An air quality advisory has been issued for the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver due to high concentrations of particulate matter in the air from wildfires in the western United States.
Environment Canada is recommending people with chronic underlying medical conditions postpone or reduce outdoor physical activity or strenuous exercise and follow advice of their healthcare providers.
While the majority of UFV classes and work will continue to occur remotely, if you are required to come to a UFV campus, please follow these tips:
- Continue to manage medical conditions like asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, and heart conditions. If symptoms continue seek medical attention.
- Maintain physical distancing to minimize exposure to COVID-19. More information on UFV, COVID-19, and Safe Return to Campus is available here.
- While on campus close windows to minimize the passage of particulate matter into buildings.
- Minimize time spent outdoors. Due to the pandemic, UFV has changed air filters in intakes across campuses to MERV-13 filters. These filters remove contaminant particles and help reduce particulates from forest fires, bacteria, most tobacco smoke, sneeze particles, dust, auto emissions, and welding fumes.
- Stay cool and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
This air quality advisory is expected to continue until the current weather pattern changes. For more information and to monitor air quality please visit the BC Air Quality Index site.