Coronavirus (COVID-19) and First College Updates​

January 7, 2020

Greetings,

Please note the following COVID-19 updates for January 7, 2021:

Extension of province-wide restrictions

On January 7, 2021 BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) ordered an extension to existing province-wide restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, the sections of the gatherings and events order concerning visitors in private residences and allowable/prohibited events (sections A, B and C) that were to expire on January 8^th have been extended to February 5, 2021 at midnight.

• All events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions.
• All non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.

PHO updates re: varsity sport and retail occupancy limits

Varsity sport

On December 24, 2020 BC’s Public Health Officer (PHO) amended the Gatherings and Events Order to expand and clarify restrictions on sports and fitness activities. These changes include permitting varsity sports subject to conditions, such as allowing participants to train or practice only with their home institution, ensuring participants maintain three-metre physical distancing, and prohibiting spectators.

For the sake of clarity, “varsity sport” includes only formally recognized sports rather than intramural or other informal fitness activities. It is defined as follows:

• “Varsity sport” means a sport for which the eligibility requirements for participation are established by a national association for the regulation of intercollegiate athletics, or which is designated as a varsity sport program by a post-secondary institution, and includes fitness training, sport training, practice and competition.

Retail occupancy limits

Previous guidance on retail occupancy limits has been incorporated into the Gatherings and Events Order to emphasize the need for stores and malls to prevent overcrowding and congestion. This includes requiring operators to calculate maximum occupancy based on five square metres/person in publicly-accessible areas.

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response.

Warm Regards,

First College Management

December 8, 2020

Dear all,

Yesterday the Provincial Health Officer extended province-wide restrictions as noted below:

Extension of PHO province-wide restrictions

On December 7, 2020 BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) ordered an extension to existing province-wide restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

• The PHO Gatherings and Events Order, which has been in effect since November 19, 2020, has been extended to January 8, 2021 at midnight.
• All events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions.
• All non-essential travel should be avoided. 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.

Warm Regards,

First College Management

November 20, 2020

Dear all,

Yesterday BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) ordered new province-wide restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Some of these restrictions previously applied to the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Regions only. As of November 19, 2020 they apply to the entire province. Below is a summary.

Masks are required in all indoor public settings and workplaces

• This applies to common areas where people circulate freely, such as hallways, stairwells, elevators, etc. but not to restricted areas such as enclosed office spaces where physical distancing can be maintained.
• The mask requirement does not apply to people unable to wear a mask or put on or remove a mask on their own. 

Social gatherings

• No social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your household or core bubble.  This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
• A person who lives alone may have up to two other people visit if they are people with whom the person regularly interacts.

Events

• All events and gatherings as defined in the PHO Gatherings and Events Order are suspended until further notice.
  • NOTE: this does not apply to educational activities offered by post-secondary institutions to deliver and/or support student learning and development.
  • Please see page 15 of the COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for BC’s Post-Secondary Sector for more information on educational activities.
  • Events such as convocation ceremonies are not considered educational activities.

Athletic Activities

• Please review the Athletic Activities section of the new province-wide restrictions.
• The following high risk indoor group physical activities must be suspended:
  • Spin classes
  • Hot yoga
  • High intensity interval training
• 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. 
• Games, competitions and practices can continue with no spectators and no travel. 

Travel

• All non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province. 
• Essential travel within BC includes:
  • Regular travel for work within your region
  • Travel for medical appointments and hospital visits

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response.

Warm Regards,

First College Management

June 29, 2020

IMPORTANT NOTICE: First College is open September 2020 to both new and continuing students. Applications are being accepted from new students currently in Canada.

For more details, please visit: https://www.firstcollege.ca/blog/first-college-reopening-announcement

May 7, 2020

Dear all,

Good morning. I hope everything is going well with you and your family. In order to provide timely COVID-19 information updates to students and institution partners, StudentAid BC has created a COVID-19 Response Information web page. Currently, the following topics are covered:

1. Emergency benefits
2. Additional student financial supports for 2020-21
3. Repayment supports
4. Temporary service delivery changes
5. Interruption of Study
6. Program eligibility for student financial assistance

Thank you for doing your part to fight the spread of the Coronavirus by staying home and practicing physical distancing.

