VanArts is closely monitoring the global situation regarding COVID-19. Although Canada’s Public Health Agency and B.C.’s Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) have assessed the risk associated with the virus as “low,” advisories and precautions are important to consider for the health of others.
VanArts regrets to inform our Spring 2020 graduates that their graduation ceremony on March 19th has been cancelled due to these advisories and precautions pertaining to the COVID-19 virus. While we realize and appreciate the fact that families may have made plans to travel from all over the world for this celebratory event, VanArts does not wish to put our staff and the families of our graduates at risk. Plans will be made to accommodate our spring graduates at our next scheduled graduation ceremony in September 2020.
We highly recommend that all current students and staff take the following steps:
-avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
-avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
-clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
-stay home when you are sick, except to get medical attention.
-wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
The BC Centre for Disease Control also advises the following:
– Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been to Hubei, China and Iran 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).
– Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been in other parts of the world where COVID-19 cases have been reported should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing) for 14 days. They do not need to self-isolate.
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.