As the province loosens pandemic guidelines and GBC moves forward with the removal of its vaccination policy for the Spring term, Executive Director of the Canadian Public Health Association Ian Culbert is wary of an emerging COVID-19 variant.

“We need to remain constantly vigilant, given the possibility of new variants and the possibility of future outbreaks,” Culbert said when asked for his thoughts on relaxing restrictions at the college.

Lifting constraints with the onset of the season changing does spark some anxiety over what could result in an emergence of a new variant. However, since each variant may have significantly different characteristics, there is no possible way of predicting an outbreak just yet.

“What the Canadian Health Association is doing is monitoring wastewater in major centres to see if there will be an increase of viral load presence,” said Culbert. “That would be the earliest indication. And we wouldn’t know its severity until it actually shows up in humans.”

Culbert remarked that while it is natural to be concerned, GBC’s removal of its vaccination policy is in accordance with provincial guidelines. When the provincial government lifts a mandate, it is very difficult for public institutions to maintain independent rulings without opening themselves up to discrimination lawsuits.

“The college is in a situation where they have no choice but to lift its policy,” Culbert said.

There is no telling whether easing restrictions will have significant consequences for the spread of the coronavirus.

Students are still encouraged to get fully vaccinated, including a third booster dose, and to continue practicing social distancing and proper hygiene habits to limit the possibility of a new variant emerging.