COVID-19 Allard School of Law Community Updates

BC’s high vaccination rates and declining COVID-19 case counts mean that as of July 1 we have moved to Stage 3 in the Restart Plan.  The following is a summary of what this means for operations at the law school this summer.

New UBC COVID Safety Plans

UBC has adopted new COVID-19 Campus Rules and campus-wide COVID safety plans effective July 1, 2021, to align with Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan. These replace the law school safety plans under which we have been operating over the past several months. Under the new UBC safety plans, many of the controls previously in place have now been lifted, including building/area occupancy limits. The older COVID safety plan signage at Allard Hall was removed earlier this week and will be replaced as needed with signage consistent with the new safety plans. The following controls will remain in place throughout all areas of Allard Hall and the UBC campus:

• Completing Daily Health Assessments: The daily self-assessment remains a requirement of everyone coming to Allard Hall. If you are experience cold or flu-like symptoms, or other symptoms of COVID, please stay home.
• Respiratory Etiquette and Hand Hygiene: Occupants are expected to practice respiratory etiquette by coughing/sneezing into their mask, a tissue or into the sleeve of their shirt. Occupants are also expected to regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or make use of hand sanitizer stations. Hand sanitizer stations managed by Building Operations are available in the main building entrance/foyer. There are also pump bottles in kitchen areas and photocopy rooms.  Everyone is encouraged to carry their own hand sanitizer.
• Careful Social Contact - Managing Contacts and Limiting Close Interactions: Throughout campus, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to limit the number of close sustained contacts with others, which includes avoiding situations where large groups of individuals congregate in shared areas. Occupants are expected to not linger, wait or loiter in hallways, corridors, foyers and other spaces that are intended for travel.

Non-medical masks are recommended, in alignment with Step 3 of the BC Restart Plan, in indoor common spaces like hallways, washrooms, elevators, etc. for adults who are not fully immunized (2 doses of vaccine plus 14 days). Everyone is welcome to continue to wear a mask for as long as they wish. UBC has provided guidance on respectful engagement regarding non-medical masks and the campus rules (PDF).

The COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Guidelines (PDF) of July 5, 2021, provided by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, state that “post-secondary institutions should not introduce COVID-19 prevention measures that are different from those supported by public health professionals.” Following this, the law school will not be introducing or implementing additional COVID-19 prevention measures.

Access to Allard Hall remains restricted to students who are registered for in-person instruction for the 2021 Summer Session.

A daily self-assessment remains a requirement of everyone coming onto the UBC campus. Please use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool and follow all directives provided. Please stay home if you have cold or flu symptoms.

Effective July 1, 2021, following public health guidance non-medical masks are recommended in indoor common spaces at UBC for all people 12 and older who are not yet fully vaccinated. Proof of vaccination is not required. You are fully vaccinated 14 days after your second dose of vaccine. For more information on UBC’s mask policy, please consult the UBC COVID-19 Campus Rules and UBC’s statement on respectful engagement regarding non-medical masks (PDF).