COVID-19 update: Maintaining masks in UBC public indoor spaces

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Today, the BC Provincial Health Officer, Dr Bonnie Henry, announced that the Public Health Order requiring masks to be worn in public indoor spaces is lifted as of March 11, 2022. You can read more at https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0081-000324.

The latest changes indicate that while face coverings will be optional for people in all indoor public settings, individual organizations can choose to continue to require mask wearing on their premises. As such, UBC will continue with the current approach, requiring masks to be worn in public indoor spaces on both campuses, until the end of the 2021/22 Winter Session on April 30, 2022. Learn more about the UBC COVID-19 Campus Rules at https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/ubc-campus-rules-guidance-documents/.

Students who are attending academic activities in settings outside of the university campuses are still required to wear a mask if mandated in such settings (for example, health care settings).

Students in residence

As a reminder, students in residence are still bound by a separate Public Health Order until April 8, 2022. You can learn more at:

As you know, public health partners continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19, its variants and the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses across the province. Should there be any changes to public health guidance, UBC is well positioned to re-introduce safety measures, should they be required.

We urge all members of our community to receive their COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. As we approach spring, we would also like to thank our students, faculty and staff for their commitment to the university. Let’s continue to support one another, and create a safe environment for all members of the UBC community.

Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor

Lesley Cormack
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan


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