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COVID-19

New!!! COVID-19 Decision Tool for Schools

Dec 04, 2020 |

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the COVID-19 Decision Tool for Schools (elementary and secondary students -JK-Grade 12) was updated on December 4, 2020.

All students must complete a self-screening questionnaire before going to school. Students with chronic health issues that is medically diagnosed and unrelated to COVID-19, should look for new, different or worsening symptoms.

Does the student have the following symptoms (even if it is mild):

  • Fever >37.8°C
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat, painful swallowing
  • Stuffy/runny nose
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Feeling unwell, muscle aches, tired

The student should be excluded from school, under the following conditions:

(A) If the student has one or more symptoms, even if it is mild, the student should stay home, self-isolate, get tested or contact their health care provider.
(B) If the student’s siblings, or children in the same household has one or more of the above symptoms, the student should also stay home, self-isolate and follow instructions from public health.
(C) If the student has been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, the student will need to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they don’t have symptoms. If the student has symptoms, their household members will need to stay home and self-isolate until COVID-19 is ruled out.
(D) If the student has travelled outside of Canada, they must self-isolate for 14 days. Their household members do not need to self-isolate if they have not travelled, if they don’t have symptoms of COVID19, and if they are not a close contact of a positive case.

Students without symptoms

If a student does not have symptoms of COVID-19, he/she may attend school, if they do not have a sibling with symptoms (B), or they are not a close contact (C) or have travelled outside of Canada (D).

Siblings or children in same household without symptoms

  • If the student has symptoms and has an alternative diagnosis, siblings do not need to self-isolate.
  • If the student has symptoms and tests negative for COVID-19, the student and siblings can return to school.
  • If the student has symptoms, does not go for testing and is not a close contact of a positive case, the student and siblings must self-isolate for 10 days.
  • If the student has symptoms, does not go for testing and is a close contact of a positive case, the student must self-isolate for 10 days from when symptoms started. Their siblings should self-isolate for 14 days as this is how long it can take for symptoms to appear.
  • If the student has symptoms and tests positive, the student must self-isolate for 10 days, and siblings must self-isolate for 14 days.

Click HERE for the latest COVID-19 Screening tool for students and children in school and child care.