Parents & Caregivers

Parents & Caregivers

Students and staff should continue to use the Ontario COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool and follow the instructions given.

If your child has symptoms, has been identified as a close contact or has a family member with COVID-19 or symptoms, please follow the directions: 

If you have questions related to symptoms, isolation, testing or exposure, call the Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1-888-777-0730 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

 

Guidance for Parents and Caregivers

Screen your child every day before attending child care or school. 

The following tools can be used to screen children:  

Your child should not go to child care, school, on the school bus, or attend any before or after school programs if any of the following apply:

  • The daily screening indicated that your child must not attend child care or school for whatever reason (this is also called “failing the screen”). Refer to the screening tools above and the Ontario Public Health Measures and Advice page for corresponding instructions.
  • They have returned from international travel in the last 14 days and are required to self-isolate under the Federal Quarantine Act.

If your child has symptoms:

  • Complete the daily screening tool and follow the guidance provided for when they can return to child care or school. Adhere to any recommendations regarding face masks, as well as the instructions for household members.

Encourage your child to wear a mask at school/child care.

  • Masks are no longer mandatory for students, with some exceptions (see below); however, masks remain an important layer of protection. Everyone is strongly encouraged to continue wearing a well-fitted high-quality mask in indoor settings, including school and child care.
  • Masks are not recommended for children under the age of two years.

Masks should still be worn at school or child care in the following situations:

  • When following directions set out by the Federal government i.e. around travel.
  • If a person tests positive for COVID-19, once they are no longer advised to stay home, they should wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask in public settings for a total of 10 days after symptom onset or the date of the test (whichever came first).
  • If a person has certain symptoms of illness, they and their household members may be advised to wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask in public settings for 10 days. The Ontario School and Child Care screening tool offers guidance on this.
  • Whenever advised to wear a mask, individuals should also avoid activities where mask removal is necessary (such as dining out, high contact sports or playing instruments at school), with the exception of essential activities like eating lunch or snacks in a shared space at school/work. Individuals who are exempt from masking (e.g. children under two years of age, etc.) may return to public settings without masking.

See the Masks/Face Coverings page for further details.

Follow general public health advice.

  • If your child is aged 6 months and older, they are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Visit the Vaccine Information for Children and Youth page for information on COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth, including details on where to access immunization.
  • Help your child understand how to stop the spread of germs, through role modeling and family discussions.
  • Send your child to school with a healthy lunch, a labeled water bottle and remind them not to share food or drink with others.

 

    Additional Information

    Last Updated: 19/09/2022