COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) Information

In BC, we have made progress in the fight against COVID-19 with the steps we have all taken to slow the spread of the virus. Plans and guidelines are now in place to continue to control the spread of the virus.

Here are some things to keep in mind during this time:

• 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.

Masks can act as a barrier and help stop the spread of droplets from a person’s mouth and nose when talking, laughing, yelling, singing, coughing, or sneezing. Using only a mask is not enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and should be combined with other preventative measures. For more information on masks and how they help during COVID-19, see our article here.

As the province moves into a new kind of normal, it can come with a lot of feelings of stress or anxiety when things still feel uncertain. Learn more when “normal” might not feel so normal, and how to manage feelings of uncertainty as you find a new routine.

There’s 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.

Where can I go to get support?

• Foundry Virtual – Foundry is now offering virtual drop-in counselling sessions by voice, video and chat to young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers.

• 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 person 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

Find out more about Foundry’s response through our COVID-19 Report.