Ontario’s medical officer offers advice to schools on how to respond to COVID-19

As the new school year approaches, there are still many questions surrounding what procedures need to be followed if a staff member or student gets COVID-19.

Questions still remain as to what the provincial guidance is on testing, isolating, or quarantine and what the protocol is if there’s a confirmed case in a school setting.

During Thursday’s Ontario’s daily COVID-19 update, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health was faced with several questions surrounding health and safety for the upcoming school year. 

CHCH News asked Dr. David Williams what school boards should do if they believe someone in the school may have the virus. 

“If you’re a contact of a person that’s being investigated, even out in the community, you don’t have to go into isolation, but you do have to self-monitor,” Williams said.

“If they come back positive, then anyone who’s been in close proximity to that person is now… a contact of a case…then they have to get tested…and they have to maintain isolation until they get those results back.”

Testing for those who have come into contact with a confirmed case isn’t mandatory, however, they would still need to isolate themselves at home for 14 days. 

Dr. Williams also said that they are looking into less invasive testing for children such as nasal swabs. 

Parents were asked to teach their children about practices such as washing your hands, wearing masks, and physical distancing in order to combat community transmission in schools. 

He also recommended that parents are extra vigilant when it comes to symptom monitoring as flu season and respiratory virus season is upon us.