COVID-19 Update

It is mandatory for SFU community members to submit Vaccine Declarations. Declarations are used to inform SFU’s Safety Plan to encourage the community to get vaccinated and to help SFU plan for safety measures on campus including rapid screening. Getting vaccinated is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our community from COVID-19. All students, staff and faculty must submit a COVID-19 Vaccine Declaration.

Deadline to submit your vaccine declaration is Friday, November 5th, 2021. To learn more on how to submit your vaccination status, visit this website.

On guidance from the Provincial Health Officer and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, and in light of rising COVID-19 cases as a result of the Delta variant, non-medical masks must be worn in all indoor common areas and learning spaces on our campuses starting August 25.

SFU will also use the BC Vaccine Card for specified activities and events, starting September 13.

The FHS Dean’s office remains closed. To contact FHS staff or faculty, see the People page of the FHS website.

FHS Welcome Back Video

We're excited to have you all return to SFU's campuses!

To help us all adapt to being back in-person, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) professor and dean, Tania Bubela, provides advice and resources to keep in mind as you and other FHS community members return to campus.

If you would like to access the links in the video, you can download a transcript or the presentation:

Video transcript

Powerpoint presentation

SFU is currently at Stage 3 of 4 in its Campus Recovery Plan. Information about new protocols and requirements can be found here. These requirements supersede FHS requirements that were in place before July 21st.

Any questions regarding the transition to SFU’s university wide Communicable Disease Plan should be sent to covid19@sfu.ca.

The FHS Dean’s office remains closed. To contact FHS staff or faculty, see the People page of the FHS website.

• BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has advised all public colleges and universities to prepare for a full return to campus in the fall.

• SFU is working toward a safe return to our campuses by planning around two scenarios guided by a four-stage return to campus plan. SFU is currently in stage 2 of 4 in its Campus Recovery Plan. The plan outlines broad guidelines on how we conduct research and learning. As more information becomes available, SFU will make a decision by the end of May 2021.

• All current protocols and requirements for on campus presence remain unchanged. Visit SFU's FAQ page to learn more about campus-wide COVID-19 protocols.

General guidelines for anyone coming to campus:

• Everyone must conduct a self-assessment every day before they come to campus using the Thrive Health App:  https://bc.thrive.health/
• All common/lunch rooms remain closed.
• Study spaces only for individual use (no pairs or groups).
• Mask wearing is now REQUIRED in all indoor public common areas, including elevators, hallways, group or break rooms, kitchens, customer counters, teaching labs, classrooms, and all research spaces including wet lab spaces.
• No in-person meetings, events or programs unless they relate to approved activities.
• No visitors to campus unless they are assisting with a core service or their invitation is approved by the FHS Dean.

Are you teaching an in-person class? Continue as approved for the current academic term. Accommodate students as necessary.

Do you have an approved safety plan/permission for research on campus? The permission continues in place. However, graduate students cannot be required to work on campus.

• Conduct as much work as possible remotely.
• Minimize time on campus.
• Minimize time on public transit.
• The daily self-assessment MUST be completed and it is up to lab heads/research group leads to both set the example and ensure that safety measures are being followed.

Steps for FHS to follow in order to obtain approval to work in any FHS facilities:

1. Consult with your direct supervisor to determine if it is absolutely necessary to be on campus
2. Read this document.
3. Complete the SFU Canvas Course: https://canvas.sfu.ca/enroll/XM9EYR
4. For faculty members and research staff send an email to fhsdean@sfu.ca copying lrad@sfu.ca attesting you have read the document and completed the Canvas course by attaching the certificate of completion and a rationale of why you need to be on campus, date and time.
5. For FHS staff, you only need to email lrad@sfu.ca and follow the same process.
6. Conduct a self-assessment before you come to campus. Please use the following link to access the assessment: https://bc.thrive.health/
   • Faculty members, sessionals and limited term instructors need to email their self-assessment confirmation to fhs_covid@sfu.ca
   • Research personnel and teaching assistants need to email their self-assessment confirmation to their direct faculty supervisor
   • FHS staff need to email their self-assessment confirmation to their direct supervisor

Note that if you are granted permission, you must conduct a self-assessment every day before you come to campus using the Thrive Health App: https://bc.thrive.health/ and confirm you have passed the assessment as per the instructions above.

The FHS Dean’s office remains closed. To contact FHS staff or faculty, see the People page of the FHS website.

