Staying Safe at School

Screening

Students/attendees, staff and visitors should continue to complete the provincial COVID-19 school and child care screening tool every day before attending school or child care settings. Symptomatic individuals and their household members should follow the instructions on the screening tool for isolation requirements; parents should not send children to school or child care if they show any symptoms of COVID-19.

Check for symptoms daily

Masks

Although masks are not mandatory for students, staff and visitors in schools, child care settings and on buses, individuals should wear a mask in public settings, like schools, if they are close contacts of someone with COVID-19 or recovering from a COVID-19 infection.

Masks work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses and many students, staff and visitors may still choose to wear a mask to protect themselves or others from illness.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19, have symptoms or an exposure?

If you test positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test), self-isolate immediately, visit ontario.ca/exposed and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment for more detailed instructions.

If you test positive on a RAT, you do not need a PCR test to confirm you are positive. You may complete our Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) survey for information on what to do next.

Household members and close contacts of a positive/presumed positive case should visit ontario.ca/exposed for guidance on self-isolation. Close contacts who are not required to isolate must self-monitor for 10 days (from last exposure) and wear a well-fitted mask in school and child care settings. This includes avoiding activities such as high-contact sports and playing wind instruments where masking and/or physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Travel

If travelling you are encouraged to check for information on current travel restrictions and measures into and out of Canada at york.ca/publichealthsafetymeasures

Guidance for school and child care settings

Operational guidance

For up-to-date guidance for school settings, visit Government of Ontario websites:

Vaccination

Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from serious illnesses. We continue to encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible.

If your child has not received a COVID-19 vaccination, 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 vaccines, including and links to other resources visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

    How York Region is supporting schools, child care, camps and day programs during the COVID-19 pandemic

    York Region Public Health works with schools, school boards, child care operators and camps to make these settings as safe as possible, addressing the risk of COVID-19 transmission while reducing other harms to the well-being of students, families and staff.

    York Region Public Health's role includes:

    • Supporting schools, school boards, child care centres, day programs and camps with their COVID-19 safety plans and providing public health information and support implementing provincial standards and guidance
    • Facilitating knowledge exchange with the school, child care, day program and camp communities
    • Providing infection prevention and control advice to schools, child care centres 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 centres, camps and day programs.

    Reporting absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and reportable diseases

    School administrators and child care operators may use the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) survey to notify York Region Public Health when absenteeism due to illness surpasses 30% (above baseline absenteeism typical for a setting) OR at any point if an administrator/operator is concerned about increased absenteeism.

    Reporting COVID-19 Cases at School and Child Care

    Private school administrators and child care operators may choose to report individual cases of COVID-19 in the event they are made aware of them through the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) survey; however, York Region Public Health will not be following up on these reports.

    Publicly funded school administrators may use the form letter provided by their Board to inform York Region of COVID-19 in your school.

    Non-COVID Reportable Diseases (e.g., enteric diseases)

    Child care

    If you suspect there is an enteric outbreak at your child care setting, please notify York Region Public Health, Infectious Diseases Control Division Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73588. After hours, including weekends and holidays: 905-953-6478. A Public Health Guide for Child Care Operators reviews the process for outbreak management in a child care setting as enteric outbreaks may still occur.

    If you are concerned about a non-COVID-19 respiratory outbreak at your child care setting with hospitalizations and/or deaths, please notify York Region Public Health, Infectious Diseases Control Division Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73588. After hours, including weekends and holidays: 905-953-6478.

    Schools

    If you suspect there is an enteric outbreak at your school, please notify York Region Public Health, Infectious Diseases Control Division Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73588. After hours, including weekends and holidays: 905-953-6478.

    Resources for school / child care operators

    Attestation Form

    York Region Public Health does not endorse the requirement of medical notes for a child to return to the setting after illness. As an alternative option, administrators/operators can request a parent/guardian complete this attestation form before children return to the setting. The setting is responsible for developing an appropriate policy if they choose to utilize this form when children return after an absence.

    Child-friendly resources for educators and parents

    Related Resources

    York Region Public Health

    External Resources

    York Region School Boards

    Government of Ontario

    Other