Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Ontario government is committed to student learning and the safety and well-being of all staff and students. Due to the recent emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern in Ontario, new safety measures have been added in Ontario schools and child care centres to keep students, children, and staff safe. As such, the Ministry of Education has provided school boards with updated guidance that builds upon a number of public health and safety measures.
As always, parents and guardians must screen their child each day before going to school or daycare. Grade 9-12 students must also verify that they have completed the daily screen once they arrive at school.
As directed by the Government of Ontario, the following changes and updates have been made to the School and Childcare COVID-19 Screening Tool and are effective immediately:
COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening
Staff, students and children with any new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, as indicated in the school and child care screening tool, even those with only one symptom, must stay home until:
- They receive a negative COVID-19 test result;
- They receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional; or,
- It has been 10 days since their symptom onset and they are feeling better.
Isolation Requirements for Household Members
Staff, students and children are required to stay home from school or child care if anyone in their household has new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19 and has been recommended for isolation and testing.
All asymptomatic household contacts of symptomatic individuals are required to isolate until the symptomatic household member:
- receives a negative COVID-19 test result; or,
- receives an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional.
If the symptomatic individual tests positive, or is not tested and does not receive an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional, the symptomatic individual must isolate (including from household members) for 10 days from symptom onset, and all household contacts must isolate until 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic individual.
We encourage you to follow the next steps provided on the School and Childcare COVID-19 screening tool when completing the daily assessment.
Parents and caregivers with additional questions regarding the school and childcare screening COVID-19 screening tool are encouraged to contact the Health Unit’s School Call Centre at 1-800-563-2808 option 6.
This updated information as well as additional parent information and resources can be found on the Health Unit’s website:
myhealthunit.ca/en/health-topics/schools-and-covid-19.asp
We thank all of our parents in advance for your continued support and provide a reminder of the importance of daily self-screening.
Thank you.