COVID-19: Flatten The Curve

MoveUP on COVID-19

During these difficult and unprecedented times with the whole world dealing with the pandemic that is the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), it is important for all us to remember that while our public health officials urging us to maintain our social distance, that does not equate for us to increase our social isolation.

Real people are being affected by these events. They may be our family, our friends, our colleagues, and our fellow union members.

This is a time where we have to remember to support one another, so we can get through this.

Stay Informed

As the situation around COVID-19 is constantly evolving, we are making it a priority to keep our members frequently updated. The majority of our member-to-member communication is done through email. If you have previously unsubscribed to our mailing list, we encourage you to resubscribe by clicking here.

For those who would like even more routine updates, you can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter here.

*Information on Fall 2022 Booster Shot*

*BC COVID-19 measures*

*Three hours paid leave to get your COVID-19 vaccine*

*Legislated paid sick leave in BC*

Vaccine passes/records by province

British Columbia*
Alberta*
Manitoba*
Saskatchewan*
Ontario*
Quebec*

*no longer in effect

A human rights approach to proof of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic – British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner

Vaccine conversations

COVID-19 Resources Canada offers virtual, kitchen-table Q&As and workshops to answer YOUR questions about the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and providing workshops to support the conversations in your community about whether or not to get vaccinated.

Learn more

Valid contraindications and deferrals to COVID-19 vaccination in BC

The BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer has produced a list of valid contraindications and deferrals to the COVID-19 vaccination. You can find that list here.

Please note, however, that there are no medical accommodations for the requirement to have proof of vaccination in order to access some services, businesses, and events. People who are unable to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for medical reasons are not exempt from the proof of vaccination requirement. Click here for more information from BC Family Doctors.

How to get your COVID-19 vaccine in BC

Find information on how to get your COVID-19 vaccine by visiting gov.bc.ca/GetVaccinated.

If you wish to get the Novavax vaccine, you should call 1-833-838-2323 to request it.

Rapid tests by province

Click on the links below for information on rapid tests available in your province.

British Columbia (Report a positive test here)
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec

COVID-19 treatments

Learn more about approved COVID-19 treatments here.

How Vaccines Work

This video from VOX illustrates how COVID-19 vaccines work and explains why it is in your best interest to take the first one made available to you.

Our stories

Interview with Kathleen Todd, MoveUP member at ICBC

Interview with Antara Deb, MoveUP job steward at BC Hydro

Interview with Michael Chutskoff, SOGI educator and son of a MoveUP member

Interview with Stephen Von Sychowski, President of the Vancouver & District Labour Council

Interview with Mike Schilling, President & CEO of Community Savings Credit Union

Interview with Neal Adolph, Director of Labour Participation with the United Way of the Lower Mainland

Interview with Bowinn Ma, BC NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, on combatting racism.

Statement by Anderson Charles, MoveUP member at BC Hydro and Executive Board member, on anti-Black racism and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Interview with Natti Schmid, MoveUP member at WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre, talking about domestic violence in the age of COVID-19 and the resources available for survivors

Interview with Vivian Ho, MoveUP member at Coast Mountain Bus Company, talking about damaging effects of cuts to public transit

Interview with OH&S expert Niki Schnurr

Supporting front-line workers through 3D printing: Brian’s story

MoveUP Resources

Wash Your Hands Poster
Be Kind Poster
Racism Not Welcome Poster
Communicable Disease Plan

Exposure Control Plan – COVID-19

Anti-Racism Resources

Visit our Human Rights & Multicultural Committee page to see resources.

For Parents and Caregivers

*Request Temporary Emergency Child Care*

Government of BC – Open School BC: Keep Learning
Berlitz – Learn a new language!

