COVID-19 Policies

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COVID-19 Policies

Westcoast Adventure College precautions and policies may change to reflect the state of the pandemic, risk of exposure or spread of the virus, and advice of public health and industry authorities.

 

What areas pose risks of infection at Westcoast Adventure College?

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in a number of different ways. It can be transmitted as droplets when someone coughs or sneezes or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face.

 

The risk of person to person transmission increases the closer you come to people, the more time you spend close to people and the more people you spend time close to.

 

The risk of surface transmission increases when many people contact the same surfaces in a short amount of time.

 

At Westcoast Adventure College, areas where close contact is harder to avoid are the classrooms. The areas of high touch are the entrance to the college, washroom facilities and kayak shed.

 

What prevention measures is Westcoast Adventure College taking to minimize these risks?

To reduce the risks of infection, Westcoast Adventure College is implementing four levels of protection.

  • Level 1: Elimination:

WAC has increased the amount of classes taking place outdoors, and has set a maximum number of people allowed in a classroom to enable 2m social distancing.

  • Level 2: Engineering controls

The classrooms have been rearranged to allow for social distancing between students. There will be hand sanitizer available at all entrances so that students can clean their hands before entering.

 

  • Level 3: Administrative controls

Maximum occupancy numbers will be posted on the doors of classrooms. All classroom facilities and surfaces will be disinfected multiple times a day using disinfectant spray and a cleaning cloth to prevent droplet exposure and a check sheet with cleaning times will be posted in each classroom. Students will also be briefed on cleaning after themselves in common areas such as the washrooms and their desk at the end of each day.

The entrance to the college will be kept open at the start and end of the day to allow students to enter without having to touch the door handle.

 

  • Level 4: PPE

Staff and students will be required to wear masks whenever indoors (unless eating or drinking) or when social distancing is not possible and outdoors if social distancing is not possible.

 

The COVID-19 prevention guidelines will be discussed with students on the first day that they enter a space, to ensure students are aware of the measures in place.

 

COVID-19 management on the Westcoast Adventure Premises

Anyone to whom one of the below statements is true will be unable to enter the Westcoast Adventure College premises:

  • Anyone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days and has not had a negative test.
  • Anyone who has been identified by Public Health as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
  • Anyone directed by Public Health to self-isolate.
  • Anyone who has arrived from outside of Canada must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.
  • Visitors are prohibited or limited in the workplace.
  • First aid attendants have been provided OFAA protocols for use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If required the college may need to go to online teaching and has plans in place to ensure a seamless transition.

 

If a students starts to feel ill, they should:

  • Report to their instructor, even with mild symptoms.
  • They will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands, provided with a mask, and asked to go home to isolate.
  • If the student is severely ill (e.g., difficulty breathing, chest pain), staff are instructed to call 911. Any surfaces the ill student has touched will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

 

Communication Plans

The responsibility for managing the spread of COVID19 will be shared with all program participants and WAC staff. The delivery of programming is dependent on everyone following all protocols and those that are unable to follow protocols will be excluded from activities.

 

On the first day of class, WAC will brief staff and students on COVID-19 protocols, including the correct use of masks, hand hygiene, social distancing etc. Staff and students must adhere to WAC COVID-19 policies and understand that their participation in the program is contingent on following these practices. Those unable to adhere to these precautions will have their participation limited or terminated.

 

Staff and students will be required to read, understand and sign a Covid-19 Practices Agreement and a Declaration of Health and Exposure.

 

Students will be advised on social distancing and personal hygiene considerations (washing hands and not touching their face). They are advised not to share transportation, nor share food or gear.

 

All entrances to the college will have posters detailing occupancy limits, effective hygiene practices and who is permitted to enter the premises

 

Continuous Updates

As more information becomes available, WAC will be updating the policies guided by information from the BC CDC and other government bodies.

 

Should there be any new areas of concern that require COVID-19 protocols, these will be reviewed by all WAC staff and students will then be updated.

 

Staff and Student Conduct

 

Students will be required to supply their own masks, gloves and personal alcohol based hand sanitizer during school activities.

 

At all times students are advised to:

  • Follow advice of public health authorities
  • Avoid large gatherings
  • Practice social distancing and hand sanitization

 

Sick Days

In line with current recommendations, staff and students will be advised to stay home if they are experiencing signs of illness especially any of the following symptoms:

 

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of smell or taste
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Chest pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

 

If experiencing these symptoms call 811 or public health and make arrangements to be tested for COVID-19. The BC COVID-19 Self assessment tool is a valuable starting point.

