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Last updated: August 26, 2026
Designed for school administrators and staff, this toolkit brings together guidance, resources, and practical tools to support infection prevention and the management of communicable diseases in schools. Use this page to find information on illness prevention, school health guidance, communication resources, and support from Ottawa Public Health.
The guidelines provide information related to infectious disease prevention and control in schools.
The guidelines include:
Schools should consult the guidelines before contacting Ottawa Public Health (OPH) or communicating with families.
Ottawa Public Health recommends that individuals who think they may have been exposed to an infectious disease and have specific health concerns, such as pregnancy or a weakened immune system, consult a health care provider.
Schools may contact Ottawa Public Health (OPH) for support related to communicable diseases, increased illness activity, infection prevention and control measures, or suspected food-borne illness activity.
Note: The Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Childhood Illnesses include disease-specific information and indicate when Ottawa Public Health notification is required. Schools should consult the guidelines before contacting OPH and refer to the appropriate OPH program if additional support is needed.
Stay home if you have:
Return-to-school requirements vary depending on the illness. Families should follow guidance from their health care provider and any direction provided by Ottawa Public Health.
For many common respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, children and staff may return when:
Schools and families should consult disease-specific guidance where appropriate, as some infections may require longer exclusion periods.
In addition to staying home when sick, schools can help reduce the spread of illness through effective hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and cleaning practices. See the Infection Prevention and Control section for more information.
Schools should have a procedure in place for the management of students ill with symptoms of possible communicable diseases on site. Ill students should be separated from others and remain in a supervised area until a parent or guardian is able to take them home.
The school exclusion criteria for illnesses should be reviewed with parents. See Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gowns, gloves, masks, and eye protection should be made available to staff if there is a possibility of contact with bodily fluids.
Proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in schools. Encourage students and staff to wash their hands regularly using soap and water, especially:
Alcohol-based hand rub or hand sanitizer may be suitable when hands are visibly clean. If an alcohol-based hand rub is being used, ensure the alcohol concentration is at least 70% and the product is not expired.
Respiratory etiquette helps reduce the spread of germs that can cause respiratory illnesses.
Poster: Cover your Cough
Routine cleaning and disinfection help reduce the spread of illness, particularly on frequently touched surfaces and shared equipment. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection (minimum twice per day) should be implemented during increased periods of illness. Examples include high touch surfaces, washrooms and other shared objects.
Consider:
Kindergarten and special education classrooms may include students who require additional support to recognize symptoms, communicate when they are feeling unwell, or participate in infection prevention practices independently.
The strategies below can help reduce the spread of illness while supporting student participation and well-being.
Some students may not be able to clearly communicate symptoms or may show illness differently than older students.
Staff should watch for:
When concerns arise, communicate with parents or guardians and follow school illness procedures.
Students may need reminders and supervision to perform hand hygiene effectively.
Consider:
Supporting Respiratory Etiquette
Teach and reinforce age-appropriate practices such as:
Visual reminders and regular practice can help students develop these habits.
Shared Materials and Sensory Items
Many kindergarten and special education classrooms use shared learning tools, sensory materials, and adaptive equipment.
Consider:
Resource:
Regular communication with families can help identify illness concerns early and reduce the spread of infection.
The information below may be copied and adapted for school newsletters, emails, websites, and communications to families and staff.
Respiratory viruses can cause symptoms such as:
Enteric illnesses ("stomach bugs") can cause:
Students and staff should stay home when they are sick.
Return-to-school requirements vary depending on the illness. Families and staff should follow advice from their health care provider and/or any direction provided by Ottawa Public Health.
For many common respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, children and staff can return to school when:
Some communicable diseases may require longer exclusion periods or additional public health follow-up. Follow guidance from a health care provider and Ottawa Public Health, where applicable.
Help Prevent the Spread of Illness
Stay Up to Date on Immunizations
Vaccination helps protect against serious illness and reduce the spread of disease.
