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Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health
elementary students in class wearing face masks

School and COVID-19: Guidance for Parents, Guardians and Caregivers

If are you looking for general information about COVID-19, please visit our main COVID-19 web page. The content below is for parents and guardians of school aged children in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.

For support and suggestions to navigate this unusual school year, you’re invited to visit and download the COVID-19 Parents’ Guide 2020-2021 School Year for helpful tips and suggestions.

Please remember, parents/caregivers are required to screen their child daily before they attend school.

How do I screen my child?

My child did not pass the COVID-19 screening tool. What should I do?

What happens when there is a positive case or school outbreak?

If there is a positive case of COVID-19 at your child’s school, HPEPH will work with the school to identify affected cohorts. If your child is identified as a close contact of the positive case, your family will receive direct communication from HPEPH. Please review the following documents to learn more about the protocols that come into effect if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 or a school COVID-19 outbreak is declared by HPEPH.

How does Public Health identify high-risk contacts, and why don’t contacts of high-risk contacts need to isolate?

  • Every case is investigated by public health and contacts are identified. All contacts are reviewed by public health staff and determined whether they are at a high risk or low risk of COVID-19 transmission.
  • High risk contacts are considered to be individuals who have been in close contact with the positive case during their contagious period.
    • Their contagious period is considered to be 48 hours prior to symptom onset, and up to 10 days after symptom onset.
    • High risk contacts are advised to isolate as soon as they are identified, for 14 days following their potential date of exposure. This isolation ensures they are not interacting with others during their contagious period.
  • Low risk contacts are considered to be individuals who have had very brief or distanced interaction with the positive case, which results in a very low risk of COVID-19 transmission.
    • Low risk contacts are required to self monitor for symptoms, and seek testing if symptoms develop. Unless symptoms develop, they can continue to attend work or school, while practicing regular public health precautions.
    • Close contacts of high risk contacts are considered to be low risk contacts, as they are not identified as being in close contact with a positive case during the positive case’s contagious period and are not required to seek testing or isolate unless symptoms develop, or if the high risk contact becomes a case.
    • When a positive case isolates as soon as symptoms develop, and all high risk contacts who interacted with them within 48 hours prior to symptom onset isolate as well, the risk of transmission beyond these individuals is very low.
    • Individuals who may have had exposure to COVID-19 are not known to transmit the virus during their incubation period, which occurs prior to their contagious period. This means that high risk contacts are very unlikely to transmit the virus to their own contacts before they have been identified as being high risk and contacted by public health, and begin isolating.
  • Public health uses an abundance of caution when identifying individuals that may have been at risk of exposure to a positive case. The public can be reassured that the investigation process always errs on the side of caution to prevent further spread of the virus.

What other precautions should I take as a parent/caregiver?

Keep as much distance as possible between you and others (2 metres is best):

  • During drop-off and pick-up.
  • During interactions with a teacher, school staff, or other parents and students.

Be prepared to pick up students promptly if they show symptoms at school.

You will be asked to pick up your child from school if they show symptoms. Make sure your contact information is current at school, including emergency contacts and individuals authorized to pick up your child(ren). If that list includes anyone who is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, consider identifying an alternate person. Be familiar with your school’s plan for how they will communicate with families when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 is identified and ensure student privacy is upheld.

Plan for possible school closures or periods of quarantine.

If transmission is increasing in our community or if multiple children or staff test positive for COVID-19, the school building might close. Similarly, if a close contact of your child (within or outside of school) tests positive for COVID-19, your child may need to stay home and isolate as directed by public health. You may need to consider the possibility of working from home, taking leave from work, or identifying someone who can supervise your child in the event there is a school closure or your child has to quarantine.

Plan for transportation:

  • If your child rides a bus, face coverings while on the bus are mandatory for students Grades 1-12 and strongly encouraged for students in Kindergarten. Remind your child about the importance of following bus rules, including assigned seating and physical distancing, if possible.
  • If carpooling, plan on every child in the carpool and the driver wearing face coverings for the entire trip. Consider finding families within your child’s group or cohort at school to be part of the carpool.

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What else can I do to help my child feel healthy and safe?

