Focus College COVID-19 Safety Plan
Recovery Plan
Step 1: Workplace Risk Assessment
Area | Potential Risk Level | Mitigation Measures |
Classroom | High |
|
Offices | High |
|
Student Lounge | High |
|
Hallways | High |
|
Staff /Faculty Kitchen | High |
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Reception | High | Fill out the screening questionnaire
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Step 2: Implement protocols to reduce the risks
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold. They include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in several ways, including through droplets when a person coughs or sneezes, and from touching a contaminated surface and then touching the face. Higher risk situations require adequate protocols to address the risk. The risk of COVID-19 depends on the amount of virus circulating in the community, which changes from place to place and over time. Community transmission is monitored by public health authorities in British Columbia.
Our workplace policies ensure that workers and others showing symptoms of COVID-19 are prohibited from the workplace. People who are prohibited from the workplace include anyone who has:
- had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days
- experienced new or mild cold or flu like symptoms
- been directed by their Public Health Official to self-isolate
- arrived from outside of Canada – must quarantine for 14 days
- had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case
Those who have been in contact with someone with a confirmed case must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. For those who experience no symptoms (asymptomatic) may be able to work from home if requested. Sick workers will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands and go straight home.
Visitors are prohibited or limited in the workplace.
First aid attendants have been provided OFAA protocols for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. If a worker, student or visitor is severely ill (e.g., difficulty breathing, chest pain), call 911. All surfaces that have been contacted by the worker who has fallen ill must be cleaned and disinfected once the worker has left the office.
International students travelling to Canada will be presented with a COVID-19 Travelling to Canada Plan prior to departure from their home company. This comprehensive plan will include procedures from arriving at the airport to information about obtain COVID-19 Testing.
Our workplace COVID-19 guidelines ensure that workers, students and others who show symptoms of COVID-19 will be prohibited from entering the workplace.
Implementation of Guidelines
FOCUS College COVID-19 Guidelines | |
Anyone who has had symptoms
of COVID-19 in the last 10 days |
Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache. Person will be sent home. |
Anyone directed by Public
Health to self-isolate |
Persons will be asked to return to their residences for the self-isolation period. |
Anyone arriving from outside of Canada or who has had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case | Must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. |
Visitors are prohibited or limited in the workplace | Visitors will only be allowed if the visit is necessary and an appointment is made prior to campus visit. |
Staff |
|
Protection and Safety Measures Level |
Measures Implemented |
First Level Protection (Elimination) |
|
Second Level Protection (Engineering controls) |
|
Third Level Protection (Administrative controls) | Kitchen use
|
Fourth Level Protection | Quarantining is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent the spread of the virus that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms.
Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus (those who are sick with COVID-19 and those with no symptoms) from people who are not infected. Students will be isolated when they have a positive test result. Contact Tracing will occur when a member of the Focus community tests positive for COVID-19. College staff will interview the person testing positive by phone to create a list of contacts potentially infected (those that meet all three criteria):
Staff will endeavor to contact all people that have been in contact with the infected individual and will recommend they get tested and self isolate while waiting for their test results. The college will be in contact with provincial and/or community health authorities to report any suspected cases and develop a plan to reduce transmission. The college will also develop a plan with the community health authorities, care takers, family members, and/or billets, which includes ensuring the student has proper resources and support to remain isolated for the quarantine period, to support their physical and mental well being. Focus College will also discuss the continued well-being of all staff at regular staff meetings and provide support to those individuals experiencing any sort of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Step 3: Develop Policies
- Created the necessary policies to manage our workplace, including policies around who can be at the workplace, how to address sickness that emerges at the working environment, and how workers can be kept secure in adjusted working conditions.
- Anyone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days. Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache must self-isolate.
- Anyone directed by Public Health to self-isolate.
- Anyone who has arrived from outside of Canada or who has had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.
