First case of COVID-19 reported in region

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 has been reported in the Vancouver Island region. Currently, no cases of COVID-19 have been reported at the University of Victoria. The university is open and is continuing to monitor the situation closely. Please see the Mar. 10 update on the university’s response from President Jamie Cassels and EOC Director Kane Kilbey.

The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus is our highest priority. The Medical Health Officer advises that washing your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based gel is the single most effective precaution you can take to keep yourself healthy and prevent the spread of the virus.

Help us protect everyone’s health. If you have even slight cold or flu symptoms (fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat), please stay at home until your symptoms have completely disappeared. Instructors have been advised that medical documentation of illness is no longer required from students for absences of less than two weeks.

If you are concerned about the intensity or duration of your symptoms, please contact your doctor or call HealthLinkBC, a free provincial health information and advice phone line, at 8-1-1.

For more information and updates as they become available, please continue to visit the COVID-19 website.