The Northwestern Health Unit is working with education partners on return to school plans to keep students and staff healthy.
The NWHU is assisting school boards to implement infection prevention measures and will continue to work with them in order to identify and manage any COVID-19 cases that may arise throughout the school year.
Measures in place to protect students and educators in schools will include:
- • screening to ensure children and staff who show signs of illness do not enter the school
- • prompt isolation of ill children and staff
- • physical distancing to the extent possible
- • enhanced cleaning
- • cohorting (keeping groups together) as much as possible
- • use of face coverings for most students (grades 4 and up) and staff.
The health unit says keeping community transmission low is key to keeping schools open and safe for everyone.
Community members can support this by practicing prevention measures including physical distancing, frequent hand-washing, limiting social contacts, and wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces.
If there are indicators of increased COVID-19 cases circulating in the local community or in Ontario, there will be provincial and local discussions to change course as needed.
The health unit will also continue to provide essential school health programs in schools for the 2020/21 school year, modifying if necessary to ensure students have access either in the school or in their community.
