July 7, 2021 Update
On July 1, the Government of Alberta lifted most public health restrictions as part of its Open for Summer plan. Masks are still required on public transit and in health-care settings, and individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19 must still quarantine. All other public health restrictions have eased.
This week, city councillors voted to repeal the mask bylaw in Calgary. Mandatory masks had been required in all public buildings and businesses in our city since last August.
Please read here how this affects Columbia College – Update July 7 2021 – Masks, Health Screenings, and Doors.
July 7, 2021 Update
On July 1, the Government of Alberta lifted most public health restrictions as part of its Open for Summer plan. Masks are still required on public transit and in health-care settings, and individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19 must still quarantine. All other public health restrictions have eased.
This week, city councillors voted to repeal the mask bylaw in Calgary. Mandatory masks had been required in all public buildings and businesses in our city since last August.
Please read here how this affects Columbia College – Update July 7 2021 – Masks, Health Screenings, and Doors.
June 16, 2021 Update
Effective Thursday May 20, 2021 Alberta’s Quarantine requirements have changed for asymptomatic immunized close contacts. AHS CDC will implement this change on Friday May 21, 2021.
- Individuals who are fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine are no longer required to quarantine for 14 days if they are a close contact of a COVID-19 case and have no symptoms themselves.
- Individuals who are partially vaccinated with one dose of vaccine for at least 14 days will have a shortened quarantine period if they are a close contact of a confirmed case.
- Asymptomatic individuals would be required to quarantine for 10 days with the recommendation to get tested on day 7 or later and be released from quarantine on receipt of negative test results.
- All Albertans with symptoms are required to isolate and be tested if they develop COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are vaccinated with 1 or 2 doses.
- Cases must continue to isolate from household members even if the household members are fully or partially immunized.
- All close contacts should continue to be notified regardless of immunization status.
- The close contacts who are notified via SMS or letter will be directed to www.ahs.ca/quarantineaftervaccine if they have been immunized.
- Immunocompromised individuals who are fully or partially immunized may not respond as well to immunization, however they do not have different legal quarantine requirements if they are exposed to a COVID-19 case. Provide quarantine requirements based on immunization status and request they speak to their health care provider to determine if a longer duration of quarantine is required based on their health.
- Quarantine changes do not apply to international travelers returning to Canada. International travelers must comply with the 14-day quarantine required by the federal Quarantine Act.
May 6, 2021 Update
Alberta has entered a critical stage of the pandemic – the arrival of highly transmissible variants have put pressure on our health care system. Public health measures are required to protect the health system and reduce the rising spread of COVID-19 province wide.
Alberta’s government announcement on Tuesday, May 4th introduced new measures, many of which directly affect post-secondary education providers. Most importantly, effective Wednesday May 5, post-secondary providers are to transition to online programming.
Courses that are currently being delivered by a virtual class through Teams will continue to run at their regularly scheduled time. Please refer to the Government of Alberta website https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx for details on these new measures.
As additional information specific to the post-secondary context is available, we will provide further updates.
April 21, 2021 Update
The College would like to address the covid-19 variants and how they are impacting the college, the students, and the staff. Please see the document here – Variants of Concern for Alberta Update
March 22, 2021 Update
At this time, Columbia College will continue to deliver classes virtually through online classes, unless otherwise directed for specialized classes in specific programs (i.e. Practical Nurse and Dental Assistant labs).
Columbia College is committed to protect our colleagues, loved ones and our communities. It has been identified and confirmed that COVID-19 is highly transmissible in social settings. We urge you to be diligent and follow public health guidelines. The government of Alberta has created the following advice in regards to social settings. Click here to review this document.
Columbia College will continue to adhere to all mandatory restrictions in place under the advisory of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Please find the most up to date information by following this link from Alberta Health Services in relation to Mental Health Resources during COVID-19.
Please see the attached document regarding COVID-19 Vaccine – Questions & Answers for the Public and Health Care Practioners. Additional information can be found online at: Alberta’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
January 4, 2021 Update
At this time, Columbia College will continue to deliver classes virtually through online classes, unless otherwise directed for specialised classes in specific programs (i.e. Practical Nurse and Dental Assistant labs).
