Supporting schools during COVID-19

What is considered an outbreak in a school?

What happens when there is an outbreak in a school?

During the school day, if your child has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 your child will be separated from other children and supervised by a staff member. Parents/ guardians are contacted and asked to bring their child home. Siblings or other household members that also attend the school are required to go home and self-isolate.  Ottawa Public Health recommends that the child be tested for COVID-19 at one of the assessment or care centres. 

Your child must remain in isolation while waiting for the results of COVID-19 testing and cannot attend school in person. Siblings and other close contacts are also required to isolate while waiting for test results. For more information on self-isolation instructions visit the OPH website.

It is important to note that if your child is diagnosed with COVID-19, all their household contacts (for example siblings, parents/guardians, roommates) will have to self-isolate and will require close follow-up by a Public Health Nurse. Further guidance will be provided with regards to testing and self-isolation for all household contacts by OPH.

What does being a “close contact” mean?

A close contact is typically someone who had a prolonged exposure in close proximity to a person diagnosed with COVID-19.OPH identifies close contacts through a detailed review of factors such as the individual’s symptoms, where they have been, and who they have interacted with. Close contacts are contacted directly  by OPH and receive further guidance.

The following are examples of people who may be considered higher risk or close contacts:

• A person who came within 2 metres (6 feet) of a person who has tested positive; the longer they were within 2 metres the higher the risk*
• A person who lives within the same household or provides care to a person who has tested positive (e.g., bathing, feeding, or dressing)
• A person with whom a person who has tested positive had close physical contact (e.g., shaking hands or hugging) 
• A person who may have been coughed or sneezed on by a person who has tested positive

Other factors may impact the risk of the exposure such as if the interaction occurred inside or outside, how long the interaction was and if personal protective equipment was worn (ie mask, gloves, etc). OPH will discuss these factors when speaking with people who have COVID-19 and their close contacts.  

*Please note: Interactions where people briefly come within 2 metres (6 feet) of each other, such as walking by someone in the hallway or on the street, are generally not considered close contacts.

Do close contacts (ie members of the same household) of a student/staff, who has been identified by OPH as a close contact of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19, need to self-isolate or be tested?

Is it safe for my child to take the school bus?

The back-to-school bussing plans - outlined by your local transportation company and directed by the Ministry of Education - include measures such as extra cleaning and disinfecting, personal protective equipment for students and drivers, and assigned seating.

The priority for transportation services is to create an environment where students can feel safe and prevent the transmission of the virus as much as possible. If your child is returning to school, take some time to consider the best transportation option for your child. Active forms of travel (for example, walking and cycling) and private transportation by parents and caregivers are encouraged where possible to ease pressure on transportation demand. 

Please refer to your school board and transportation company for what your child requires in order to safely attend school and travel between home and school. 

Should children change their clothes when they get home?

What should students and staff do upon arriving home from school?

• Wash their hands. Hand hygiene is one of the most important things we can do to limit the transmission of COVID-19. When students and/ or staff come home, it is recommended that they wash their hands with soap and water.
•  Cloth (non-medical) masks should be washed daily .
• Disposable masks should be discarded in a lined garbage bin.

• Items taken daily to school such as water bottles, mugs and lunch containers, should also be washed. 

Why are physical distancing recommendations for schools different than for other public places?

OPH recommends that physical distancing of at least 2 metres be maintained between individuals in all settings including schools.

The following are an explanation of other opinions expressed by two agencies: 

• The SickKids Hospital, recommends a one-metre separation and notes that the protection from one metre of separation may approach the benefits of a two metre separation (provided individuals are asymptomatic and adequate symptom screening practices are in place). Research has found that there is additional protection for greater distances up to and beyond two metres.

• The America Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) indicates that physical distancing of 2 metres or more is still the best approach to protecting children from COVID-19. Research, however, has found that avoiding close contact and spacing desks at least one metre apart may have similar benefits of physical distancing (at least 2 metres apart) if students wear cloth masks and do not have symptoms of illness. The greater the number of children in the classroom, the greater the risk of COVID-19 introduction into that cohort (group) of students. In addition, efforts should be made to reduce the number of students in classrooms and to maintain cohorting (grouping) of students/classrooms. 

Are children in my child’s cohort at school considered part of my social circle?

No. The contacts your child will have at school will be different than the close contacts in your household or social circle.

OPH wants parents to know that it’s just as important now as ever to take extra precautions at home, even if you child/children are having more close contacts at school.

Even though some children may see each other at school, it doesn't make large gatherings with school friends outside of classes a good idea. Each family will need to consider their own risks and situations when determining their social circle - no family is the same.  Close contact is where the risk is highest, so limiting the number of close contacts as much as possible is important.  The greater the number of contacts, the longer the potential chain of COVID-19 transmission will be.  OPH strongly recommends prioritizing your household members and any essential supports such as childcare providers, friends or neighbours.

If you chose to socialize with friends and family, try your best to:

• Keep your group small, less is best
• Meet outside, weather permitting; if weather is not agreeable consider postponing the gathering
• Maintain physical distancing (2 metres, 6 feet)
• Wear cloth masks   

Can my child use a face shield instead of a mask?

No. A face shield is not a substitute for wearing a face mask, as it does not filter respiratory (breathing and talking) droplets. 