 

If missing class, students will:

  • Notify the instructor of that day
  • Notify the College Education Director at 250 818 1212 and info@westcoastadventurecollege.com with more information on their condition.

 

This information will be kept confidential.

 

Outbreak response

In the case of a confirmed case, Westcoast Adventure College staff will follow these steps:

  • Notify the College Education Director at 250 818 1212 and info@westcoastadventurecollege.com with more information on their condition.
  • The education director will contact Island Health on how best to proceed.
  • Following the advice of the public health authority, school management will ensure that affected persons are immediately sent home to isolate and await guidance on further isolation/ testing requirements.
  • Island Health will manage the notification process and directly notify those people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 as a close contact of the ill person.
  • WAC Student Services Manager will be in contact with any staff or students isolating via scheduled bi-weekly Zoom calls to ensure that they have everything that they need, to check on their mental wellbeing and to ensure that they are complying with the isolation orders. Should they fail to respond to the Zoom call, WAC will email and then call the person isolating.
  • Should it come to the college’s attention that there is a compliance issue, WAC will contact Island Health and the local by-law offices and will follow their recommendations.
  • WAC will work closely with Island Health when asked to notify the college community of any confirmed cases and when broad public notification is required.
  • Contact tracing is the process used by the health authority to identify any close contacts of the ill person. Island Health leads this process.
  • Island Health will notify the ill person directly if their test for COVID-19 is positive. Notification of the patient and contacts is a priority and occurs as soon as possible after a positive test result becomes known. Contact tracing will identify any close contacts; these people will be notified directly by Island Health.
  • WAC will provide information to Island Health when asked as part of this process and when Island Health is not able to gather all information necessary during the contact tracing activity. Island Health follows strict guidelines to protect the privacy of the ill person during the contact tracing process.
  • The college will not conduct additional COVID-19 testing as the result of a positive case in a member of the university community. Any decision to conduct additional COVID-19 testing on campus rests with the health authority.
  • Senior management will arrange for temporary closure of affected classroom(s) and/or campus for deep cleaning. If necessary, this may include a temporary campus shutdown (minimum 3 days) with a shift of classes back to online delivery format for duration of shutdown.
  • Senior Management will communicate any critical information to all students, staff, and teachers through email if prompted to do so by Island Health.

 

Quarantine

Students who have COVID-19 symptoms and have not been tested or students who test positive for COVID-19 will be asked to quarantine until they receive a negative test. This test result will have to be submitted to the college before they can return to class.

Whilst in quarantine, students may not leave their accommodation.

 

The Student Services Manager will be in contact with any staff or students isolating via scheduled bi-weekly Zoom calls to ensure that they have everything that they need, to check on their mental wellbeing and to ensure that they are complying with the isolation orders. Should they fail to respond to the Zoom call, WAC will email and then call the person isolating.

 

Should it come to the college’s attention that there is a compliance issue, WAC will contact Island Health and the local by-law offices and will follow their recommendations.

 

For more information about self-isolation: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation

 

If they require a prescription during self-isolation, some pharmacies deliver prescriptions, such as Pharmacy BC and London Drugs.

 

When planning meals, popular delivery options are Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, Door Dash.  There are also a number of grocery stores that deliver, such as Thriftys, Instacart, Market on,

Alternatively there are also meal kits such as Chef’s Plate, Fresh Prep, Hello Fresh, Good Food.

 

Community Mental Health Resources

  • Vancouver Island Crisis Line: (24/7) 1-888-494-3888.
  • Here2 Talk: (24/7) Confidential counselling and referrals for BC postsecondary students. https://here2talk.ca/
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line: Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada for crisis intervention by experienced and culturally sensitive counsellors 1-855-242-3310.

 

International Students

Before you fly

 

  • Apply for a study permit

 

First you must apply for a study permit. You can do so online through the IRCC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application.html

 

Once you have received a study permit you can now start planning your travel to Canada.

 

  • Make a quarantine plan

 

Students arriving from international destinations should make arrangements to arrive with time to have a 14 day quarantine period prior to the start date of the program.

