The way that cases are being reported in school is changing ahead of students returning Jan.17.
With the played down notification on Monday of children going back to school, the province won’t be reporting cases in schools anymore.
A document released by the province indicates that PCR tests will be rationed out. They will only be provided to symptomatic elementary and secondary students, staff who become symptomatic at school.
Students/staff in the same class as a symptomatic cohort or a positive covid case will not be offered self collection kits either. Nor will entire classes be dismissed, instead class or school closures will be based on operational needs.
Public health units will no longer be dismissing cohorts. Any dismissals or closures of a school or child care will be contingent on operational requirements determined by the school board, school and/or child care operator.
Given the widespread transmission and inability to test all symptomatic individuals, schools will not be routinely notifying students/pupils in classes with a positive case, or if a child/student or staff is absent due to symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Those who are 12 years and older and partially (or none) vaccinated must isolate for 10 days. The isolation starts on either the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test, which ever came first.
If someone is 12 years and older and fully vaccinated, isolation is five days from first symptoms or positive test results; again which ever occurred first. These individuals can exit isolation 24 hours after symptoms have improved.
For students 11 years old and younger, they can exit isolation after five days once symptoms show improvement.
These updates also include child care settings within schools and are also applicable to the children in attendance as well as the workers.