Columbia College is committed to protect our colleagues, loved ones and our communities. It has been identified and confirmed that COVID-19 is highly transmissible in social settings. We urge you to be diligent and follow public health guidelines. The government of Alberta has created the following advice in regards to social settings. Click here to review this document.
Columbia College will continue to adhere to all mandatory restrictions in place under the advisory of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
December 17, 2020 Update
To continue to protect our colleagues, loved ones and our communities, we must be mindful of the role we all play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season.
It is has been found that COVID-19 is highly transmissible in social settings. We urge you to be diligent and follow the public health guidelines. The Government of Alberta has created the following advice in regards to social gatherings. Click here to review this document.
We wish you a safe and happy holiday.
The college will adhere to all mandatory restrictions in place on our return on the 4th January 2021.
October 8, 2020 Update
To protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities, we must be mindful of the role we all play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during holidays.
COVID-19 is highly transmissible in social settings. One infected person could cause many people attending the same gathering to become ill. We urge you to be diligent, follow public health guidance, and have safe and happy holidays. The Government of Alberta has created the following advice to host and attend a Thanksgiving activity safely. Click here to review this document.
Update – August 26, 2020
For the safety of our campus community, at Columbia College all students, faculty, staff, as well as visitors to campus, will be required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces beginning Aug. 17th 2020. This decision was made to align with the City of Calgary COVID-19 Face Coverings Bylaw.
Update – June 9, 2020
Columbia College takes the safety of our staff and students seriously and will follow the direction from the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services during this unprecedented time. Currently, classes at Columbia College are running via virtual classroom where students may engage in a combination of communication tools such as chats, video conferences, teleconferences, and other online tools from the comfort and safety of their own home. Students follow a daily schedule and move through their coursework with their facilitator and their classmates. We will continue to follow this method of course delivery until the government and the college deems it safe for students to return to the campus.
This process of returning to face-to-face classes will be completed in steps where currently the college is doing all classes virtually and will move towards a combination of onsite and virtual classes all the way up until we can move completely back to all classes being done at the college. In the meantime, students are being provided with support to begin or continue their individual educational journey. Our President, Program Chairs, Managers, faculty, advisors, and all staff are here to help and support you.
Update – March 20, 2020
Office Hours are being changed to 8:30 am – 4:30 pm effective today, March 20, 2020. The front door will be locked during office hours. The office will not accept any cash payments, all payments must be done online or call the main office and we can accept payment over the phone. The Office number is 403-235-9300 ext 0.
Update – March 18, 2020
Each program is beginning to post their plans online. Please watch your program page for details. Department should be in contact with all students by the end of the week. Please call us if you have additional questions. The office number is 403-235-9300.
Update – March 15, 2020 – Onsite Classes Cancelled
As per the government’s directive, all classes held onsite at Columbia College have been cancelled for Monday, March 16th, 2020.
Please Note: every department at the College is working on a plan on different ways to deliver each program (such as at a distance) so that students may complete their education. Students will be contacted by their departments by the end of the day on Monday, March 16th, 2020 with the plan for their program.
Status in Alberta
For up-to-date information on the situation within Alberta, please visit the Government of Alberta’s website for COVID-19 coronavirus info.
Overview of COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause respiratory illness in people, ranging from mild common colds to severe illnesses. Novel coronaviruses are new strains of the virus that have not been previously identified in humans.
At this time, many patients who have contracted COVID-19 have reported only mild symptoms. COVID-19 is believed to be spread mainly through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or with surfaces they have recently touched.
For more information about COVID-19, please consult the following websites:
Prevention
To minimize the spread of any respiratory virus (including things like the flu/influenza and COVID-19), Alberta Health Services recommends the following:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if hands are not visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag.
- If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands immediately after coughing and/or sneezing.
- Stay home if you’re sick.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are shared and used often.