  • Make sure your child is up-to-date with all recommended childhood vaccines. All school-age children should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season, unless otherwise directed by a health care provider. This is especially important this year because we do not yet know if being sick with COVID-19 at the same time as the flu will result in more severe illness. If you do not have a health care provider, please contact HPEPH’s Immunization line at 613-966-5500 / 1-800-267-2803 ext. 221 to make an appointment.
  • Practise proper hand washing techniques at home, especially before and after eating, and after sneezing, coughing, and adjusting a face cover. Make hand washing fun by singing a song that lasts at least 20 seconds and explain to your child why hand washing is important.
  • Practise putting on and taking off a face covering safely with your child.
  • Plan daily routines for before and after school. Make a list of what to pack for school in the morning (e.g. hand sanitizer, an extra face covering, snacks and lunch, and a personal water bottle) and what to do when your child returns home from school (e.g. wash hands immediately, put face coverings in the laundry, etc.).
  • Talk to your child about some of the new measures that are in place, and how they can help keep your child healthy and safe:

For more answers to common questions about the 2020-2021 school year, please check out the Questions and Answers below.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child has woken up not feeling well, what do I do?

If you notice that your child has new or worsening symptoms, what you do depends on the symptom and how usual they are for your child.  If your child has new or worsening:

  • Fever/chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Decreased or loss of smell or taste

Your child should isolate immediately and you should contact your child’s health care provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.

If your child has ONE of the following symptoms (new or worsening, and not related to a known cause or condition):

  • Sore throat
  • Stuffy nose/runny nose
  • Headache
  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
  • Fatigue/lethargy/muscle aches/malaise

Your child should stay home for 24 hours to be monitored to see whether the symptoms get better or worse. If they start to feel better and symptoms are improving, they can return to school/child care when well enough to do so and no COVID-19 testing is needed. It should be at least 24 hours since symptoms started (48 hours since the last episode of vomiting and/or diarrhea if child/student had these symptoms)

If the symptoms get worse, you should contact their health care provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.

If your child has TWO or MORE of the list of symptoms above (that are new, worsening, or not related to a known cause or condition), your child should isolate immediately and you should contact your child’s health provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.

My child has a runny nose, what should I do?

If your child’s only symptom is a runny nose, you should keep your child home and monitor their symptoms as you would in any other year.  When they feel better, they are ready to go back to school/child care and no COVID-19 testing is needed.

If they get worse or develop other symptoms, you should contact their health care provider for more advice. Mild symptoms known to persist in young children (e.g., runny nose) may be ongoing at time of return to school/child care if other symptoms have been resolved.

Who in my family needs to be tested along with my child?

If your testing is recommended for your child, and everyone else in the family is well, no testing of other family members is needed. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, HPEPH will contact you/your child and make a plan for additional testing of all close contacts.

Do I need a note from a doctor before my child goes back to school/child care or a copy of a negative test result?

No, you do not need a note from your doctor or proof of a negative test before your child returns to school/ childcare.

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.
  • The sick child will be isolated and cared for in a room until parent/guardian arrives.
  • Staff attending to the sick child will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment.
  • The Principal will coordinate cleaning and disinfection of the space and items used by the child.
  • If the child is ill, has no known exposure to someone with COVID-19, has not travelled out of country, and a Health Care Provider has diagnosed them with an illness that is not COVID-19 (e.g. ear infection), the student can return to school 24 hours after their last symptom has resolved. If the child has GI symptoms (eg. vomiting/diarrhea), they can return to school 48 hours after their last symptom has resolved.

What if COVID-19 testing is recommended for my child?

  • Visit your local assessment centre.
  • The child must stay in self-isolation while waiting for test results. They can not attend school in person.
  • Siblings of a symptomatic child may be required to self-isolate while waiting for the test result.
  • If the ill student is waiting for test results, household members (family and roommates who live with the ill person) should monitor for symptoms and be tested if symptoms develop. They are not required to isolate at this time.
  • Follow advice from the Assessment Centre and HPE Public Health.
  • If COVID-19 testing is advised, but not completed, the child and household contacts are required to isolate for a minimum of 14 days from their symptom onset.

What happens when my child tests negative for COVID-19?

  • If the child’s test result is negative, and they are not a contact of someone who has tested positive, and have not travelled out of country, they can return to school 24 hours after their  symptoms begin to resolve. If the child has GI symptoms (e.g. vomiting/diarrhea), they can return to school 48 hours after their last symptom has resolved.
  • Children who are a contact of a positive case or have travelled out of country must isolate for a full 14 days, even with a negative result. This is because illness can occur up to 14 days after an exposure to COVID-19. These children and their families will be followed by HPE Public Health.

