Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/April 8, 2021 – As students prepare for their upcoming spring break and a Stay-at-Home order comes into effect across the province, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) and local schools agree that keeping students in class continues to be a priority, provided it remains safe to do so. As stated by the province: “Keeping schools and child care open is critical to the mental health and well-being of Ontario children and youth. Schools and child care will remain open for in-person care and learning in public health regions where it is permitted, with strict safety measures in place.”
To date, HPEPH has not seen any spread of COVID-19 within classrooms, and only one occurrence of spread within bus transportation. This means that infection control measures such as distancing, face coverings, sanitizing and hand washing are working. Families can also be reassured that if transmission does occur in the school setting, outbreak measures will be used to contain the spread within a classroom or school so other classrooms and schools should not be impacted.
To keep classrooms safe, prompt and efficient notification about COVID-19 cases in a school setting is essential. HPEPH is working with school partners to streamline notification processes and ensure all individuals impacted by COVID-19 cases in a school setting are informed as quickly as possible so individuals who have had a high-risk exposure to someone who developed COVID-19 will be aware of their risk sooner, and can isolate as quickly as possible. HPEPH remains committed to working with school boards to keep classrooms safe and families informed.
What is Changing?
Until early this month, all high-risk contacts of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in a school environment have been notified via a direct phone call from a public health representative. As the number of cases has risen in the region, HPEPH is making proactive changes to ensure health resources are used as efficiently as possible during this critical time.
Effective immediately, school boards will provide automated phone calls to individuals who have had high-risk COVID-19 contact in a school environment, in place of individual phone calls. It is essential that families ensure accurate contact information is on file with the school. The automated call will provide critical information about isolation and testing requirements and will be supported by a detailed letter, distributed by the school on behalf of HPEPH. Low-risk contacts in the school setting will also be advised of their status by automated phone call and a supporting letter by the school on behalf of HPEPH, for awareness and reassurance. In situations where a comprehensive risk assessment is required to determine if individuals are high- or low-risk, HPEPH will conduct phone calls to ensure risk is evaluated. All school families are assured that they are still able to reach out to HPEPH if they have questions, or they are unsure how to manage isolation for a school-age child. In addition, HPEPH has updated the web page, Information for People who Test Positive, and Close Contacts of People with COVID-19.
Why is This Change Necessary?
Identifying and notifying high-risk contacts of individuals who test positive is a critical step in slowing the spread of COVID-19. However, this is a time consuming and labour-intensive process. When an individual tests positive, Public Health conducts a detailed, one-on-one interview to learn more about that person’s recent activities, and the individuals with whom they had contact during their contagious period. Depending on the individual’s personal situation and discretionary choices, they might have very few close contacts, or they might have 30 or more. This is the reason it is so important for individuals to limit non-essential contact with those outside their household. Public Health carefully assesses these interactions to determine who might have had high-risk exposure to the individual. Each of these high-risk contacts must then be notified by Public Health and advised to isolate for 14 days from their last day in school/last contact with the individual who tested positive. Last week, the team at HPEPH notified over 500 high-risk contacts. Each call can take up to 45 minutes.
How can Students, Families, and Community Members Help?
When infection control measures are followed, schools continue to be a safer setting than many private social events or gatherings where these measures are not in place. However, everyone has a role to play to keep local schools, and our community, safe. The following measures are critical to keep students, educators, and school staff as safe as possible.
- Keep your child home if they are sick. If your child (or anyone else in your household) has a sniffle, runny nose, headache, stomach ache, cough, sore throat, chills, fever, headache, or any of the other symptoms of COVID-19, just stay home. There is no such thing as “just a cold” during the pandemic. Your child’s runny nose could put someone else in the ICU.
- Stay home if your household member is sick. If anyone in your household has any symptom of COVID-19, all household members must stay home until the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result.
- Get tested for COVID-19. If your child (or anyone else in your household) has symptoms, you must stay home until a negative test result or alternative diagnosis is received.
- Avoid non-essential contact with others. School, work, groceries, and medical appointments are essential reasons to have (distanced) contact with others. Wear your face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands. Avoid any unnecessary contact with those outside of your household.
- Get vaccinated if you are eligible. Take advantage of the earliest possible opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but remember that precautions must continue until 2 doses of vaccine are available to all people.
- Please be kind and patient. During these unprecedented times, it is easy to place blame on those around us. Please remember local health care workers, public health representatives, essential workers, educators, support staff, families, and students, are your neighbours, friends, and loved ones. Please help support those who are doing their best to keep our community safe by recognizing and respecting these efforts.
“The team at HPEPH recognizes the incredible and tireless work of local educators and school staff to keep classrooms safe, and we all have a role to play to support these efforts,”says Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH. “Keep your child home if they are sick – even if their symptoms are mild. Seek testing, and ensure all household members isolate until a negative test result is received.”
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Media contacts
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
mhyland@hpeph.ca
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
