Provincial Update to COVID-19 Screening Tool
Recently, the Province has made an update to the COVID-19 screening tool. The COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool, and the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Employees and Essential Visitors in Schools and Child Care Settings, have been updated to reflect public health guidance for individuals experiencing symptoms post COVID-19 immunization.
The updates to the school screening tool align with the Ministry of Health’s new guidance for individuals who may be experiencing post-vaccine symptoms. In particular, individuals who are experiencing certain minor symptoms that are compatible with COVID-19, but have received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 48 hours, may still be able to attend school if these symptoms began after vaccination.
Key changes to the COVID-19 Screening Tool related to COVID-19 post-vaccination symptoms include:
Screening Process:
If a school staff member, student or visitor received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 48 hours and is experiencing mild headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and/or joint pain that only began after vaccination, and no other symptoms, they should respond “no” in the screening tool and may continue to attend school if they are feeling well enough to do so.
If a staff member or student lives in a household with an individual who received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 48 hours and is experiencing mild headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and/or joint pain that only began after vaccination, and no other symptoms, they should respond “no” in the screening tool and are not required to self-isolate (stay home).
Isolation and Testing:
If the mild headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and/or joint pain symptoms worsen, continues past 48 hours, or if the individual develops other symptoms, they should leave the school setting immediately to self-isolate and seek COVID-19 testing.
Masking updates for those with mild symptoms within 48 hours of vaccination:
Current COVID masking protocols are still in place for all staff and students.
However, if the student, staff member or visitor received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 48 hours and has mild headache, fatigue, muscle aches and/or joint pain that only began after immunization, and no other symptoms, they are to wear a properly fitted mask for their entire time in the school setting. The mask may only be removed to consume food or drink and the individual must remain at least two metres away from others when their mask has been removed.
These changes reflect the latest advice from the Ministry of Health for schools, child care and other workplace settings.