COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres

1. Can my child go to school today?

Use the COVID-19 School Screening tool to help you determine if and when your child can go to school. See FAQ #2 for common symptoms. All sick individuals with any symptoms of any illness should stay home and seek assessment from their regular health care provider (which may include getting tested for COVID-19). 

Can my child go to school if someone else in in our household has symptoms of COVID-19?

If the child/youth is fully vaccinated (14 days or more since their second vaccine dose) and they have no symptoms of COVID-19, they are not required to self-isolate and can attend school.

If the child/youth is not fully vaccinated, they must self-isolate and cannot attend school or child-care. They should self-isolate until the symptomatic household member receives a negative test result. If results are positive, they must continue to self-isolate. If the symptomatic individual does not get tested for COVID-19, the child/youth should self-isolate for 10 days from last exposure to that symptomatic individual.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• Fever and/or chills, temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius/100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Cough or barking cough (croup) Continuous, more than usual, making a whistling noise when breathing (not related to asthma, post-infectious reactive airways, or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Shortness of breath, out of breath, unable to breathe deeply (not related to asthma or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Decrease or loss of taste or smell (Not related to seasonal allergies, neurological disorders, or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (Not related to irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, menstrual cramps, or other known causes or conditions you already have)

Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Sore throat (painful swallowing or difficulty swallowing) (not related to postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Runny or stuffy nose (not related to seasonal allergies, returning inside from the cold or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Abdominal pain that is persistent and ongoing (not related to menstrual cramps, reflux, or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Headache that is new and persistent, unusual, unexplained or long-lasting (not related to chronic migraines, tension-type headaches or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Pink eye (not related to blepharitis, recurrent styes or other known causes or conditions you already have)
• Decreased or lack of appetite (for young children, not related to anxiety, constipation or other known causes or conditions you already have)

Southwestern Public Health recommends individuals with any symptoms of COVID-19 seek testing and self-isolate until test results are known.

3. What does a positive case mean?

This means that a person has had a positive COVID-19 test, which means the virus was detected in the sample. They are referred to as a “case”. In the school setting, a case can include students, teachers, visitors, and other staff within a school community.

If you are notified about a case of COVID-19 at your school, it does not mean the person got the virus at school. They could have been exposed to it anywhere. It does not mean they were not being careful. Unfortunately, people can spread the virus to another person before they even know they are sick.  It is important to follow public health recommendations to reduce your risk of infection. 

4. Will I know who tested positive at my child's school?

Privacy legislation says that identity of the individual who tested positive is confidential. You will be notified about a case in the school community and informed if extra precautions are necessary.

5. What does public health do when there is a case of COVID-19 in a school?

Southwestern Public Health is notified of all positive cases within our region and provides follow up to each case. This includes providing information, monitoring symptoms, and investigating possible risk to others that may have occurred while the case was infectious. Risk of possible transmission of the virus to students, staff and visitors is looked at for each case and communication is sent out to inform the school community.

6. What does it mean when someone is a contact, or has an exposure to COVID-19? 

Contacts are people who have spent time with a person with COVID-19 while that person was infectious. If someone has had a contact or exposure, it does not mean they will become ill. The amount of contact will determine their level of risk of infection. Immunity to the virus also affects risk of exposure.  Vaccination status and recovery from a covid-19 infection within 90 days will lower the risk of infection. The circumstances of the exposure will be assessed by SWPH and is based on many factors including:

• Amount of time spent together
• How close the contact and case were to one another
• Use of masks and other protective equipment like goggles or barriers
• Ventilation, for example if contact was indoors or outdoors

Exposures at school can occur in the classroom, playground, bus, childcare programs, staff rooms … anytime people are together. The length of time together, the proximity to one another and use of masks are examples of contributing factors to exposure risk.

7. What is a close or high-risk contact?

Close or high-risk contacts are at a higher risk of being infected with COVID-19 due to the nature of their exposure to someone who has the virus.  SWPH will work with your school to ensure close contacts are notified. A letter will be sent to each close contact.  It will provide important information about next steps including self-isolation, testing and monitoring for symptoms.  Close contacts are required to stay home if not fully immunized or previously positive within 90 days. If you receive this letter, please follow the directions provided in the letter.

8. What is a low-risk contact?

A low-risk contact is someone who had minimal contact with someone with COVID-19.  A low risk contact can continue to go to school if they pass the online school screen. Continue to monitor for symptoms daily and get tested if symptoms develop.

9. What does self-monitoring mean?

Self-monitoring means paying attention to your health every day and watching for signs of illness.  If new symptoms develop, it is important to remain home and make arrangements for testing at a COVID Assessment Centre.

