COVID-19 School Information

The child must stay home and self-isolate until a test result is received.

Parents (and other household contacts) of symptomatic children need to self-monitor while the symptomatic child is awaiting test results. This means that they can attend work or school as long as they do not have any symptoms.

If an individual tests negative for COVID-19, they may return to school if it has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving, providing:

• They pass the Ontario COVID-19 screening tool and
• They do not have a fever (without using medication) and
• There is no known high-risk exposure and
• The individual is not advised by Halton Region Public Health or health care provider to self-isolate

Halton Region Public Health will provide direction for return to school when an individual tests positive for COVID-19

If someone in a school setting tests positive for COVID-19 and an individual is a close contact, Halton Region Public Health will contact the individual directly with information on how and when to get tested for COVID-19 and further actions to take. Public Health will maintain the confidentiality of the individual who tested positive for COVID-19. Also, Public Health will work closely with school administration to provide appropriate communication to all families.

To maintain individual privacy, school staff or parents/guardians will only be contacted by Halton Region Public Health if their child(ren) are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, and further information about the individual case or outbreak will not be shared publicly.

Due to varying degrees of risk posed by different exposures, contacts can be categorized into three levels of risk exposure and corresponding requirements for self-isolation:

• High-risk exposure
• Low-risk exposure
• No exposure

As every situation is unique, Public Health will determine the risk level of contacts as part of their case investigation. There are many things we take into consideration while doing our risk assessment, which is consistent across Ontario. For example, we explore if the confirmed or probable case:

• was symptomatic, pre-symptomatic, or asymptomatic;
• was at school during the time they were considered infectious;
• is a student or staff member;
• knows the source of their infection (if they do, it is unlikely they got it at the school but if they do not, then we have to consider the school as a potential acquisition risk).

We also explore:

• the age group/grade;
• developmental stage;
• ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment;
• the type of activities the person was involved in while at school; and
• the current IPAC practices at the school and of staff member and students, including:
  • Physical distancing
  • Desk spacing
  • Masking
  • Cohorting

The most important piece of information is if the individual was at school during the time they were considered infectious. All of the other information is taken together to help Public Health staff determine if a contact is high-risk or low-risk. Close contacts with high-risk exposure are asked to self-isolate and seek testing, while contacts with a low-risk exposure are informed about the exposure and directed to self-monitor for symptoms.

As staff are required to wear medical grade mask and practice physical distancing, their risk-level after an exposure is often low.

An outbreak would be declared in a school once it has been determined that there are two positive cases with an epidemiological link (for example, these children could have become infected with COVID-19 at school either from each other or a common source). Each case will need to be assessed and it would need to be determined that transmission occurred in the school before confirming it as an outbreak since it is possible that children could have been infected outside the school setting.

Once an outbreak in a school is confirmed, Halton Region Public Health would communicate with parents of close contacts to let them know and provide further direction on actions to take which include: staying home, monitoring for symptoms and getting tested when it’s appropriate. Public Health would continue to investigate to identify any other close contacts and will determine if a classroom or the entire school would need to be closed.

To maintain individual privacy, school staff or parents/guardians will only be contacted by Halton Region Public Health if their child(ren) are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, and further information about the individual case or outbreak will not be shared publicly.

Non-medical masks or face coverings are safe to use, even among children.

In terms of risks, continuous mask use may be associated with facial skin lesions, rashes and acne. In younger age groups, there are potential risks related to language and social development. Also, there is a risk of self-contamination if an individual touches or moves their mask with dirty hands. Therefore, it is important to incorporate hand hygiene with mask use.

Overall, Halton Region Public Health recommends the use of non-medical masks or face coverings as an additional measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The following are tips for how to care for your mask:

• Clearly identify your mask with names or initials, to avoid confusion or accidentally using another person’s mask.
• It can be helpful to label your mask to indicate top/bottom and front/back.
• Do not share or swap your mask with others, or touch a mask belonging to someone else.
• Your mask should be stored a clean place (for example, individually labeled container or sealed bag).
• A mask should not be worn if it is wet, damp or dirty.
• Cloth masks should be washed after every day of use and/or before being used again, or if visibly soiled.
• Wash your cloth mask by putting it directly into the washing machine, using a hot cycle, and then dry thoroughly.
• Discard disposable masks in a plastic lined garbage bin after use.
• Families should consider providing an additional mask for children in case a back-up mask is needed during the day and to facilitate every day washing of a cloth mask.

For more information, refer to Use of Non-Medical Masks or Face Coverings in Schools (PDF file) fact sheet.

When masks are not being worn while at school, masks should be stored in a clean bag or container between uses.

The best storage option is a labeled paper bag or envelope as these materials do not retain moisture which could allow bacteria to grow on the mask. Alternatively, use a labeled, cleanable container with a lid or a sealable plastic bag.

If a paper bag or envelope is used, discard at the end of each day. If a reusable container with a lid is used, clean and disinfect it at the end of each day. Lanyards and pockets are not recommended for mask storage.

• Visit halton.ca/COVID19 for COVID-19 health advice, learn about the current situation in Halton and more.
• Call 311 for other questions related to COVID-19.
• Follow Halton Region on social media, #HaltonON, and @haltonparents.