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School children wearing face masks.

Schools Reopening Toolkit

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  • COVID-19 Update
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Children six-months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Check out our COVID-19 Vaccines page for answers to your questions and to book an appointment!


Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Durham Region Health Department is committed to supporting schools in partnership with the local school boards. The following health and safety measures remain in place for the 2022-23 school year:

  • Masks will not be required for students, staff and visitors in schools, school board offices and on student transportation. Schools and school boards are encouraged to actively promote respectful, welcoming and inclusive environments for individuals who choose to wear, or not to wear a mask within their school communities.
  • Staff, students and visitors will continue to self-screen every day before attending school using the provincial COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.
  • Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, ventilation measures, absence monitoring and reporting will continue to ensure the health and safety of school community members.
Is there a self-assessment required before each school day?

Yes. All staff and students must self-screen every day before going to school.
See the online COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.

Personal protective equipment (e.g.: masks, eye protection)
Although masking is no longer required for students, staff and visitors as of March 21, 2022, many people may choose to continue to wear masks at times and schools are encouraged to promote respectful, welcoming and inclusive practices and communications within their school communities.
Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
What is hand hygiene and why is it important?
  • Hand hygiene is washing hands with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitizer).
  • Appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are among the most important protective strategies.
  • Soap and water is the most effective method when hands are visibly soiled.
  • Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with a minimum 60 per cent alcohol concentration can be used by children. It is effective when hands are not visibly soiled.
  • Hand hygiene should be done by anyone entering the school and incorporated into the daily schedule at regular times during the day, above and beyond what is usually recommended (for example, before eating food, after using the washroom).
What is respiratory etiquette?
  • Respiratory etiquette is preventing the spread of germs when coughing and sneezing.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Perform hand hygiene.
Screening, symptoms, and testing
What if my child develops symptoms at school, including before/after school care affiliated with the school?

Parents will be notified to immediately pick-up their child.

  • If your child is sick with symptoms, they must stay home and follow directions provided on the provincial screening tool. Call your health care provider if required.
  • Your child should stay home until they have no fever and their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if they had nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea).
  • For 10 days after they started having symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19, they should wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including school and child care), avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary (e.g. high-contact sports, playing a musical instrument, or dining out), and avoid visiting anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness.

Please visit durham.ca/COVIDinfohub to access further information for the sick child and their household members.

What if COVID-19 testing is recommended for my child but they are not exposed to a case?

For testing information or questions about isolation, please review our COVID-19 Case and Contact Information Hub.

Student COVID-19 vaccinations

Protect students and the school community from COVID-19. Children six-months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Additional information about COVID-19 vaccines for children.
Will there be grade 7 and 8 school-based vaccine clinics for the 2022-2023 school year?

See information about grade 7 and 8 school-based vaccine clinics

Travel outside of Canada
What if my child travelled outside of Canada and is fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

Fully vaccinated children who have travelled outside of Canada and meet the requirements to be exempt from federal quarantine, are able to attend school.

See COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada

What if my child travelled outside of Canada and is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19?
Under current federal travel requirements, upon return from international travel, individuals who are NOT fully vaccinated must wear a mask at all times when in public spaces (including schools and child cares) for 14 days, maintain a list of all close contacts for their first 14 days in Canada, and monitor themselves for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

If your child returned to Canada on or after February 28, 2022, and was travelling with a:

Fully vaccinated adult, your child will continue to be exempt from federal quarantine and can attend school or child care.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adult, will continue to be required to follow federal requirements for testing and quarantine and cannot attend school or child care for 14 days.

Credible resources

Health Department fact sheets
  • COVID-19 vaccines for children six-months to under five-years
  • COVID-19 vaccines for children five to 11 years
  • COVID-19 vaccines for 12-plus years
  • Facts about... Self-isolation
Infection prevention and control (IPAC)

Wearing a mask 101

  • Tips for helping children wear face masks
  • Steps to put on a mask and eye protection (Public Health Ontario)

Videos

  • Durham Healthy Families handwashing
  • Proper handwashing
  • Putting on mask and eye protection (Public Health Ontario)
  • Taking off mask and eye protection (Public Health Ontario)
  • How to use a cloth mask (Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit)
  • How to wear a medical mask (Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit)
Mental health and COVID-19
  • Resources for educators, parents and students related to COVID-19 (School Mental Health Ontario)
  • COVID-19 resources for children, youth and parents (Psychology Foundation of Canada)
  • Talking to your anxious child about COVID-19 (Children’s Mental Health Ontario)
  • Student wellness (Canadian Psychological Association)
  • Tips for supporting your family’s mental wellness (Children’s Mental Health Ontario)
  • You and your family’s mental health (Government of Ontario)
  • Emotional well-being education activities for school and home (PHE Canada)
  • COVID-19 youth mental health resource hub - Resources for: Black youth, LGBTQ youth, Asian youth, Indigenous youth, Muslim youth (Jack.org)
  • We’re here for you during COVID-19 (Kids Help Phone)
  • Taking care of your mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic (Government of Ontario)
Government guidance documents
  • School and COVID-19 - Public Health Ontario
  • COVID-19 guidance: school case, contact and outbreak management (for public health units)
  • Before and after school programs kindergarten to grade 6: policies and guidelines for school boards
Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 information in other languages

How to quarantine or isolate at home if you have or may have COVID-19

ArabicFarsiTamilUrdu


Care at home for those who have or may have been exposed to COVID-19

ArabicFarsiTamilUrdu


Local school boards

For specific reopening information and answers to frequently asked questions, visit your school board's website:

  • Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)
  • Durham District School Board (DDSB)
  • Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB)
  • Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB)
  • Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
  • Conseil scolaire Viamonde

For private schools, colleges and universities, please refer to your school website.


Connect with us

Visit our COVID-19 Update page for additional resident and health-related information.

Durham Health Connection Line is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 911.

 

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Signage and resources

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This is a mask-friendly environment

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Tips for choosing a proper mask

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Keep safe while using a mask

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Cover your cough (French)

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Wearing a mask 101

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COVID-19 symptoms and screening for schools

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Help prevent the spread of COVID-19

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Proper handwashing (English)

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Are you wearing your mask properly?

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Hand sanitizers (English)

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Facts about... Handwashing

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Proper handwashing (French)

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Health Department COVID-19 response

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Hand sanitizers (French)

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Cover your cough (English)

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