What happens if my child tests positive for COVID-19?

  • Review the School Protocol When Staff or Students Test Positive for COVID-19.
  • If a child tests positive, the family will receive guidance and daily follow-up from HPE Public Health.
  • The child and household contacts will need to self-isolate for 14 days and until symptom-free for 24 hours.
  • Public Health will work with your child’s school to follow Provincial Outbreak Guidelines.
  • All students, staff and social contacts determined to be at high risk of exposure will be directed to self-isolate for 14 days and follow Public Health guidance regarding testing.
  • Classroom cohorts will generally be considered as high risk contacts.
  • Confidentiality will be maintained by HPEPH and schools as necessary protocols are followed.

What if a parent/member of the house tests positive for COVID-19?

  • It is recommended that parents inform the school, but it is not an obligation.
  • Public Health is required to provide direction to the schools to isolate the household members while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Schools will isolate the child/children from the affected household, notify the parent (if necessary) and coordinate immediate pick-up.

What if my child has an ongoing medical condition that mimics COVID-19 symptoms?

Some medical conditions, like allergies, are predictable and the symptoms do mimic COVID-19. Use the most up to date screening tool and follow the guidance that is provided.

How can parents can take an active role in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19?

  • Follow prevention measures outlined by HPE Public Health.
  • Actively monitor your family for symptoms.
  • Communicate openly with your child’s school.
  • Stay local and avoid potential exposures with people from areas where COVID-19 cases are high.
  • Follow Public Health guidance, recognizing that it may change depending on transmission in our community, or other factors, which will be carefully considered.

Is my child allowed to wear one mask for the entire day and what is the recommended number of masks?

Your child is allowed to wear one non-medical mask/ face covering for the entire day. However, if the non-medical mask/ face covering becomes soiled with a cough or sneeze or if it becomes wet or soiled in any other way, it should be changed. Consider sending a back-up mask with your child, in case one is soiled during the school day.

To learn more about cleaning and washing face coverings, please visit Health Canada’s web page.

What steps can children take to put on, take off and store their mask at school?

Here are some steps children can take to put on a mask:

  • Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before touching the mask.
  • If none is available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Ensure hair is away from the face.
  • Place the face covering over the nose and mouth and secure to the head or ears with its ties or elastics.
  • Adjust if needed to ensure nose and mouth are fully covered.
  • The mask should fit snugly to the cheeks and there should not be any gaps.
  • Wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after adjusting your mask.

Steps to Take off a mask:

  • Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
  • If none is available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Remove the face covering by un-tying it or removing the loops from the ears.
  • Avoid touching the front of the mask when removing it.
  • Store the face covering in a paper bag, envelope, tupperware, or something that does not retain moisture if you will be wearing it again.
  • After removing the face covering, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

A disposable mask can be re-used, so long as it is not damp, damaged or dirty and has been stored between uses as described above. At the end of a full day’s wear,  or if the disposable mask has become damp, dirty or damaged, it is best to throw out the mask. Discard used masks in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag. After breaks, such as mealtimes, you can reuse a disposable mask if it still appears clean, dry, undamaged and you have stored it appropriately between uses. You can temporarily store disposable masks by using the same method as cloth masks.

How do I wash, re-use, and discard a cloth mask?

When taking off to reuse or discard a mask, follow these steps:

  • After washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, remove your mask by pulling the ties or ear loops away from your ears.
  • If your mask has a removable, single-use filter, make sure to remove and throw out the filter before machine or hand-washing your mask.
  • For machine washing, put the mask directly into the washing machine. If you need to store it, store in a bag that can be emptied into the washing machine and throw out the bag after you have used it. If the bag is washable you can wash it with your mask. Wash your hands again with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after handling your mask.
  • You can wash the masks with other laundry using a hot water cycle.
  • For hand washing, use laundry detergent and water as hot as it is safe, wash, rinse and then dry thoroughly.
  • When discarding damaged or worn out masks, drop them in a lined garbage bin.
  • Do not leave any discarded masks in places where others can come in contact with them, such as shopping carts, public seats, bus stops or on the ground.
  • Cloth masks can be re-used throughout the day if not soiled and undamaged. With clean hands, remove the mask from your face and fold it in half so that the outer surface is inwards (so that the contaminated outer surface is not contacting anything during storage) and place it in a clean, sealable bag until ready to use it again the same day. Do not leave a mask that has absorbed moisture from your breath in a non-breathable bag or container for more than an hour or so.
  • Disposable masks should not be washed, reused or recycled.

