Parent Update – September 8, 2022
We hope our students have had an exceptional first few days of school and that they have started to settle into a new year of learning and exciting opportunities ahead.
This update is a follow-up to the Welcome Back Message sent to parents on August 31, 2022.
As you may be aware, the Office of the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) has recently provided updated COVID-19 guidance and has revised the COVID-19 School Screening Tool to include new symptoms and next steps. The latest screener is dated August 31, 2022.
Below is a summary of current updated guidance:
- All individuals should stay home if they are sick.
- If your child has any new or worsening symptoms of any illness they should stay home until they don’t have a fever, and their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea), and they aren’t developing new symptoms. This includes if they test positive for COVID-19. There are no longer any standard isolation periods.
- If you are unsure if your child should stay home and follow the guidance in the updated COVID-19 School Screener. Please ensure that you are using the version of the screener that was updated on August 31, 2022.
- Take additional precautions – For 10 days following the onset of COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test (including if the person is asymptomatic) individuals should:
- Wear a mask in all public settings (including school and childcare).
- Avoid non-essential activities where mask removal is necessary (for example, playing a wind instrument in music class or removing a mask for sports, dining out).
- Household contacts of individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test are also recommended to take the same precautions.
Our schools will continue to promote proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and continue with enhanced cleaning protocols.
Should you have any questions related to the updated COVID-19 guidelines, please reach out to your local public health unit whose contact information is listed below.
Blessings for a safe and healthy school year,
The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario