Respiratory Infections

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BC Policies and Guidelines

Provincial Policies

Policy Communiqué: Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Preventing Viral Respiratory Illness
May 2, 2024
BC Ministry of Health

Provincial Influenza Prevention Policy
Office of the Provincial Health Officer

Viral Respiratory Illness IPC Guidelines

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Health Care Settings
Created by: Public Health Agency of Canada
Updated: November 9 2024

Updated Viral Respiratory Illness setting-specific guidance – coming soon!

Respiratory Infection Outbreak Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities
Created By: Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia (PICNet)
November 2018

Notice: We are currently in the process of updating the Respiratory Infection Outbreak Guidelines for Health Care Facilities. We will notify our community of practice and partners once the guidelines are revised and approved for publication.

Provincial IPC Guidelines for Portable Fans in Health Care Settings in BC
Created by: PICNet
Updated October 2023

Provincial IPC Guidelines for Preventing Viral Respiratory Illness in Community Immunization Clinics
Created by: PICNet and BC Ministry of Health
Updated October 2023

Provincial Guidance on Return to Work and Exposure Management for Health Care Workers with Viral Respiratory Illness
Created by: PICNet and BC Ministry of Health
Updated October 2023

Position Statements

COVID-19: Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Transmission in Health-Care Settings (Archived Sep 27, 2023)
Author: PICNet
The information contained in this document has been archived and is made available for historical referencing only. The content is no longer being updated and therefore, may not reflect current information or recommendations.

Indoor Ventilation Resources

Ventilation is an integral part of an overall strategy to provide acceptable air quality in health-care facilities. Acceptable ventilation helps to reduce the spread of communicable respiratory infectious agents, including respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, when used in combination with other infection prevention and control and public health measures.

The following resources are provided as an adjunct to support health-care facilities and services in optimizing ventilation:

WorkSafeBC. Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Indoor Air Quality – Design and Operation (Part 4, Section 72).
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (2022). Standard 62.1-2022 – Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (ANSI Approved).
WorkSafeBC (2022). Prevent the spread of communicable disease: Ventilation and air circulation.
Canadian Standards Association. (2019). CSA Z317.2:19 Special requirements for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in health care facilities.
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2021). Using Ventilation and filtration to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care homes.
Public Health Agency of Canada (2022). COVID-19: Guidance on indoor ventilation during the pandemic.
World Health Organization. (2021). Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19.
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. (2022). ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.
American Society of Health Care Engineering. (2022). Ventilation Quick Guides.
American Society of Health Care Engineering. (2023). ASHRAE 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols.

Archived COVID-19 Surgical Resources

The information contained in these documents has been archived and are made available for historical referencing only. The content is no longer being updated and therefore, may not reflect current information or recommendations.