A face shield may provide some protection from the droplets from another person; however, these droplets may still be breathed in around the shield. As well, droplets from the person wearing the shield may escape around the sides of the face shield, which provides less protection to others. If you choose to wear a face shield, we recommend wearing it with a properly fitted mask. It could be considered a better option than no mask, but it is NOT a replacement for a mask.

Masks at school (for more information about masks please visit our mask page).

Where should my child put their mask when they take it off to eat or drink?

Your child should store their cloth or disposable mask  in a clean closeable bag or plastic container until ready to use again the same day provided the mask is not damaged, damp or dirty. Your child should take the following steps to properly store his/her mask:

• Ensure it is safe to remove the mask (i.e. maintain physical distance of 2m from others);
• Perform hand hygiene (i.e. clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before and after taking off the mask;
• Remove the mask from his/her face using the ties or ear loops, and avoid touching the cloth portion of the mask;
• Fold it in half, so that the outer surface is inwards (so that the contaminated outer surface is not contacting anything during storage);
• Place it in a clean, closeable bag or plastic container until ready to use it again the same day; and,
• Teach children not to leave a mask that has absorbed moisture from their breath in a non-breathable bag or container for more than an hour or so.

Can lanyards be used to store masks, while they are not in use?

No. To prevent masks from becoming contaminated when not in use, the mask should be stored in a clean, closable bag or plastic container until ready to use again that same day.

OPH does not recommend the use of lanyards as the mask’s inside surface may be exposed to contaminated respiratory droplets as the mask hangs by the lanyard from the neck.

Can my child wear their mask all day?

• Yes. Both cloth and disposable masks can be worn all day, for one day, as long as they do not become damaged, damp or dirty. It is important to properly store both cloth and disposable masks to prevent contamination when not being worn.
• At the end of a full day’s wear or if the disposable mask has become damp, dirty or damaged, it is best to throw it out. Prolonged or repeated daily use of the same disposable mask may not provide enough protection even it if looks clean and not damaged.
• Discard used disposable masks in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag.

Children should be shown how to properly take care of their masks. Here are some things parents and caregivers can teach them:

• How to remove their mask using the ties or ear loops when they are safely able to do so
• How to wash their hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after removing their mask.
• How to properly store masks.
• How to avoid touching the cloth or fabric portion of their masks while placing it in a clean, closeable bag or plastic container until ready to use it again the same day. 
• Teach children not to share masks.

What if my child loses their mask or doesn’t have one for school? 

Students should speak to school staff to get a mask if they do not have one; forgot it at home, lost it or it became dirty, damaged or damp on the way to school.

Parents should try to ensure their child is provided with 2 clean masks each day.

Students in grades 4-12 will be required to wear a mask, and children in K to grade three are encouraged to wear masks if possible.

Should children and teachers wear a mask in outdoor settings?

Yes. Children and teachers should wear a mask in outdoor settings whenever a physical distance of two or more metres cannot be maintained.

Current evidence tells us that the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus in outdoor settings is much lower than in indoor settings. Physical distancing is easier to maintain and there is much greater air circulation when outdoors. This reduced risk is because people are less likely to be exposed to infectious respiratory droplets (from coughing, sneezing, shouting, singing, talking, breathing).

Although outdoor settings may reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the risk is not eliminated. Masks help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in outdoor settings where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain (such as at a bus stop).

Please refer to your school board plans regarding other mask wearing details at school.  

How can I encourage my child to wear a mask? 

Encourage your child to wear a mask by doing the following:

• Explain why
  • Children watch, listen and learn. Explaining the importance of mask wearing in simple terms can help them understand why wearing a mask is important. Allow them to ask questions and express their feelings. You may want to start by reading how to help children cope with stressful public events to give you some guidance.
• Give choices
  • Consider letting children of all ages choose their mask pattern and/or colour. Kids like to feel independent and be given choices. If you are able, include your child in selecting a mask of their choice.
• Include masks in imaginative play
  • Children have amazing imaginations. Include a few masks in their playtime and see what they come up with. Having masks present in their environment will help them become more comfortable to the look and feel of masks.
• Set an example
  • When heading out in public be a role model. Show your children how you put on your mask and explain why you are doing it – to protect those around you. 
• For more info visit: Kids and Masks: Tips from an Expert

How can I safely label my child’s mask for school? (cloth, non-medial masks)

OPH recommends:

• Adding a small label or written name (in permanent marker) at the very edge of the mask.
• Iron-on labels or written name (in permanent marker) is preferred over sewing labels into the mask. Sewing stitches into a mask may alter the effectiveness of the mask.

Masks should continue to fit securely and cover the nose, mouth, and surrounding face without gapping. Cloth masks should be washed the end of each day, after it is worn at school.
We recommend against putting a label near the middle of the mask as this can affect how well the mask will filter. Please note, it is unknown how labeling may affect how well the mask works.

Upon learning that someone has tested positive for COVID-19, OPH collaborates with the school board to send an initial letter to the entire school population to:

• Advise them that someone in the school has tested positive for COVID-19,
• Inform them that an investigation has started
• Explain that OPH will be in touch with high-risk contacts.

After OPH conducts its investigation and has determined who are high-risk contacts, they will reach out to families by phone, email or through automated messaging used for contact tracing.

Will the identity of an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 be made public by the school or OPH?

No. All personal health information including identities are kept confidential as per the Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 to protect privacy, and prevent stigma or harassment of an individual.