UFV has announced new COVID-19 health and safety measures to keep students and staff safe and healthy. Students must be aware of the current COVID-19 protocols at UFV.
According to UFV’s Director of Communications, Dave Pinton: “UFV is following the guidelines as directed by Fraser Health, the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, and WorkSafe B.C. Masks are required to be worn in indoor common spaces; residents are required to be vaccinated, which we are visually verifying through the B.C. vaccine passport. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the building, gathering sizes are being enforced, cleaning protocols are being followed.”
The UFV community is encouraged to register for vaccination as some activities at UFV will require proof of vaccination. According to the UFV website, this includes students living in on-campus housing, students participating in off-campus activities, and those using UFV gyms and recreational facilities. Proof of partial vaccination (one dose) will be required by September 13, and full vaccination by October 24.
Other steps UFV has taken include establishing mask safety zones. According to Pinton these are “two-meter zones at the front of classrooms where faculty can temporarily remove masks while teaching[.] Clear barriers are installed if two meters of distance is not possible.” Air quality monitoring has also been performed, mandatory mask requirements have been extended to the end of the academic semester, and a “process has been established for faculty members to obtain a voice amplification system.”
If you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms while on campus, Pinton recommends contacting a health care provider (or calling 8-1-1) and using the COVID-19 Self-Assessment to determine if one should be tested. Students should self-isolate while waiting for test results, and upon confirmation of a negative result, return to work or school only when feeling better. The student declaration of absence from face-to-face classes, activities, and lab form should also be submitted.
At the moment, UFV plans for an in-person graduation ceremony, according to Pinton. The university will still continue to follow the recommendation of Fraser Health and of the PHO in regards to events and gatherings.
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Valentina Betancourt is a third-year psychology major/political science minor who is the News Editor at The Cascade. Her dream is to become an immigration Lawyer as she immigrated from Bogota, Colombia.