- For travelers arriving to Canada by land, as of February 15, 2021, all travelers, with some exceptions, will be required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival. In addition, as of February 22, 2021, travelers entering Canada at the land border will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.
- All travelers arriving to Canada by air, as of February 22, 2021, with some exceptions, will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada before exiting the airport, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period. With limited exceptions, air travelers, will also be required to reserve, prior to departure to Canada, a 3-night stay in a government-authorized hotel. Travelers will be able to book their government-authorized stay starting February 18, 2021. These new measures are in addition to existing mandatory pre-boarding and health requirements for air travelers.
- Visitors are prohibited or limited in the workplace.
- We have a work from home policy in place (if needed).
- Ensure workers have the training and strategies required to address the risk of violence that may arise as customers and members of the public adapt to restrictions or modifications to the workplace. Ensure an appropriate violence prevention program is in place.
- Our policy addresses workers who may start to feel ill at work. It includes the following:
- Sick workers should report to first aid, even with mild symptoms.
- Sick workers should be asked to wash or sanitize their hands, provided with a mask, and isolated. Ask the worker to go straight home. [Consult the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool or call 811 for further guidance related to testing and self-isolation.]
- If the worker is severely ill (e.g., difficulty breathing, chest pain), call 911.
- Clean and disinfect any surfaces that the ill worker has come into contact with.
- All faculty, staff, students, contractors and visitors must assess themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms prior to accessing campus property.
- The BC COVID-19 self-assessment tool is available online for conducting self-assessments: https://bc.thrive.health/.
In case student does not remain in quarantine for 14 days
- Only certain persons are exempted from mandatory quarantine when entering Canada for the purposed of performing an essential job when in Canada. This exemption does not apply for anyone who has signs and symptoms of COVID-19. In case Focus College staff becomes aware of a student who is not respecting quarantine period of 14 days start protocol.
- Call student and collect information why the quarantine has not been respected.
- In case the student has a medical notice it must be submitted to Focus College by email covid-19@focuscollege.com
- College will call Public Health Measures (PHA), and a PHO will be responsible for Contact Tracing.
- If the student is enrolled at Kelowna Campus – Report the case to Interior Health Authority / Phone 250-469-7070
- If the student is enrolled at Surrey Campus – Report the case to Fraser Health Authority / Phone 604-531-5512
- Inform student family
Step 4: Develop communication plans and training
Focus College plan ensures that:
- everyone entering the workplace, including visitors, understands how to keep themselves safe while at our workplace.
- A training to ensure staff and others are trained in workplace policies and procedures. All workers have received Focus College policies for staying home when sick.
- Posted signage at our campuses in Kelowna and Surrey, including occupancy limits and effective hygiene practices.
- Managers have been trained to monitor employees and the workplace to ensure policies and procedures are followed.
- Crisis communication plan is prepared to manage effective communications under any critical circumstances.
- Higher management sends regular updates and reminders to staff, students and faculty.
Step 5: Monitor Workplace
- We have a plan in place to monitor risks. We make changes to our policies and procedures as necessary.
- Workers know who to deal with health and safety concerns.
- When resolving safety issues, we will involve joint health and safety committees or worker health and safety representatives (or, in smaller workplaces, other workers).
Step 6: Assess and address risks from resuming operations
- We have a training plan for new staff
- We have a training plan for staff taking on new roles or responsibilities
- Have identified a safe process for clearing rooms and equipment that have been out of use, such as computer labs and classrooms.
New Student Arrival Management
Student Responsibilities
Every student, before travelling to Canada, must prepare a credible 14 days isolation/quarantine plan according the new rules published by federal government to control the spread of COVID-19. Students will be requested to demonstrate that they have a proper place to isolate or quarantine, with access to necessities including food and medication.
Pre-Arrival Communication email
- Focus College has prepared a complete Pre-Arrival email with all the information the student must know in order to plan their trip and their 14 days isolation plan. The Pre-Arrival email includes detailed information for each stage of their trip: Prior to Departure, While Travelling, Upon Arrival and Near the End of Self-Isolation.
