COVID-19 Update

Updated Mar19 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) & LCV's response

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March 13, 2020

Countries around the world are currently working to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) is monitoring information and recommendations about COVID-19 from regional and provincial medical health officers. Though there are confirmed cases in BC, the Provincial Health Officer has indicated the overall risk for the province continues to be low.

The health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our number one priority. A working group has been struck to review all guidelines that are in place to protect all health concerns in our community.

The BC Centre for Disease Control advises the following:

Students, faculty, staff or visitors returning from outside of Canada should stay home or self-isolate in their residence/room alone for 14 days, immediately on their return. They should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing).

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been laboratory tested for COVID-19 should stay home or self-isolate in their residence/room alone, until their test results are known and are cleared.

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by laboratory testing should stay home or self-isolate in their residence/room alone for 14 days after their last encounter. Individuals should monitor themselves daily for symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches, difficulty breathing).

Those who develop symptoms during the 14-day monitoring period should immediately self-isolate (stay in a room that is not shared with anyone else) and call their healthcare provider or the provincial health line at 8-1-1 to discuss any need for testing and follow up.

More information on self-isolation is available from the Government of Canada.

Students should notify their Academic Advisor or Program Director if required to stay home in isolation.

Preventative Measures

There are many things one can do to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infection:

Hand washing: Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing
If a sink is not available, 60-90% alcohol-based hand rubs (hand sanitizer) can be used to clean hands if they are not visibly soiled. If they are visibly soiled, you can use an alcohol-based disposable hand wipe to remove the dirt and then use an alcohol-based hand rub.
When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow, and then wash your hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
Keep clean: Keep hands away from face and mouth.
Stay healthy: Stay healthy by eating healthy foods, keeping physically active, getting enough sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

*Last updated on March 19.

What if the school closes down? Will we move to online classes?

On March 15, 2020 the decision was made to transition all classes online for the remainder of the Winter quarter which ends later this month. In the meantime, we are preparing to move our Spring quarter classes online and we will be evaluating the use of our facilities in the coming days and weeks as the situation evolves.

Does the current health situation impact my ability to get health insurance from Tugo?

Coverage is available if pre-existing condition stability periods and other eligibility criteria are met.

How high is the risk of contracting the coronavirus disease, COVID-19 in BC?

At this time, the BC Centre for Disease Control advises that the risk to British Columbians continues to be low. More information can be found on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

Are any LCV students, faculty or staff reported to be confirmed cases?

We are currently not aware of any cases amongst our students, faculty and staff, both within BC or abroad. In the event of a confirmed case, information would be provided to the public by the relevant health agency, according to their protocols.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Information on the prevention, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of COVID-19 is available from the Government of Canada.

What is LCV doing to minimize the risk of infection to students, faculty and staff?

LCV has a senior level working group formed to develop plans and responses to the evolving situation. The college is also working hard to ensure that students, faculty and staff receive reliable and up-to-date information on preventive measures to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. LCV has recently increased the sanitation measures to aid in minimizing risk and cope with transmission of the virus.

LCV consults with the BC Centre for Disease Control and Vancouver Coastal Health on how to detect and mitigate any potential cases on our campuses. In the event that we were to be presented with a member of the school community displaying COVID-19 symptoms, we have appropriate measures and equipment in place.

What should I do if one of my students or colleagues shows symptoms of COVID-19?

Anyone who is concerned that they, or someone they have been exposed to, may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their health-care provider or call public health at 8-1-1 immediately. For more information and the latest updates, visit BC Centre for Disease Control's website.

Is LCV distributing masks for people to wear to prevent the spread of infection on our campus?

LCV is not distributing masks. Some members of our community may opt to wear masks, and we fully support their right to do so. We ask the community to be respectful of students, faculty and staff who choose to wear masks.

I have cold/flu symptoms, but I haven’t travelled outside of Canada. What should I do?

Information is available at HealthLink BC including advice on how to best treat cold/flu symptoms.

I am planning to travel during the March term break, should I cancel my travel plans?

No matter where you are planning to travel, you are advised to consult travel.gc.ca, which is the Government of Canada’s official source of destination-specific travel information. It provides important advice to help travelers make informed decisions and travel safely while abroad.