UBC's president announced earlier today (Aug. 13) support for mandatory indoor masking and vaccination, but Simon Fraser University is standing pat on not making changes for now.
Some SFU faculty supported an open letter to Advanced Education Minister and Burnaby LMA Anne Kang last week, which was also endorsed by the University of Victoria Faculty Association Executive Committee, the CUPE 4163 Executive Committee at the University of Victoria, CUPE 2278 at UBC and UNBC.
The letter called on the ministry to “address deficiencies” in the post-secondary guidelines released on July 5.
“The BC COVID-19 Return-to-Campus guidelines are not consistent with the best-available evidence and disregard the layers of protection that could prevent COVID-19 transmission in post-secondary environments. We are requesting that the Ministry publish new guidelines that correct these deficiencies so that students, teaching and support staff, and faculty have safer places of work and learning,” Teaching Support Staff Union Chief Steward Katie Gravestock said in the letter.
The letter called on the Ministry to issue revised guidelines based on the following measures:
- Improve ventilation and establish provincial ventilation and HVAC standards
- Mandate masks for classrooms and indoor settings
- Set occupancy limits for shared spaces and classrooms
- Maintain classroom configurations that enable minimum of two-metre physical distancing, which will likely require reducing class sizes in many cases
- Provide access to routine community and on-campus symptomatic and asymptomatic testing\
This afternoon, UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa Ono released an open letter, saying he is in support of mandatory indoor masking and vaccination as cases continue to explode in B.C.
"I have heard from many members of the UBC community asking for the university to introduce mandatory non-medical masks and vaccines for those returning to campus in September," he says.
"I have shared with the provincial government that I am supportive of mandatory indoor masking and vaccination. First, I believe that instituting both will be critical to allow us to start the term with the confidence of our community. Second, just as the Provincial Health Officer has mandated vaccination for all working in long term care facilities, I think we should do the same, at least in high-density residences and high contact circumstances such as Varsity athletics and theatre/music, in light of the surge in cases driven by the delta variant of SARS-CoV2."
Despite the news, Simon Fraser University President Joy Johnson said in an open letter of her own yesterday, there are no changes currently planned.
"Over the past few months as COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to adults in BC, we have seen significant reduction in deaths and hospitalizations from the virus. Vaccination is the single most important thing each of us can to do protect ourselves and others. Despite this progress, COVID-19 cases will continue to occur," Johnson says.
"As we are seeing, spread is increasing among those who are not fully vaccinated and vaccination rates are slowing. This is worrisome, but expected, and we are ready to shift protocols as required. Indeed, protocols have shifted regularly throughout the pandemic. We know that new guidance can be put in place swiftly when needed. As new directions as to how to operate safely on campus are provided, we will take action.
"We are in constant contact with our health authority partners and the Provincial Health Office, and rely on their guidance and deep knowledge of the specific facts of how COVID-19 is being transmitted in BC to inform our decisions to keep the SFU community safe. For the foreseeable future we will remain in regular communication with public health leaders and in a state of readiness to shift protocols when needed."
Johnson adds there are layers of protections in place for students, faculty and staff which includes activities to encourage vaccination and improving ventilation. There will also be vaccine clinics on campus once the fall semester begins.
She says an update about mask requirements will be provided later in August.
As many throughout the province have expressed frustration with the B.C. government’s lack of action reinstating mandatory mask-wearing, cases continue to soar.
B.C. health officials announced this afternoon (Aug. 13), there have been 717 new cases detected throughout the province, while hospitalizations also continue to rise.
There are now 82 people hospitalized, 39 of which are currently in ICU/critical care.
- With files from Chris Campbell, Burnaby NOW
