COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) Information

In BC, we continue to have orders and guidelines in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The good news is that we are in Step 2 of the four-step plan called Restart. That means that our efforts to decrease COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are working! This phased approach focuses on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal. For now, we must continue to physically distance, wear masks indoors, and stay home and get tested if we feel sick.

The most important part of the restart is getting vaccinated. Most folks ages 12 years or older are now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Once you register to get your vaccine, your local Health Authority will contact you to book your vaccine appointment. If you are 12-17 years old, you can book an appointment yourself or go with a parent or guardian if they have an appointment booked.

It can be a bit confusing and overwhelming as information keeps changing frequently, so we’ve summarized the latest key provincial guidelines for you.

Updated Restrictions Summary from Step 2 of the Restart plan starting June 15, 2021:

• Outdoor personal gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. This includes spending time with friends for things like birthday parties and backyard BBQs.
• Indoor seated organized gatherings up to 50 people are allowed. Organized gatherings, such as religious gatherings and going to the movie theatre, must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.
• High intensity group exercise is allowed. This includes activities like spin classes, bootcamps, and hot yoga.
• Youth and adult indoor team sports are allowed. This includes practices, games and tournaments.
• Non-essential travel within BC is allowed. You can go outside of your travel region for recreational travel like camping, tourism activities, and visiting friends and family for social activities.

Here are some general things for everyone to keep in mind to help you and others stay safe:

• Stay at home and away from others when you are feeling sick, even if symptoms are mild.
• Practice good hygiene:
  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cough and sneeze into your elbow or sleeve
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces.
• Keep physical distancing as much as possible when out in the community. Learn more about physical distancing and why it helps during a pandemic.
• Greet people with a wave instead of a handshake, kiss or hug.
• Take care of your mental well-being and practice self-care.

The province is in a new kind of normal which can come with a lot of feelings of stress or anxiety when things still feel uncertain. Learn more about when “normal” might not feel so normal, and how to manage feelings of uncertainty as you find a new routine.

There’s still a lot to deal with right now. It’s important to find the right type of support for you if you need it. Keep in mind that the support you need can change as time passes. For many people, staying connected to family, friends, and loved ones is important. It is encouraged that you keep up with these connections virtually or remotely via phone, text, or email.

Where can I go to get support?

• Foundry’s provincial virtual services – Young people aged 12-24 and their caregivers can utilize the Foundry BC app to access drop-in or schedule virtual counselling appointments, find peer support, join a group or browse our library of tools and resources.
• Find a Foundry centre in your community – Foundry centres are now re-introducing in person services, but will continue to offer select services virtually – over the phone or video chat. Please call your local Foundry centre for the most up to date information on service availability.
• Kids Help Phone – text CONNECT to 686868 (text STOP, if you would like to stop the conversation)
• Try Pathfinder, Foundry’s 4-step tool to help you find personalized support options
• Find other support options on our Get Support page

Changes to Foundry Centres

The safety, health and well-being of our young people and their families, staff and our community partners is our top priority. We’ve taken a number of measures at Foundry centres to ensure we are aligned with BC Centre for Disease Control’s recommendations. A few of these measures include:

• Plexiglass barriers at reception desk and waiting areas seating being spread out to accommodate for physical distancing
• Staff members practicing physical distancing and being equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, etc.
• Adjusting service hours to decrease number of people in center at once
• Hand sanitizer or alcohol-based hand rub being available throughout the centre
• Thorough cleaning of all shared equipment (including Toolbox iPads) after each client and all other areas of centre cleaned multiple times throughout the day

Resources available regarding COVID-19

• For non-medical information about COVID-19 call 1 888 COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. or text message 604-630-0300. Information is available in more than 110 languages.
• The BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool  can help you decide if you need testing for COVID-19. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or for someone else, if they are not able to.

Information is changing frequently. Check the BCCDC website for the latest on COVID-19.

Foundry’s Response to COVID-19

REPORT 2: March 16 – December 31st, 2020
Find out more about Foundry’s response through our COVID-19 Report

Report 1: March 16th – July 3rd, 2020
Find out more about Foundry’s response through our COVID-19 Report