BC Policies and Guidelines

Provincial Policies

Policy Communiqué: Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Viral Respiratory Illness Season
October 13, 2023
BC Ministry of Health

Provincial Influenza Prevention Policy
Office of the Provincial Health Officer

Viral Respiratory Illness IPC Guidelines

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 Guideline for 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

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Health Care Settings
Created by: PICNet
Updated: June 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The information contained in this document has been archived and is made available for historical referencing only. The content is no longer being updated and therefore, may not reflect current information or recommendations.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

October 5, 2023

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 (1989). Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.
• 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.

Guidelines from Other Jurisdictions

SARS-CoV-2

Infection prevention and control for coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Interim guidance for acute healthcare settings
Created By: PHAC
2020

MERS-CoV

Guidance for Acute Care Settings Regarding Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infections
Created By: PIDAC
2013

PHAC Interim Guidance for MERS-CoV in Acute Care Settings
Created By: Public Health Agency of Canada
2013

Influenza

Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Healthcare Workers in Acute Care and Long-term Care Settings: Seasonal Influenza
Created By: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
December 2010

Seasonal Influenza – Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Management in Home Care Settings
Created By: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
2012

Prevention and control for health care settings: Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Planning Guidance for the Health Sector.
Created By: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
April 2021

Pneumonia

Infection Control Guideline for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia
Created By: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
May 2010