will be distributed directly to post-secondary institutions from the Provincial Health Services Authority. These will be distributed in the coming weeks based on allocation priorities outlined in the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Guidance for Post-secondary Institutions available on the BCCDC website.  

  • Rapid tests will be available as an optional, time-limited initiative for post-secondary institutions for the testing of symptomatic employees and students. Based on initial guidance from the BCCDC, we anticipate tests will be prioritized for students living in on-campus housing; we will share updates as more information becomes available. 
  • The tests are a self-management tool intended to support the continuity of on-campus learning, instruction and research. 
  • Asymptomatic screening of employees and students is not recommended by public health and tests distributed to postsecondary institutions from the provincial supply are not to be used for asymptomatic screening programs. 

Okanagan College is currently formulating its distribution strategy and will share updates as we learn more details of when rapid tests will arrive and how they will be distributed. (The College has not yet received tests; you will be contacted if you are eligible to receive a test to use when symptomatic.) 

Vaccination 

  • Public Health continues to remind us all that vaccination remains the most important measure to prevent and lessen the effects of COVID-19 illness. All members of the OC community are encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted at their earliest opportunity. Visit Interior Health’s Immunization page for more information. 
  • The B.C. Vaccine Card will remain in effect until June 30, 2022, as outlined by the Provincial Health Officer. At OC, a B.C. Vaccine Card is required for those living in OC Student Housing, to access fitness centres, seated dining at Infusions and some non-educational (discretionary) indoor events when they are permitted again. 

Events 

Following the BCCDC guidance and provincial health orders, non-academic (discretionary/social gathering) events continue to be suspended at OC. However, recognizing the crucial support and engagement opportunities that events provide for students, a variety of virtual events will continue and grab-and-go/flow-through style events (i.e. info tables or to-go food tables) are proceeding in adherence with Interior Health and PHO guidance.  

Thank you 

I’d like to express my appreciation again to all members of our learning community for continuing to show kindness and understanding. Please continue to monitor the COVID-19 page for guidance and updates. 

Sincerely, 

Neil Fassina 

President, Okanagan College 



Tags: COVID-19, COVID-19 employees, COVID-19 students

TOP STORIES

RELATED STORIES

Sign up for weekly stories




Trending

Communications student standing outside the Centre for Learning building at the Kelowna campus
Meet Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores

April 4, 2023

Q: What's your name? A: Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores Q: What's your hometown? A: Quito – Ecuador – South America Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College? A: Well, I studied for a bachelor's degree in Law in Ecuador. Then, I worked for a while and got my Master's degree in Government and Culture of Organizations at the University of Pamplona.  When I returned to my country, professional opportunities arose for me. I mean, a Master's degree improved my career. Spain helped ...

Read more...
Animation student
Artistic students design future careers in animation

June 7, 2022

Grads of Okanagan College’s Animation Diploma program are finding their skills have never been in higher demand. First- and second-year students showed samples of their artwork and demo reels to industry partners at OC’s annual Animation Industry Night on May 17. “Lots of the work was very professional,” says James Wood, Chair of Okanagan College’s Animation Department. “Our program is short, but intense. The instructors make sure the students have a realistic understanding of what they need do to succeed in a competitive and demanding...

Read more...
JAMK campus
OC Business students embrace international study again

May 30, 2022

Business students from Okanagan College are once again able to travel to Jyväskylä, Finland to experience an international summer school at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences.  Finland’s education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.  OC Business Professor Blair Baldwin, who has taught Services Design at JAMK for several summers, says working in Finland has helped him innovate and create new teaching methodologies. “JAMK employs experiential learning across its curriculum,” he says. “They stress cri...

Read more...
Enactus 2022
Enactus Okanagan College tops the field, sets sights on national championships

May 27, 2022

Okanagan College students will once again be competing for the Canadian title after qualifying for the Enactus National Exposition with a first-place finish in their league during the semi-final round. Enactus teams at post-secondary institutions across Canada competed virtually earlier this month, and Okanagan College scooped up top position in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, and runner-up in the Scotiabank Climate Action Challenge for the Unusually Good Food Co. project. It also included national runner-up in Shaw and RBC accelerator...

Read more...