For more information on cleaning and re-using a mask, please visit Health Canada’s web page.

Is anyone exempt from wearing a mask?

Wearing a mask is mandatory for all students in grades 1-12 in all school boards – indoors and outdoors (when physical distancing is not possible).  The following students are possibly exempt from the requirements of wearing a face covering while inside:

  • The student is in Kindergarten.
  • The student has a medical condition rendering them unable to wear a non-medical mask or face covering safely.
  • The student cannot apply or remove a non-medical mask or face covering without assistance.
  • The student cannot wear a non-medical mask or face covering or cannot cover their face in a way that would appropriately control the source of droplets for reasons of religion or other protections under the Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H. 19, as amended.

If your child is unable to wear a mask, please speak to the School Principal and/or teacher about your child’s exemption.

Is face shield considered to be an appropriate face covering?

Face shields are not equivalent to non-medical masks for source protection and are best suited to be used in addition to a non-medical mask, but not alone. Any non-medical mask that covers the mouth and nose, ensuring a barrier that limits the community transmission, would be appropriate.

Should I label my child’s face covering?

Personal items being brought to school (e.g. backpack, clothing, sun protection, water bottles, food, face coverings) should be labelled with your child’s name.

What else can I do to support my child as they return to school?

HPEPH recognizes that parenting can be stressful, especially in uncertain times. As your children return to school, do what you can to be well, stay positive, and keep connected.

  • Be well: Try to include physical activity, healthy eating and adequate sleep into your family’s daily routine. Create an environment that has predictable routines, and that is safe for your child to explore, play and learn. Remind your child about hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette, to prepare for their return to school.

  • Stay Positive: Parents – pause, reflect, be gentle with yourself and your children. Encourage your children to recognize and talk about their emotions. Be a positive role model by teaching healthy coping strategies.

  • Keep Connected: Take time everyday to work on building a strong loving relationship with your child and family members. Keep connected with supports at home, in the community, and in the educational community.

For more information, visit our resilience web page where you will find 10 ways parents can help children and youth build resilience to help them cope with challenging situations.

My child is having a hard time adjusting to the new routines at school. How can I help them feel at ease?

  • Have an open conversation about what it is that’s worrying them, encourage them to ask questions, and reassure them that they are safe. Listen to your child and let them know you are there when they need you.
  • Let them know that schools are putting in place many new processes that will help them stay safe. These include asking parent to keep students home if they are sick, staying apart as much as possible, more cleaning, washing hands and using masks.
  • Let your child know that it is normal to have feelings of stress or anxiety and that it’s okay to express their feelings and talk about them.
  • Remind children about the positives – that they will be able to see their friends and educators (if they are physically returning to the classroom) and continue learning new things.
  • Create before and after school routines with your child, such as preparing things to pack for school in the morning (e.g. lunch bag, reusable water bottle, face covering) and things to do when you return home (e.g. washing hands).

I have another question not listed on this web page. Who do I contact?

If you are not able to find answers to your questions on our website, or through the online school screening tool, please contact HPEPH’s COVID-19 information line by dialing 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803.

The COVID-19 information line operates Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Interested in receiving monthly updates about HPEPH programs and services?

Sign up for our e-newsletter

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Province of Ontario has Declared a Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives.  Read more.

Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the provincial government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work.

Owner/operators of a businesses, workplaces and/or other community organizations who are unsure of how to adjust operations for COVID-19 are encouraged to visit sector specific guidance regarding provincial lockdown measures at Ontario.ca or call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. If you are unable to find an answer to your questions or need further guidance, please fill out this web form.

During the provincewide shutdown, no indoor social gatherings are permitted, except with members of the same household (the people you live with). Individuals who live alone and single parents may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household. Outdoor gatherings must be limited to 5 individuals, and proper physical distancing must be maintained.

If you are concerned about potential exposure to a positive case of COVID-19, please be reassured that any contacts of a confirmed case will be contacted directly and monitored by public health.

Low-risk and indirect contacts should self monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the time of potential exposure and seek testing if symptoms develop. Low risk contacts do not need to isolate unless symptoms develop, and can continue to attend school/work/daycare while monitoring for symptoms.