10. What does self-isolation mean?

If your child has been identified as a close contact, they must self-isolate if not fully immunized or previously positive within 90 days.  This means they must stay home and cannot go to school or leave your home. As much as possible, your child should isolate from other people in your home to prevent others from becoming sick or needing to stay home if your child develops symptoms. 

They should:

• Have their own bedroom and bathroom
• Avoid common areas such as the kitchen and living room
• Keep 2 metres away from others in the house and wear a mask if in the same room.
• Ensure good air flow by opening a window if possible when in a shared space

11. My child has been identified as a ‘close contact’ but cannot isolate from our family. What do we do?

In some situations, it may not be practical for your child to isolate from the rest of the family. Your child may be too young, frightened or require care. It may not be possible due to the layout or space in your home. If this is the case in your family, do the best you can. Here are some tips to consider:

• Designate one person to be the primary caregiver for your child*;
• Try to keep other family members 2 metres from your child;
• Wear a mask if they are in the same room;
• Ensure good air flow by opening a window if possible when in a shared space
• Wash hands often with soap and water;
• Do not share personal items like hand towels or dishes; and
• Wipe down frequently touched surfaces like door handles, taps, counters, phones and electronics

If your child does NOT have symptoms of COVID-19:

• Household members who are NOT fully vaccinated or previously positive within the last 90 days are able to leave the home for essential reasons only for the duration of your child’s isolation period.

• Essential reasons to leave home include: Attending work/school/childcare or essential errands such as groceries, attending medical appointments or picking up prescriptions.

• Household members who ARE fully vaccinated or previously positive within the last 90 days can leave the home for essential and non-essential reasons.

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19:

• Everyone in the household who is not fully vaccinated or previously positive within the last 90 days must self-isolate until test results for your child are known. 

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 but is not tested:

• All household members who are not fully vaccinated or previously positive within the last 90 days need to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of your child’s symptoms.
• Self-isolation means no visitors to the home, not attending work, school, childcare or leaving your property unless someone needs necessary medical care.

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19/fails the COVID-19 school and child care screening, they should get tested. 

If your child was identified as a close contact, they should be tested during the 10-day self-isolation period. 

• If your child does not have symptoms, they should get tested at least 7 days after they were last exposed to the person with COVID-19.  The letter you receive from the school will provide further information about testing.
• If the test result is negative, they must still remain in self-isolation for the 10-day period.
• If your child develops symptoms after this initial test, they will need to be re-tested.
• If your child has symptoms of COVID-19, test immediately.  Do not wait for the recommended testing date. Everyone in your household who is not fully vaccinated or previously positive in the last 90 days* will now need to remain home until test results are known.  If your child does not get tested, everyone who is not fully vaccinated or previously positive in the last 90 days will need to remain home for 10 days.

Please call our COVID-19 Response Centre at 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 if you have questions. 

13. How do I arrange for testing?

Please contact one of our local COVID-19 Assessment Centres to make an appointment. 

14. My child has been tested. Now what?

If your child had COVID-19 testing because they have symptoms, they need to stay home until they get their results. They should self-isolate at home. If the result is positive, continue to isolate at home. Southwestern Public Health will contact you to provide advice specific to your family. If the result is negative, children can return to school when:

• they  do not have a fever (without using medication).
• it has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving (or 48 hours if they have had nausea/vomiting/diarrhea)

If your child had COVID-19 testing because they were identified as a high-risk contact of a case, they must continue to self-isolate for 10 days from their exposure as directed in the letter received from public health, even if their test result is negative. If the result is positive, you will be contacted by public health for further direction.

15. What does it mean if my child's school is in outbreak?

An outbreak is declared in a school when there are two lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 that can be linked to one another. This means that at least one of the infections was acquired in the school and cannot be traced back to another source outside of school. An outbreak can be isolated to one classroom or it could involve multiple classrooms.

Southwestern Public Health will inform you if an outbreak is declared at your school and will provide further information and direction. 

Area schools have worked closely with Southwestern Public Health to ensure the safety of their school community.  During an outbreak, other strategies will be explored to further reduce the spread of infection and may include:

• Outbreak signage on the school doors
• Restriction of visitors to the school
• Limiting student and staff interactions to their classroom cohorts
• Restricting all staff at the school from working at other schools
• Discontinuing extra-curricular activities as much as possible

The school will remain open unless there is evidence of potential wide-spread transmission within the school or there are staffing concerns at the school. 

1. Southwestern Public Health is notified of all positive COVID-19 cases in the City of St. Thomas, Elgin, and Oxford counties. Upon being notified, we follow up with the person who has been diagnosed and determine who their close contacts are.
2. The close contacts are then notified by letter or by telephone call.
3. If the positive COVID-19 case is a member of a school community (i.e. student, staff or visitor), we send a letter to all members of the school community through one of the school's usual communication channels. 
4. If you receive a letter or a call from the Health Unit regarding a COVID-19 case in a school community, please follow the directions provided to you. You do not need to contact the Health Unit unless advised.

