Announcements

Dear IAHLA Member Institutes,

I hope you are all keeping well.

On Monday, March 29, 2021, BC’s Provincial Health Officer announced new province-wide restrictions to address rising COVID-19 case counts. These restrictions are in effect until midnight on April 19, 2021.

Below, please find a copy of the communiqué that has been sent to the heads of public post-secondary institutions. We are sharing this information with IAHLA institutes, recognizing that some details may not all be applicable to all member institutes. IAHLA fully respects the authority of individual First Nations to make decisions about their post-secondary and adult institute operations in the best interests of their students, institutes, and communities.

We will continue to share information as it becomes available. For additional COVID-19 updates and resources, please visit www.fnesc.ca/covid19.

The forwarded update from the Ministry follows.

——————————–

The BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) introduced new province-wide restrictions to address rising COVID-19 case counts. These restrictions are in effect until midnight April 19, 2021. Below is a summary.

Athletic Activities

• All indoor adult group fitness activities are cancelled until April 19 at midnight.
• 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.

Religious Gatherings and Worship Services

• The variance allowing indoor religious gatherings and worship services between March 28 and May 13 is suspended.
• Outdoor worship services under the current variance may continue.

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Food Courts

• Restaurants, pubs, bars and food courts are closed for indoor dining until April 19 at midnight.
• Outdoor patio seating and take-out or delivery is allowed with continued use of COVID-19 layers of protection and physical distancing.
• NOTE: Dining facilities for student housing and cafeterias serving students, faculty and staff at educational institutions are exempt from the closure order.

Social Gatherings Restrictions

• No indoor social gatherings of any size at private residences is permitted other than between those who reside in the household.
• A person who lives alone may have up to two other people visit if they are people with whom the person regularly interacts.
• Up to 10 people can gather outdoors with continued use of COVID-19 layers of protection such as maintaining physical distancing and mask wearing.

In addition, the PHO strongly recommends:

• Working from home through to April 19, where possible, unless it is essential to be in the workplace.
• Avoiding all 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:

• 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.

——————————–

Please stay safe and take good care.