- Focus College has created the email address covid-19@focuscollege.com so all students enquires related to travel, COVID-19 safety and blended learning delivery will be sent to this address and responded to by Focus College Team.
- To travel to Canada, you must meet two requirements:
1. Must have valid documents
2. Essential purpose to study in Canada
4. To begin with, you must have one of the following documents:
1. An original valid study permit
2. If you are travelling from any country other than the US, a letter of introduction, or initial study permit approval, issued on or before March 18, 2020
5. Next, you must have either
1. A valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or
2. An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
6. You also must have your Self-Isolation Plan, which is a legal commitment to self-isolate that is enforceable under the Public Health Act.
7. Once the international student and or co-arriving immediate family they must travel from the airport to their place of isolation.
For more information, visit:
- Self-isolation on return to BC (Government of British Columbia)
- Self-isolation and self-monitoring (BCCDC)
As of November 21, 2020, travelers to Canada will be required to submit information digitally; No additional requirement to present a self-isolation plan when entering BC. You can download the federal ArriveCAN app prior to your trip.
Healthy Authority
Surrey: Fraser Health Fraser Health Corporate Office Suite 400, Central City Tower 13450 102nd Ave. Surrey, BC V3T 0H1 Phone: 1 877 935-5669 (toll-free), 604 587-4600 (local) Fax: 604 587-4666 Board Chair: James Hunter Sinclair President and CEO: Dr. Victoria Lee |
Kelowna: Interior Health Interior Health Corporate Office 505 Doyle Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C5 Phone: 250 469-7070 Fax: 250 469-7068 Email: feedback@interiorhealth.ca Board Chair: David Douglas Cochrane President and CEO: Susan Brown |
COVID-19 Case or Outbreak on Focus College Campuses.
As part of Focus College’s Pandemic Response Plan, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is assigned to mitigate risk if a case or an outbreak of COVID-19 happens on any of the College’s campuses or during any of its activities. The plan works by activating a team of managers and a health & safety assistant who work Closely with members of our community who may have been exposed to COVID-19, They will also work with any associated academic and administrative departments, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Interior Health Authority (IHA).
SLT members will communicate with affected individuals to gather information and will offer assistance and guidance on managing their particular case. They work with departments on any necessary infection control actions and they will work with BCCDC on contact tracing or any other requirements VCH may identify.
The Pandemic Response Plan is activated by the President when the College becomes aware that a member of the college community, based on specific symptoms or history, is legally required to self-isolate, or has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and has been on the campus in the last 14 days.
How the plan is activated
If the College is informed that a student, faculty or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and they have been on Focus College premises in the last 14 days, the incident will be reported immediately to the Senior Leadership Team. The President will activate the SLT and relay the contact information about the affected individual.
Business Actions:
- The Senior Management Team will contact the local public health authorities to establish plans to reduce the risk of further transmission at the institution.
- The College will share the information with the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training and assign a staff to provide regular updates on the case or the outbreak status at Focus College.
- All non-essential services and activities will be suspended or moved online.
- The college will provide information and support to any faculty, staff and students potentially exposed.
Focus College will implement outbreak control measures, such as:
1. Activate the Crisis Communications Plan;
2. Post outbreak signs at entrances and affected area;
3. Inform outside agencies that use campus facilities of the outbreak;
4. Initiate enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection;
5. Reinforce the importance of hand hygiene with staff, students and faculty; and
6. Consider the need for closure of the campus if appropriate.
Hygiene Responsibilities
Office staff will be responsible for wiping down their own workstations every day. Office staff will also wipe down public places that have been utilized by visitors and students and a daily basis. Cleaners come to the office weekly and clean all surfaces throughout the office and kitchen area. This will assist in increasing hygiene in the office. Please ensure you work area is as clutter-free as possible so that the cleaners can best sanitize and clean all surface areas.