Staying Safe at School and Child Care

York Region Public Health works with schools, school boards, child care operators and camps to make these settings as safe as possible, promoting the well-being of students, families and staff and addressing the risk of disease transmission.

York Region Public Health's role includes:

  • Supporting schools, school boards, child care settings, day programs and camps with COVID-19 and other infectious disease prevention planning 
  • Providing public health information and supporting the implementation of provincial standards and guidance
  • Facilitating knowledge exchange with school, child care, day program and camp communities
  • Providing infection prevention and control advice to schools, child care settings and day programs for both in-school and transportation settings

Please note York Region Public Health does not action reports of COVID-19 cases at schools, child care settings, camps or day programs and no longer processes COVID-19 dismissals at schools, child care settings, camps or day programs.

Contact Information

For issues or reports of any Diseases of Public Health Significance, respiratory (including COVID-19) or enteric cases and potential and ongoing outbreaks, please contact the Control of Infectious Disease team at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73588 or email @email

For infection prevention and control resources and information, please visit york.ca/InfectionPrevention or contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933 or email @email

For other public-health-related inquiries, please contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or email @email

Health and safety measures

For up-to-date guidance, visit these Government of Ontario web pages:

Self-Assessment

Students/attendees, staff and visitors should complete and follow the instructions in the provincial COVID-19 self-assessment tool if they have any symptoms of illness or tested positive for COVID-19.

Symptomatic individuals and their household members should follow the instructions in the provincial self-assessment tool.  

Masks

Masks are proven to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. We encourage all schools and child care settings to be a mask-friendly space.

Please refer to the protection from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses web page for information on masking while you or someone in your household is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. 

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Posters

Videos

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COVID-19 Testing and Guidance

Take the COVID-19 self-assessment to receive recommendations on what to do if you have symptoms of illness or tested positive for COVID-19.

Resources

Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone six months of age and older. Beginning about two weeks after the first dose, all COVID-19 vaccines currently approved are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 infection, particularly serious illness to yourself and to other vulnerable populations. Vaccination helps the immune system protect against disease and is one of our most effective lines of defense as other measures are removed.

It’s important to get vaccinated and stay up to date. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.

There are many convenient clinic locations throughout York Region. Visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine for locations and details or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

York Region Public Health also reminds all families to ensure all students catch up on any missed routine immunizations and remain up to date. Please visit york.ca/Immunizations to book any routine and any missed immunizations.

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External Resources

York Region School Boards

Government of Ontario

Other