Dear Acsenda Community,

Yesterday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Provincial Health Officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a Public Health Order restricting social and physical interactions in the Lower Mainland.

While the public health order still allows us to continue our business operations and to deliver classes on campus, we have chosen to suspend classes on campus for the next two weeks. Effective tomorrow, November 9th, all classes which normally take place on campus will be moved to fully online delivery. We will plan to resume class delivery for courses scheduled on campus this term at the campus on November 23rd.

However, this will be subject to review and decisions of the Public Health Officer and we will advise you further.

We will continue to provide essential business services at the campus which includes Reception, Enrolment Services and some other Administrative Services.

However, the campus working hours will be reduced for the next two weeks to 9am to 5 pm, and we ask that persons other than those staff mentioned above visit the campus by appointment only. Appointments can be made through the QLess system, or by contacting Reception.

While the orders and guidance exclude worksites and educational activities , we are taking these measures to support the Provincial Health initiative so that the spread of the COVID-19 virus can be curtailed quickly.

I ask that you all do your part in cooperating with the Public Health Order both in the interest of public health and safety, and to avoid consequences.

Below are the highlights of the Order, which you can read in its entirety at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/lower-mainland

PHO order on limiting social interactions in the Lower Mainland

By order of the PHO, all individuals, places of work and businesses within the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions must significantly reduce social interactions.

The order is in effect from November 7, 2020 at 10 pm to November 23, 2020 at 12 pm.

Social interactions and gatherings

Socialize only with those in your immediate household. No gatherings of any size.

  • Do not invite friends or family to your household

Funerals and weddings may proceed with your immediate household only.

  • Funeral or wedding receptions at any location are not allowed, including reception events held at community-based venues
  • This includes events of fewer than 50 people

Group physical activities

Businesses, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate indoor group physical activities must suspend these activities. This includes:

  • Spin classes
  • Yoga
  • Group fitness
  • Dance classes
  • Any other group indoor activity that increases the respiratory rate

Indoor sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained are suspended. This includes activities like:

  • Boxing
  • Martial arts
  • Hockey
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball

These activities can be replaced with individual exercise or practice that allows everyone to maintains a safe physical distance.

Indoor group physical activities can only resume when the business has updated their COVID-19 safety plan and received plan approval from their local Medical Health Officer.

Workplace safety

All businesses and worksites must conduct active daily in-person screening of all onsite workers using the COVID-19 symptom check list that is part of every business restart safety plan.

  • Workplaces must ensure that all workers and customers maintain appropriate physical distance and wear masks when appropriate
  • Extra care should be taken in small office spaces, break rooms and kitchens

Party-buses and limousines

Party-buses and group limousines must stop operations immediately. Resuming operations is at the discretion of the PHO and may extend beyond November 23, 2020 at 12pm.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.  Everyone’s small part makes a big difference.  We look forward to return to campus soon.