Province confident in full return to university campuses as calls mount for mask, vaccine mandates – CBC

Faculty groups call for schools to have greater autonomy over rules; officials mulling over vaccine mandate

Aug 10, 2021

Health officials say university students can expect a full return to campus come fall as B.C. forges ahead on its reopening plans despite climbing COVID-19 cases.

On Monday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province has been refining its return-to-campus guildelines alongside post-secondary institutions amid B.C.’s rising fourth wave, but the overall plan to bring students back into lecture halls and classrooms remains the same since it was initially unveiled on July 5.

“I do fully expect we’ll have back on-campus instruction, it’s just so very important for young people,” she said.

Under current regulations outlined by the province, COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory to attend post-secondary institutions in B.C., but are recommended. Masks would also be a personal choice, aligning with the province’s broader restart plan.

But with positive infections surging in B.C., including an average daily case count of 360 last weekend, health officials seemingly aren’t taking additional measures off the table.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-confident-full-return-to-university-1.6135548