I wish you all the best as you complete your projects, papers, and exams online. Take care of yourself. I want to remind you of the supports available to you—ask for help if you need it.

We are in this together and will get through this together.

Warm Regards,

Director of First College

May 7, 2020

April 14, 2020

Thank you for the important role you play in supporting the provincial COVID-19 response.

March 18, 2020

2. Essential Service Worker

Attached is new guidance from Dr. Bonnie Henry on essential service workers.

3. COVID-19 Symptom Self-assessment Tool

• Attached is new guidance from Dr. Bonnie Henry on essential service workers.

March 17, 2020

Transition to online classes at First College

Dear students, staff and faculty members,

As you know, governments and institutions around the world are grappling with the spread and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The situation continues to evolve and it has become an unprecedented scenario for the College.

Today I am announcing that most of programs are in a transition to online classes effective Monday, March 24, 2020 until May 29, 2020. Students will receive an email from your faculty this week regarding the details.

To be clear, NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 among our students, faculty or staff. However, we understand the need to be prepared as a College and act accordingly – aligned with guidance from the Provincial Health Officer and working with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

On behalf of First College board of Directors, to all of the students, faculty and staff that make up First College’s community, I want to say I am inspired by the level of support and assistance you are providing one another during this immensely challenging time.

Best Regards,

Timothy Yang

Director of First College

March 17, 2020

March 15, 2020

Dear students, staff and faculty members,

At this point there is no direction from the Provincial Health Officer to close campuses. Interior Health is reiterating that the risk of infection remains low, given student demographics and the relatively small size of our classes.

Our campuses will remain open and services will continue to be provided, reviewed as necessary while this situation continues to evolve.

You can also play a part in helping to prevent the spread of colds, flu and viruses on our campuses. The advice from health agencies is:

• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.
• If a sink is not available, 60-90% alcohol-based hand rubs (hand sanitizer) can be used to clean hands if they are not visibly soiled. If they are visibly soiled, you can use an alcohol-based disposable hand wipe to remove the dirt and then use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Do not touch your face/eyes/mouth with unwashed hands.
• When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow, and then wash your hands.
• Stay home when you are ill to avoid spreading the illness to others.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick with an infection.

My thanks to all who are focused on helping students complete their studies this semester. Over my many years working at First College I have always been impressed by the way employees and students have worked together to overcome challenges. I expect this situation to be no different.

Sincerely,

Timothy Yang

Director of First College

March 15, 2020

March 13, 2020

Dear students, staff and faculty members,

Countries around the world, including Canada, are working to contain the current outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

At this time, the Public Health Agency of Canada has assessed the public health risk associated with the virus as “low for Canada”.

Within British Columbia, Provincial Medical Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the BC Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Vancouver Coastal Health are leading the coordinated response to COVID-19. First College continues to take direction from the BC Provincial Government and Ministry of Advanced Education as we plan and consider next steps.

As of March 12, 2020, The Office of the Provincial Medical Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and Ministry of Health has advised the following:

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have travelled outside Canada (including the United States) after March 13 should stay home or self-isolate in their residence*/room alone for 14 days, immediately on their return. They should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing).

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been laboratory tested for COVID-19 should stay home or self-isolate in their residence*/room alone, until their test results are known.

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by laboratory testing should stay home or self-isolate in their residence*/room alone for 14 days after their last encounter. Individuals should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing).

This does not apply to travellers who have returned to Canada up to or before March 13. (Previous mandated self-isolation requirements for travellers returning from Hubei Province, China, Iran, and Italy remain in effect.)

Those who develop symptoms during the 14-day monitoring period should immediately self-isolate (stay in a room that is not shared with anyone else) and call their healthcare provider or the provincial health line at 8-1-1 to discuss any need for testing and follow up.

A new toll-free phone line has also been established for Canadians (1-833-784-4397) to answer general questions about COVID-19.

The Office of the Provincial Medical Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and Ministry of Health has also recommended the immediate cancellation or postponement until further notice of all events with more than 250 people in attendance.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Timothy Yang

Director of First College

March 13, 2020