Schools Reopening Toolkit

• 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).

• 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.

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.

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

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

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.