Health Resources

WorkSafeBC Guides:

BC Human Rights: Mask Poster

MoveUP – The Importance of Joint OH&S Committees and Safety Representatives
BC’s Restart Plan
MoveUP – Working from Home and Ergonomics
BC Women’s Health Foundation #AlsoMe campaign – Mental Health
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support
Government of BC – Virtual Mental Health Supports During COVID-19
No boundaries with COVID-19 – By Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer
Donate your medical supplies – COVID-19 Supply Hub
Fraser Health – COVID-19 Questions
MoveUP – Helpful tips when working from home
BC Federation of Labour Health & Safety Centre – COVID-19 Resources
Government of BC COVID-19 App (also available on Apple Store and Google Play)
CTV – Five tips to cope with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic
BC Centre for Disease Control
BC HealthLink
BC COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool
Government of Canada COVID-19 updates
College of Pharmacists of British Columbia – Prescription Refills Can Be Provided by a Pharmacist
BC Family Doctors “Sick Note”
Defining social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine
WorkSafeBC – Preventing exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace: A guide for employers
WorkSafeBC – Health and safety responsibilities when working from home
Anxiety Canada – What to do if you’re anxious or worried about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Anxiety Canada – MindShift CBT app (Free Evidence-Based Mental Health Relief)
COVID-19 Psychological First Aid Service
Vancouver Black Therapy & Advocacy Fund

Finance Resources

*Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit* Goes through May 7, 2022

*Emergency Funding for Post-Secondary Students*

*Apply for Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit* Extended to May 7, 2022

*Apply for Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit* Extended to May 7, 2022

*Apply for StudentAidBC – BC Access Grant*

*COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant Program* Applications open January 2022

Explainer – Government COVID-19 Benefits (by Adrienne Smith Law)
Your guide to benefits available to Canadians affected by COVID-19 (Compiled by CBC News)
Guide to accessing government resources (Compiled by Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management, Carleton University using public information)
Government of BC – Emergency support for province’s most vulnerable
Government of BC – Supporting renters landlords during COVID-19
Government of BC – Information on rent and evictions
Government of Canada – For businesses and employees
Government of Canada – Emergency Wage Subsidy
Government of BC – Protecting jobs during difficult times (More: Statement from leaders on COVID-19 financial aid package for people, businesses)
Government of Canada Benefits and Services
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Applying for EI in BC during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Community Savings Credit Union – Support for People impacted by COVID-19
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security – 5 ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 scams
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – COVID-19 fraud alert
Fraud Prevention (courtesy Community Savings Credit Union)
Government of Canada – Registration process to access the CRA login services
Government of BC – Support for arts and culture sector
Government of BC – Emergency funding support for post-secondary students

Assistance Resources

Government of BC – Child Care Resource and Referral Centres
United Way Lower Mainland: Mobilizing Local Love
ShelterSafe – Women’s Shelters Canada
VictimLink BC
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW)
Attira Women’s Resource Society
Battered Women’s Support Services
Ending Violence Association of BC
Kids Help Phone
Here2Talk – Mental health resource for B.C. post-secondary students
BC211
Crisis Centre
Employee & Family Assistance Program (consult with your specific employer’s program)
ICBC COVID-19 updates
Resources compiled by Feminists Deliver
Egale – National Survey of the impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI2s community

What is Flatten The Curve?

Flatten The Curve is a term that has become popular and used to show how our actions can have an impact on helping others by preventing our health care system from becoming overstressed.

The “curve” is a reference to the projected number of people who will contract the COVID-19 over a period of time. The faster the curve rises, the faster our health care system becomes overloaded and the fewer people will be able to access care as a result.

A flatter curve assumes the same number of infections but avoiding over-stressing our health care system and allow more people to access the care they need.

It is about doing our part to help our fellow neighbours, and why we have chosen this highly appropriate phrase to title this resource page.

We’re in this together

This page will provide important resources to updates from our local health officials, but we also want to share your stories as well.

We want MoveUP members to reach out to other members through us, so we can share our stories of how we are coping, offer tips and helpful advice to one another and, most importantly, remind each other that we are all one family and we are here for each other.

We will be updating this page frequently with posts from our members and staff. If you have something you would like to share, please email us at communications@moveuptogether.ca and check back on this page to frequently to read stories from your fellow members.