Schools, child care centres and COVID-19 FAQ

Under the new guidance and testing strategies, COVID-19 Integrated Testing & Case, Contact and Outbreak Management Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge, schools may no longer be aware of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools or child care settings. It is expected that any dismissals or closures of a school or child care setting will be based on operational needs as decided by the school board, school and/or child care operator.

Learn more about what to do if your child has been exposed to COVID-19  (Government of Ontario).

If your child was exposed to someone with symptoms of COVID-19 or who has received a positive COVID-19 test result, your child may need to isolate. Take the COVID-19 self-assessment tool on behalf of your child or for yourself and receive recommendations on next steps.

You can also follow the step-by-step guidance available at ontario.ca/exposed. Specific requirements apply based on a person’s age, vaccination status, whether they live in the same household as the person who has symptoms or tested positive for COVID, whether they themselves have symptoms or live, work, attend, volunteer, or have been admitted in a high-risk setting such as a hospital, long-term care home or other congregate living setting.

If you have additional questions about testing and isolation, you can contact:

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts COVID-19 Information Line at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1.888.777.0730, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario) , they must stay home and self-isolate right away. Lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is restricted to certain groups, with a focus on highest-risk individuals and settings. If your child has symptoms and lives with someone who works in a highest risk setting such as a hospital or long-term care home for example, they are eligible for PCR testing.

As an added layer of protection, rapid antigen tests have been provided to all elementary and secondary schools. The rapid tests are to be used by students and staff who develop symptoms, as outlined in the updated COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. In addition, free rapid antigen tests are available to the general public (Government of Ontario) at participating pharmacies, grocery stores, and community partner locations. Rapid tests can be done at home and produce results in a few minutes.

Those with symptoms who do not have access to PCR testing or a rapid antigen test, are presumed to have COVID-19 and should self-isolate. Please review ontario.ca/exposed to determine next steps.

Learn more about what to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario).

If you have additional questions about testing and isolation, you can contact:

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts COVID-19 Information Line at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1.888.777.0730, Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

As per the Ministry of Education, principals are required to notify their local Public Health Unit if there is a noted increase in absenteeism of 30% above baseline. Such an increase in absenteeism would trigger further exploration and a notification to families and staff in the affected school or child care setting. The notification will include additional information about public health measures for students, families and staff to follow (e.g., monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms).

Public Health is focusing contact tracing efforts on high-risk settings.

To keep schools’ open for in-person learning, please continue to be COVID-safe and follow all public health recommendations such as vaccination, daily symptom screening, masking, testing and staying home when ill.

You must screen your child for symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario) at home daily before sending them to school or daycare. It is recommended to monitor your child daily for symptoms, even on weekends. We recommend that you use the Government of Ontario COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.

This screening tool contains sets of questions about symptoms and other potential reasons for self-isolation. It will help you make decisions about whether your child(ren) should attend school or daycare, if they need to stay home, isolate, and if needed, consult a health care provider.

You should also refer to your school board’s website or speak to your daycare provider for their specific screening practices, as well as any additional recommendations and protocols.

If a child has symptoms of COVID-19, they must stay home and self-isolate. Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (Government of Ontario) to get a recommendation on what to do next and to determine whether any household members are also required to isolate. If a child develops symptoms of COVID-19 at school or daycare, they will need to go home and self-isolate immediately.

If your child shows symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario) at school or daycare, they will be isolated in a supervised area and you will be called to pick them up.

The rapid tests are available for students and staff in elementary and secondary schools who develop symptoms, as outlined in the updated COVID-19 school and child care screening tool (Government of Ontario). In addition, free rapid antigen tests are available to the general public (Government of Ontario) at participating pharmacies, groceries, and community partner locations. Rapid tests can be done at home and produce results in a few minutes.

It’s essential to make sure your contact information is up to date with your school or daycare, including emergency contacts and individuals authorized to pick up your child(ren). Your child must be brought home to self-isolate immediately.

Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (Government of Ontario) for further instructions on isolation, seeking medical advice, and when your child can return to school or child care.

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 (Government of Ontario), they must self-isolate right away. Household members may also be required to isolate. The length of isolation will depend on age and vaccination status. It is recommended that you follow the guidance in the Government of Ontario COVID-19 school and child care screening tool and visit ontario.ca/exposed for further instructions on isolation, seeking medical advice and when your child can return to school or child care.

Children may return to in-person learning once they have completed their isolation and when symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms).

If you have additional questions about testing and isolation, you can contact:

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts COVID-19 Information Line at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1.888.777.0730, Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Rapid antigen tests  are available in elementary and secondary schools for staff and students who develop symptoms (Government of Ontario). In addition, free rapid antigen tests are available to the general public (Government of Ontario) at participating pharmacies, grocery stores, and community partner locations. Rapid tests can be done at home and produce results in a few minutes.

If your child is experiencing symptoms and does not have access to testing, they should assume they have COVID-19, and they must self-isolate. Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (Government of Ontario) to get a recommendation on what to do next.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, on either a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or on a rapid antigen test, they must stay home, self-isolate and follow public health instructions (Government of Ontario). Household members may be required to isolate and all close contacts are required to follow provincial guidelines. Visit ontario.ca/exposed to learn what to do next.

If you have additional questions about testing and isolation, you can contact:

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts COVID-19 Information Line at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1.888.777.0730, Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Dispose of test materials in the garbage and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 15 seconds.

While masking and distancing requirements are no longer required at school or day care, individuals should continue to wear a well-fitted mask if they feel it is right for them, are at high risk for severe illness, recovering from COVID-19, have recently had symptoms of the virus or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

A mask or face covering acts as a barrier. It reduces your risk of spreading and getting COVID-19. A mask or face covering can protect others from potential COVID-19 droplets you may spread and prevents you from breathing in infectious respiratory droplets from others.

Wearing a mask or face covering, along with other public health measures such as vaccination, hand washing,  physical distancing and staying home when ill, can stop the spread of COVID-19.

Please remember to be kind to one another, and to acknowledge that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to pandemic precautions. To learn more about when you must wear a mask or face covering visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/face-coverings-and-face-masks

Student mental health and well-being should be considered a top priority. It’s important to acknowledge that children have returned to school/child care centre with a wide rage of experiences and emotions in their backpacks. When children of all ages feel safe in every way – physically, emotionally, culturally, and socially, they can spend more time learning, problem solving, regulating emotions, and curiously exploring the world.

Your safe, caring, consistent, and responsive relationship is the most important strategy to support children’s mental health. Intentionally connecting with your child daily and letting them know that they matter, that you’re interested in hearing their stories, that their abilities and uniqueness are celebrated, and that you’re there to support them will help buffer against stress and build resilience. Your relationship really matters!

School Mental Health Ontario has developed a comprehensive toolkit to support student mental health during COVID-19. This includes what to do in case of an emergency, conversation starters, simple strategies to practice with both elementary and secondary students to manage emotions, challenges, and much more.

Visit our Mental Health (COVID-19) webpage from more information and resources.

Visit our Parent and Guardians (COVID-19) webpage for more information on parenting during COVID-19.