COVID-19 winter update

Released: January 25, 2021 | Last Updated: February 14, 2024

Public Service Announcement | COVID-19

Update: January 25, 2021

From the College Executive Team

The roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine has provided some welcome light at the end of the tunnel as, hopefully, we enter the home stretch knowing that we still need to work together to keep students, employees and our community safe.

On Jan. 19, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said: “The vaccines are our path forward to the brighter days ahead. However, until that path is wide enough for everyone, we must continue to focus on our individual efforts.”

Safety requirements from the Provincial Health Officer such as mandatory masking in public indoor settings, physical distancing, avoiding non-essential travel and restrictions on physical gatherings remain in place.

The Safe Start process

Safe Start is a process established by the college to streamline the approval and planning of components of courses and programs that need to be delivered on campus or face-to-face. It is critical that all employees continue to follow the process to keep us all safe.

Active daily health checks are required before coming on-campus. On-campus or face-to-face delivery of programming continues to require approval through Safe Start. Employees wishing to work on campus in any way continue to require approval from their dean or director before coming on campus. Once approved, please complete the COVID-19 employee safety training and initial screening and remember to fill out the daily attendance form and daily health check.

All on-campus or face-to-face instruction, service and activities need to continue to go through the Safe Start process. Instructors should expect that exams will be administered remotely if courses were delivered remotely with the exception of programs that need to follow requirements of regulatory bodies such as our accounting or dental programs.

Safe Start will open for summer 2021 requests this week. The Safe Start team will connect with designated School contacts to facilitate the request process for on-campus and face-to-face courses. If technology needs are part of the request, please ensure an Information Technology Request is also completed.

Spring programming

The delivery of the best possible education and support services is expected to continue remotely wherever possible over the coming months. Based on the current trend, the expectation is that we will be maintaining the status quo until advised otherwise.

Having said that, we will continue to review public health guidelines as we make decisions about the status of course offerings in September. It is important to remain flexible. There will also likely be changes to many aspects of college life as we build forward following the pandemic.

Services and supports

All services and supports for students and employees remain available whether through a limited on-campus presence with COVID-19 safety protocols in place such as the bookstore, fitness centre, library and gyms in addition to the Athletic & Exercise Therapy Clinic and Massage Therapy Clinic, or online.

COVID-19 notification protocol

The college continues to follow the COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for B.C.’s Post-Secondary Sector as well as the recommendations from the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafeBC. We have updated employee FAQs to add questions about the notification process at Camosun for confirmed cases of COVID-19.