British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer has extended the mask mandate that requires masks be worn in all indoor public spaces throughout BC. Additionally, clarification for post-secondary spaces has been provided in the revised Return-to-Campus Guidelines released by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces in BC, including post-secondary spaces, by anyone ages five and older including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This includes, but is not limited to:
- all public indoor public spaces of post-secondary institutions – this includes lecture theatres, classrooms, teaching laboratories, and other indoor instructional settings
- common areas of buildings open to the public, including in on-campus housing and office buildings (eg, lobbies, hallways, bathrooms)
- common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity
- coffee shops, cafeterias, restaurants, pubs, and bars when not seated at a table
Masks may be removed:
- in work spaces such as office areas, research labs, or shared offices that do not serve the public (but must be worn in instances when members of the public, including students and other BCIT staff who don’t typically work in that area, enter the work space)
- in meetings and seminars in small meeting rooms (but must be worn in instances when members of the public, including students and other BCIT staff who don’t typically work in that area, enter the work space)
- if a person is behind a barrier that separates them from other people, like a divider, cubicle, or in a room by themselves.
- by instructors and other presenters when behind a barrier or two metres away from students while teaching
- briefly, in order to identify staff, faculty, or students
- while eating or drinking in cafeteria spaces, the pub, break rooms, classrooms, educational spaces, and meeting rooms – it is required that all staff, faculty, and students immediately don their mask after finished eating or drinking.
In consideration for those around you, please limit the amount of un-masked time you spend with others.
If you forget to bring your mask to campus, please visit your on-campus Security office to obtain one.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe.
Glen Magel
Director, Safety, Security and Emergency Management