• Blusson9650-HSCI440-COVID-Safety Plan.pdf - Blusson Hall Teaching Laboratory HSCI 440 Cell Pathophysiology Laboratory COVID-19 Safety Plan
  
• FHS Return to Work.pdf - This document outlines the principles and instructions to ensure a safe resumption of activities

• New public health orders were issued on Thursday, November 19 for the entire province of British Columbia. SFU remains at H1 on our COVID-19 impact scale and continues to limit non-essential meetings, travel to campus and gatherings, while keeping essential services, student support, research and teaching operational.
• Everyone must conduct a self-assessment every day before they come to campus using the Thrive Health App:  https://bc.thrive.health/
• All common/lunch rooms remain closed.
• Study spaces only for individual use (no pairs or groups).
• NEW: Mask wearing is now REQUIRED in all indoor public common areas, including elevators, hallways, group or break rooms, kitchens, customer counters, teaching labs, classrooms, and all research spaces including wet lab spaces.
• No in-person meetings, events or programs unless they relate to approved activities.
• No visitors to campus unless they are assisting with a core service or their invitation is approved by the FHS Dean.

• Following the new public health orders issued on Saturday, November 7 for the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, SFU is moving back to H1 (from H2) on our COVID-19 impact scale. This is a move back to limiting non-essential meetings, travel to campus and gatherings, while keeping essential services, student support, research and teaching operational.
• NEW: Everyone must conduct a self-assessment every day before they come to campus using the Thrive Health App:  https://bc.thrive.health/
• All common/lunch rooms remain closed.
• NEW: Study spaces only for individual use (no pairs or groups).
• MASK WEARING EXPECTED IN INDOOR COMMON AREAS ON CAMPUS!
• NEW: No in-person meetings, events or programs unless they relate to approved activities.
• NEW: No visitors to campus unless they are assisting with a core service or their invitation is approved by the FHS Dean.

• All FHS activities that can be conducted remotely should be conducted remotely. Any on-campus activities in FHS facilities must receive authorization by the Dean.  All members of FHS must follow the steps and receive permission from the Dean before coming to campus.  Wearing masks is strongly recommended. 
• Please read and complete these updated documents if you need to work in FHS facilities
• Blusson9650-HSCI440-COVID-Safety Plan.pdf
• FHS Return to Work.pdf

Please stay up-to-date (including the status of on-campus services) at SFU's COVID-19 FAQ page: www.sfu.ca/covid19

• The Dean's Office is closed, however FHS staff and faculty can be reached by email. View FHS Contact List here 
• To ensure safety, new security measures have been put in place. The majority of perimeter doors for all buildings and all campuses will now be locked, with specific doors unlocked between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm weekdays. On request and with advance notice, Campus Public Safety could arrange access outside these hours. To arrange access, please contact 778-782-7991. Delays may be expected.
• Blusson Hall remains open. Access is available only to SFU community members who present SFU identification, such as your SFU ID or business card (or other similar documentation). Uniformed security guards will be present to check SFU ID and log access for safety purposes. Please follow appropriate social distancing and personal hygiene measures.
• SFU has moved to remote research. Please refer to the FAQs on the SFU Research website for further information.
  
  
  

SFU has discontinued all in-person teaching, including in-person exams, for the rest of the semester. Plans should now be in place for all Spring term classes.  Students - please check your SFU email accounts and CANVAS course pages for information from your instructors about how your individual classes will be proceeding.

All SFU campuses and the Health Sciences building remain open, including computer labs. Graduate students, undergraduate students and research personnel can continue to access and work in health sciences laboratories under direction from their supervisors and if social distancing can be maintained. Please refer to the FAQs on the SFU Research website for further information.

The Dean's Office is closed, however FHS staff and faculty can be reached by email. View FHS Contact List here

Please stay up-to-date (including the status of on-campus services) at our COVID-19 FAQ page: www.sfu.ca/covid19

SFU will discontinue any in-person teaching, including in-person exams, for the rest of the semester. Students - please check your SFU email accounts and CANVAS course pages for information from your instructors about how your individual classes will be proceeding. Instructors will have a plan in place by/before Thursday, March 19.

All SFU campuses and the Health Sciences building remain open, including computer labs. Graduate students and undergraduate thesis students can continue to access and work in health sciences laboratories.

The WAC Bennett Library in Burnaby will be open 9 am-5 pm Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 20. After March 20, WAC Bennett Library will remain closed until further notice. 

Please stay up-to-date (including the status of on-campus services) at our COVID-19 FAQ page: www.sfu.ca/covid19

SFU is following information and recommendations about COVID-19 from regional and provincial health officers. Although the risk in BC remains low, we are taking appropriate steps to ensure continuity for students. Following the direction of the chief medical office to maximize social distancing, the Faculty of Health Sciences is suspending all in-class instruction beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 for the remainder of the term. 

Instructors will be notifying students about instructional and assessment alternatives, including online alternatives in the coming days. 

All SFU campuses and the Health Sciences building will remain open, including computer labs. The library also remains open.

Graduate students and undergraduate thesis students can continue to access and work in health sciences laboratories.

Please stay up-to-date at our COVID-19 FAQ page: www.sfu.ca/covid19