  • Submit your plan through the ArriveCan app

Students are responsible for arranging their own quarantine plan, which must be submitted through the ArriveCan app. They must bring supporting documents for their quarantine plan and must satisfy the BSA officer that they have made appropriate quarantine arrangements.

All travelers entering Canada must submit their quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN mobile app within 48 hours before arriving in Canada, including proof of reservation and payment for your 3-night booking in a government-approved hotel if flying to Canada. This may lead to faster processing at the airport upon arrival.

 

After you have submitted your information be sure to save the receipt, such as a printout or screenshot of the app on your phone, as you might need to show this to airline staff before boarding a flight and will need to show this to a CBSA officer on arrival. If you will not have a working cell phone number, you should give the phone number of the government-approved hotel you’ve booked, then update your contact information.

  • Submit your BC self isolation form

Complete the British Columbia’s (BC) Self-Isolation form

When making your quarantine plan, please refer to the following resources:

 

What to bring

  • Your Proof of Enrolment letter
  • Proof of a negative Covid-19 molecular test

Bring a paper or electronic copy of your negative test result. Your test must have been taken within 72 hours of your flight’s scheduled departure time  or arrival at the land border.

  • Quarantine plan documentation
  • ArriveCAN receipt
  • Passport
  • Visa or eTA
  • Proof of health insurance

Bring your MSP card or other basic insurance documents.

  • Study permit
  • Proof of funds

On Arrival

 

All travellers to Canada must take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours either before their flight’s scheduled departure time or their arrival at the land border. Travellers will be required to wear a face mask on arrival.

If travelling by air, register at your first airport of arrival in Canada:

If arriving in Toronto, you will also be registered for your Day-10 COVID-19 test.

If travelling by land, register in advance of arriving at the border. The Douglas (Peace Arch) crossing has on-site testing. See arrival testing at the border for additional ports of entry with testing stations.

In Transit

Students are required to wear facemasks at all times and will not take public transit aside from taxis to their place of quarantine.

Quarantine

Anyone entering Canada must quarantine for 14 days. Upon arrival, if they display any covid symptoms, they will not be permitted to enter Canada.

Students arriving by air will need to have reserved a 3-night stay at a government approved hotel prior to travelling and all travellers will need to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as complete a COVID-19 test kit during quarantine. After being released from the mandatory three day quarantine, students must arrange for a place to complete the rest of their 14 day mandatory quarantine.

Students driving across the border from the US must go directly to their place of quarantine and must remain in their vehicle for the duration of the trip.

 

The quarantine plan must contain:

  • The location(s) of the 14 day quarantine
  • How you will travel to your quarantine
  • Arrangements for your necessary support, such as food, medication and cleaning supplies.

 

If they are planning on bringing medication or health products with them, students are asked to check that the quantity or type is not restricted. See tips on traveling with medication.

 

The Student Services Manager will be in contact with any students isolating via scheduled bi-weekly Zoom calls to ensure that they have everything that they need, to check on their mental wellbeing and to ensure that they are complying with the isolation orders. Should they fail to respond to the Zoom call, WAC will email and then call the person isolating.

 

Should it come to the college’s attention that there is a compliance issue, WAC will contact Island Health and the local by-law offices and will follow their recommendations.

 

For more information about self-isolation: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation

 

If they require a prescription during self-isolation, some pharmacies deliver prescriptions, such as Pharmacy BC and London Drugs.

 

When planning meals, popular delivery options are Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, Door Dash.  There are also a number of grocery stores that deliver, such as Thriftys, Instacart, Market on,

Alternatively there are also meal kits such as Chef’s Plate, Fresh Prep, Hello Fresh, Good Food.

 

Community Mental Health Resources

  • Vancouver Island Crisis Line: (24/7) 1-888-494-3888.
  • Here2 Talk: (24/7) Confidential counselling and referrals for BC postsecondary students. https://here2talk.ca/
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line: Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada for crisis intervention by experienced and culturally sensitive counsellors 1-855-242-3310.

 

When you first arrive, check-in within 48 hours through the ArriveCAN online form or call 1.833.641.0343 and complete a daily self-assessment of your symptoms during your 14 day quarantine.

If your contact information or quarantine location has changed, email your updated information to phac.quarantine.covid19.quarantaine.aspc@canada.ca.

Should you have any questions or should unforeseen problems arise, please contact Sam Yates, Student Services Manager.

While in quarantine

  1. Apply for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP)
  2. Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)