Post-secondary institutions across British Columbia are continuing to plan for a safe return to in-person learning this fall.

To support these efforts, the COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Primer is available to help B.C.’s post-secondary institutions plan for a full return to on-campus teaching, learning and research in September.

The Primer outlines key public health planning assumptions and safety measures to help institutions prepare for the return to campus.

Additional guidance will be released in the coming weeks in the revised Go-Forward Guidelines for B.C.’s Post-secondary Sector, with implementation planned for Aug. 1. The comprehensive health and safety protocols in the guidelines are being revised to reflect the expected COVID-19 conditions for the fall along with updated infection prevention and control measures.

In the interim, the Primer is the next step in providing high-level guidance to help institutions plan for the safe return of students, faculty and staff throughout the summer, and update campus safety plans in anticipation of a full return to face-to-face instruction in September.

The Primer was developed by a team of experts from the public post-secondary sector in partnership with the ministry and representatives from the BC Centre for Disease Control, regional health authorities and the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, a Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training news release noted.

On March 8, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, advised public post-secondary institutions to plan for a full return to on-campus teaching, learning and research for September 2021, when experts anticipate that COVID-19 transmission will be low, and serious infections will be uncommon.

All adults in B.C. will have had an opportunity to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before July 1, while many will have received two doses by the end of August.

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