Following today’s update from the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, we would like to update you on the new travel restrictions that have been introduced to British Columbia effective April 23, 2021 and will be in place through May 25, 2021.
Travel regions
The BC Government has issued a new order under the Emergency Program Act to prohibit non-essential travel between three regional zones in the province, using health authority boundaries. Failure to follow these travel guidelines may result in a $575 fine.
The regional zones are:
- Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Coastal Health regions);
- Vancouver Island (Island Health region); and
- Northern/Interior (Interior Health and Northern Health regions).
The travel restrictions apply to all non-essential travel including:
- Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities
- Visiting family or friends for social reasons
- Recreation activities
Essential travel
The following travel is deemed essential and can occur between health regions:
- Attending school at a post-secondary institution
- Work, both paid and unpaid (volunteer)
- Getting health care or social services or helping someone get those services
- Returning to your principal residence, moving, or helping someone move
- Child care services
For a full list of reasons for essential travel, visit the BC Government COVID-19 website.
BCIT-related Travel
BCIT continues to restrict all BCIT-related travel, both domestic and international, until May 31, 2021.
The following restrictions remain in place and apply to all BCIT-related domestic and international travel:
- In-person conferences and events are on hold until further notice.
- All faculty and staff travel related to conferences, meetings, professional development, or representing the Institute is on hold until further notice.
- Travel for student field trips, practicums, and co-op placements will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the EOC Director.*
- School of Health Sciences clinical placements are approved with coordination of the Health Authorities.
*Please note: these restrictions do not apply to existing practicums outside the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions where students are already placed and living in the region where they are working.
International Travel
Per the Government of Canada’s Quarantine Act, anyone who enters Canada must self-isolate and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days upon their arrival. This applies to anyone who enters the country—by air, sea, or land—even if you are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms. If you enter British Columbia from outside of Canada you are also required to complete and register a self-isolation plan.
Beginning April 23, Canada has placed a ban on passenger flights from India and Pakistan due to rising concerns of COVID-19 cases and variants. We understand that this may cause additional challenges for our community and I would like to point you towards a number of supports available to post-secondary students who may be impacted by this announcement.
Travelling, gathering, or any other activities that go against the PHO orders could jeopardize not only your own health, but the health of your friends, family, peers, and BCIT faculty and staff. View the current guidelines here.
Please continue to do your part to keep our community safe. Thank you for your support.
Glen Magel
Director, Safety, Security and Emergency Management