When should schools contact Ottawa Public Health?
Schools should first consult the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues for support related to symptoms and/or suspected infections they may be seeing in schools.
Schools should contact Ottawa Public Health if they:
Schools do not need to contact OPH for routine illnesses that can be managed using the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues.
Does Ottawa Public Health declare outbreaks in schools?
Over the past few years, the approach to supporting schools in managing illness has continued to evolve. Rather than formal outbreak declarations, today, schools are supported through established communicable disease prevention practices, infection prevention and control measures, and ongoing collaboration with OPH when additional guidance or support is needed.
Schools should continue to follow the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues and contact OPH if they have concerns about illness activity, unusual patterns of illness, suspecting food-borne illness, or require assistance interpreting public health recommendations.
Notification of students, staff, and families is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on the specific illness and whether public health action is required.
Schools should consult the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues to determine whether notification to Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is recommended.
It is important to distinguish between a suspected illness and a confirmed diagnosis. Families may report that a child has a specific illness before it has been confirmed by a health care provider. Schools should not assume a diagnosis has been confirmed based on symptoms alone or reports from families.
If a reportable infection diagnosis is confirmed, OPH will be notified directly by the diagnosing health care provider or laboratory, as required by law. Where public health action is required, the Infectious Disease Program (IDP) will work with the school to determine any necessary follow-up, including communication with families or staff.
Ottawa Public Health protects the privacy and confidentiality of students and staff involved in public health investigations and shares personal health information only when necessary to support public health actions.
If individuals may have been exposed to a reportable infection, OPH may work with the school and/or school board to obtain information required for public health follow-up and to support any necessary communications. Depending on the circumstances, OPH may contact affected individuals directly or provide communication materials for distribution by the school or school board.
Several students in a class have similar symptoms. Should we be concerned?
Respiratory and enteric illnesses commonly circulate in schools, particularly during the fall and winter months. It is not unusual for multiple students in a class or school to experience similar symptoms at the same time.
Schools should consider increasing their infection prevention practices and consult the IPAC control measures for schools when managing communicable diseases.
If schools have concerns about increased illness activity, unusual patterns of illness, severe illness, or suspected food-borne illness, they should contact OPH’s Infection Prevention and Control team.
What should schools do if a student or staff member vomits at school?
The individual should be separated from others, if appropriate, and arrangements should be made for them to return home as soon as possible.
Schools should have established procedures for responding to spills of blood and other body fluids. Any affected areas should be cleaned and disinfected promptly according to school procedures and in alignment with recommended infection prevention and control practices.
For additional guidance, refer to Public Health Ontario’s Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings, 3rd edition – Appendix 23: Sample Procedure for Cleaning a Biological Spill.
Staff should encourage proper hand hygiene and monitor for additional illness among students or staff.
Individuals who are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea should stay home. For many gastrointestinal illnesses, a general recommendation is to remain home until at least 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea and symptoms are improving.
However, exclusion requirements may differ for some confirmed communicable diseases. Schools should consult the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues and seek Ottawa Public Health guidance when appropriate.
Do schools need to report increased absenteeism to Ottawa Public Health?
No. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, schools are no longer required to report increases in absenteeism to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).
Schools may still contact OPH’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team if they are concerned about unusual illness activity and/or severity of illness or require public health support.
What should schools do if they are unsure whether a disease is reportable?
As a first step, schools should consult the Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres on Infectious Diseases and Other Childhood Health Issues.
The guidelines identify diseases that require notification to Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and those that can be managed by the school and family without public health involvement. Schools can contact OPH if clarification is needed.
Some students are at higher risk of severe illness. Should schools take additional precautions?
Some students and staff may be at increased risk due to medical conditions, pregnancy, or weakened immune systems.
Schools should continue to encourage routine illness prevention practices such as staying home when sick, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and keeping immunizations up to date. Individuals with specific health concerns should consult their health care provider regarding additional precautions.
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