Ontario has released a COVID-19 management plan for schools.
During an announcement this afternoon, they released the Operational Guidance: COVID-19 Management in Schools document, which was developed with the help of public health experts.
Premier Doug Ford attended the announcement as well as Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario’s Chief Coroner, who will serve as the Coordinator for the Provincial Outbreak Response.
The new guidance document explains the role of school boards and schools in keeping their communities informed and the role of public health units in declaring outbreaks and directing closures when necessary.
Parents are being asked to screen their children every day before school and to keep them home if they are sick.
The document goes over the appropriate steps to take when a student or staff member tests positive and defines an outbreak as “two or more linked cases”.
Additional guidance was released for medical officers of health and public health units.
It includes protocols on how to deal with students who become ill and a clear communications process to be followed.
The Province adds that they intend to surveillance test asymptomatic secondary students in schools.
They also plan to hire more public health nurses for schools while having education staff complete rigorous professional development on health and safety.