• Do not send them to school, keep them at home.
• Isolate your child away from others in the household as much as possible.
• Every other member of the household who is not fully vaccinated or previously positive within the last 90 days must quarantine must quarantine (i.e. not attend work, school, or childcare).

• They will receive a letter or a telephone call from Southwestern Public Health notifying them.

• They do not need to quarantine, get tested, or contact Southwestern Public Health
• They should monitor for symptoms and if symptoms develop, self-isolate and get tested.

Washing hands or using hand sanitizer frequently is a key public health practice for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Help your child learn and practice how to wash their hands (PDF) or use hand sanitizer properly. Be a good role model - demonstrate this routine yourself and remind your child to wash their hands when needed.

Watch a video together with your child to help them learn:

• Hand-washing Heroes Video (for younger children)
• Wash your hands, Brother John! (for younger children)
• Wash Those Mitts (for younger children)
• Reduce the Spread of COVID-19: Wash Your Hands (for older children)

It's important for everyone to practice good respiratory etiquette. Teach your child what to do and set a good example. Watch this great video: Reduce the Spread of COVID-19: Hygiene for Kids.

Respiratory etiquette:

• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow
• If available, sneeze into a tissue and promptly throw the tissue into the garbage
• Always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after coughing and sneezing

Make sure your child knows how to properly put a mask on, wear it, remove it, and store it as well as when to discard or replace it. Learn about how to properly wear, fit, remove and clean face coverings. 

Per ministry guidance, masks are to be worn: Indoors, including in hallways, during classes, and on school vehicles.

It is mandatory that students in grades 1-12 must wear a mask at school. Students in Kindergarten are encouraged to wear a mask indoors and on school transit. Schools and School boards can create reasonable exemptions to mask use.

Southwestern Public Health also recommends that:

• Masking be required for JK and SK students, including on school vehicles.
• Masking of students be required outdoors if physical distancing is not maintained between cohorts.
• Staff be required to wear masks outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

How many masks to take to school:

Consider sending at least one spare mask/face covering to school with your child. Schools are required to have masks available for students, as well. While a non-medical mask/face covering can be worn for an entire day, it should be replaced as soon as it becomes wet or soiled.

How to store masks at school:

When not in use at school (e.g. while eating), your child should store their face mask in a space away from others. Consider sending your child to school with a storage container or paper bag where they can put their mask and easily take it out again by the ear loops, without touching the fabric of the mask.

If your child is using reusable face masks, send them with a spare, sealable container or bag for storing their wet or soiled face masks until they get home. Make sure to put used masks/face coverings into the laundry when your child gets home and wash them and their containers before using again.

Remember to label your child’s face masks with their name, and if age appropriate, also label the top/bottom and front/back to help with putting them on correctly.

Physical distance as much as possible. Talk to your child about what it means to keep physical distance from others. Provide them with examples they’ll understand.

For example, what does two metres apart look like?

• A couch with three cushions
• The length of a bed
• A pool noodle
• An adult hockey stick

For younger school-aged children, help them to be independent so that they don’t have to rely on their teacher. For example:

• Make sure your child can open their own food containers, packages and drinks. Practice at home with lunches and snacks.
• Make sure your child can take off and put on their outerwear such as coats and boots.

The actions taken while getting to and from school are just as important for preventing the spread of COVID-19 as what is done while at school. 

Bussing:

If your child takes the bus to school, talk with them about the importance of:

• Staying 2 metres apart from everyone while waiting for the bus. If they can’t keep their distance, they must wear their mask while waiting.
• Putting on their mask before getting on the bus and keeping it on for the entire bus ride. They should not remove their mask, hang their mask out the bus window, trade masks with other students.
• Staying seated in their assigned seat.

Walking, biking, or other modes of active transportation:

If your child walks to school, or uses another mode of active transportation like biking, roller blades, etc., talk with them about the importance of:

• Staying 2 metres apart from others, except siblings living in the same house.
• Not travelling to school in a group or gathering closely with other students while waiting to go inside.
• Wearing a mask, even if outdoors, if keeping 2 metres apart from others is difficult.
• Not sharing items with other students, e.g. food, drinks, masks.

Dropping your child off at school:

If you drop your child off at school, remember to keep 2 metres apart from others and wear a face covering at the drop off and pick up zones.

Recess is an important part of every elementary school day; however, with COVID-19 it needs to look different than before in order to prevent the spread. Talk with your child about recess activities and the importance of staying within their cohort.

What is a cohort?

A cohort is a classroom of students and staff who stay together during the day (class, recess, lunch, etc.). “Cohorting” reduces the number of contacts students have with other students during the day. Cohorts may also include groups of students or staff who are on a bus, club, team, etc.