While we hope everyone is enjoying the start of spring, we would also like to remind you about new and ongoing restrictions in BC so we can all stay safe and healthy:

• • No Indoor gatherings of any size. Do not host parties or events, and do not invite friends inside your residence.
  • If you want to meet with friends outside, it must be the same group of people and no more than 10 at one time. Please keep your masks on if you are unable to socially distance.
  • Restaurants: only eat at restaurants with people who you live with.

Everyone is now required to stay within their local areas and reduce non-essential travel. You are allowed essential travel, which includes coming to VGC to study on-campus.

Please do not travel to other areas for vacation and recreation purposes.

Continue wearing your mask in indoor spaces and when you cannot keep 2 meters apart from someone. Continue sanitizing your hands as much as possible and self-assessing for COVID-19 symptoms every day.

Effective April 23, 2021, the Day-10 test has changed to Day-8 for travellers entering Canada. If you arrived in Canada before April 23, you must still take your test on Day 10 of your quarantine.

For the full update, please go to “Flying to Canada: COVID-19 testing for Travellers”.

The new BC Government guidelines state that everyone must wear masks in the classroom as well as common areas of the school until at least April 19th. We will keep everyone up to date about any changes.

Please also find below the updated restrictions regarding socializing etc. All VGC students and staff members are expected to follow these guidelines:

Social Gatherings Restrictions

• No indoor social gatherings of any size at private residences allowed.
• Up to 10 people can gather outdoors with continued use of COVID-19 layers of protection such as maintaining physical distancing and mask wearing.

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Food Courts

• Restaurants, pubs, bars and food courts are closed for indoor dining until April 19 at midnight.
• Outdoor patio seating and take-out or delivery is allowed with continued use of COVID-19 layers of protection and physical distancing.

In addition, the Public Health Officer strongly recommends:

• Avoiding all non-essential travel. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.

Thank you for your co-operation.

IRCC has clarified that travellers who are less than 18 years of age are exempt from the 3-night hotel stay. If a student is 18 years or older, they must book a 3-night hotel stopover before proceeding to their place of quarantine.

Please visit COVID-19 mandatory hotel stopover: About for more details.

Students arriving in Canada will be required to get tested before exiting the airport. Take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival in Canada. To save time at the airport, register in advance for your arrival test by clicking here.

For more detailed information about COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Canada (test at the airport and during your quarantine) please visit the IRCC website Flying to Canada: COVID-19 testing for travellers.

Travellers will also be given a kit to take a test during the quarantine period. For an instructional video please click here.

As of February 22, 2021, all travellers arriving in Canada will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in the country before they exit the airport, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period.

Travellers will also have to reserve, prior to departure, a 3-night stay in a government-authorized hotel. Travellers who receive a negative test will, after these three days, proceed to their place of isolation to finish their 14-day quarantine. Ten days into their quarantine, they will use a take-home test provided at their arrival in Canada. A further clear result is required before leaving quarantine at 14 days.

Travellers who receive a positive test result after the initial test must be prepared to pay for additional hotel isolation should they receive a positive result.

All hotels will be located near one of the 4 Canadian airports currently accepting international flights, including Vancouver International Airport.

It is important to remember that the prior requirements are still in place. Travellers must still take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure from their home country and submit all required information into the ArriveCAN app before and after arriving in Canada.

A list of government-approved hotels for the mandatory 3-night stay upon arrivel can be found under the following link:

• • List of government authorized hotels 

For more detailed information please refer to the following weblinks:

• • Canada.ca Latest Travel and Health Advice
  • Information on COVID-19 mandatory hotel stopover
  • News release regarding updated travel restrictions from February 12, 2021