As students prepare to return to colleges and universities this fall, B.C.’s Advanced Education Minister says a proof of vaccination will be required for students living in student housing and for some aspects of on-campus life.

Anne Kang also says a mask order will apply to all indoor public areas on a college or university campus including lobbies, hallways, stairwells, elevators, and classrooms, similar to a requirement in schools affecting all staff as well as students in grades 4 and up.

“In July, a team of experts released a COVID-19 return to campus plan recognizing that guidelines would require periodic updates to align with evolving pandemic health guidance,” Kang said. “The guidelines are being updated to reflect the new mask order and the proof of vaccination requirement, in particular for students living in student housing.”

“For campus life, people must be vaccinated in order to live in students housing, to go to a pub, to go to gym including varsity students. That same proof of vaccination will also be required for activities that can be a big part of student life like indoor concerts.”

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, added that officials are balancing the requirements with where the risk is, noting vaccines will not be required for post secondary students if they are only attending classes, unless they’re in the health sciences field.

“The risk really is in communal living settings that we have seen transmission … that’s why we’re focusing on the increase and importance of immunization in those settings,” she said.

“We know the classroom setting is the least of the risky settings … we don’t believe there is a need for a vaccine mandate for students to receive in-class education.”

Kang also noted that universities may also require proof-of-vaccination that go beyond the provincial mandate, though Henry later clarified that it will only apply to faculty and staff, not students.

“Those that do so should work with public health and will be responsible for doing their own due diligence,” Kang said. “I am confident that the new vaccine requirements on campus, the mandatory masks will keep people on campus safe and give students, faculty and staff the confidence they need for a successful return to campus.”

Students living on campus will have until Sept. 7 to prove they’ve had at least one vaccine dose. Yesterday, B.C. health officials announced plans to require people be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to attend some social and recreational events in the province.

During that same Tuesday press conference, Henry announced the return of the indoor mask mandate across British Columbia, effective midnight.

At Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, there will be a vaccine clinic set up on campus at the Campus Activity Centre’s Alpine Room where anyone in the TRU community can go get vaccinated, if they haven’t done so already.

“For the first two weeks [starting Aug. 23], the clinic will be open Monday to Friday before moving to Tuesdays and Fridays.

As well, there will be a COVID-19 rapid testing clinic on the Kamloops campus, starting next month.

“The confidential and free service will be available to asymptomatic faculty, staff and students,” TRU said, in a statement, noting more details will be coming soon.