COVID-19 in Grand Erie Schools - Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Erie is utilizing a number of health and safety strategies:

• All non-essential furniture, supplies and equipment have been removed from classrooms to assist with physical distancing
• In January 2021, the Ministry of Education updated its COVID-19 guidelines, making masks mandatory for all students in Grades 1-3
• On January 25, Grand Erie District School Board Trustees passed a motion making masks mandatory for all students in Kindergarten
• This means that all Grand Erie students (Kindergarten to Grade 12) are required to wear masks at school or while using Grand Erie services offered by Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk (STSBHN)
• Staff are required to wear masks and eye protection or face shields
• Regular hand-washing and/or hand-sanitizing is built into the school day and encouraged often
• Where possible, adjustments have been made to the HVAC systems in schools. Additionally, windows are opened and ceiling/floor fans are used to help with ventilation
• There is signage placed in all schools to encourage physical distancing and the use of arrows to create one-way hallways, where required
• There is increased cleaning and disinfecting of touch points, bathrooms and shared items

The first thing you should do is complete the COVID-19 screening tool.

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.

The list of new or worsening current symptoms includes:

• Fever and/or chills
• Cough or barking cough (croup)
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease or loss of smell or taste
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Runny or stuffy/congested nose
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Extreme tiredness or muscle aches

Your child should isolate immediately and you should contact your child’s health provider for further advice or assessment. Your 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.

Both the BRANT COUNTY HEALTH UNIT and the​​​​ HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT are also directing the following additional measures:

If a student is showing symptoms while at school, the student will be immediately excused from school, along with all siblings. All members living in the same household are required to self-isolate.

The symptomatic student and siblings can not return to school until one of the following has occurred:

1. The symptomatic student has received a negative COVID-19 test result, and… 
   1. does not have a fever (without using medication);
   2. it has been at least 24 hours since symptoms started improving; and
   3. was not in close physical contact with someone who currently has COVID-19.
2. The symptomatic student has received an alternative diagnosis from a health care provider. 
3. If the symptomatic student does not seek COVID-19 testing, and has not had an alternative diagnosis from a health care provider, but the student has: 
   1. Self-isolated for 10 days and the student feels better for a period of 24 hours. 
   2. All members living in the same household have self-isolated. 
   3. All members living in the same household have self-isolated for an additional 14 days from last contact with the symptomatic student. 

Note: All members living in the same household are required to self-isolate.

Please complete Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool to determine next steps.

If your child is waiting for direction from their health care provider and/or waiting for COVID-19 test results, they need to isolate.

Members living in the same household as the sick child also need to self-isolate if the child has had a high-risk exposure - for example: traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days or is a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19.

If the sick child has had no high-risk exposure, household members should self-monitor.

Both the BRANT COUNTY HEALTH UNIT and the​​​​ HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT are also directing the following additional measures:

• Siblings of symptomatic students at school also need to be dismissed.
• If students have symptoms, they need to isolate while waiting for their COVID-19 test results. Members living in the same household as the sick student also need to self-isolate while awaiting the student’s COVID-19 test results.
• If a symptomatic student does not get tested, everyone in the household needs to self-isolate for 14 days.

Grand Erie families will be notified via School Messenger if a student or staff member at their child’s school tests positive for COVID-19. Grand Erie works closely with both the Brant County Health Unit and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. If there is a positive case in Grand Erie, the board will follow the direction provided by these medical experts.

Local health units will provide public health guidance and direction to those affected and will be responsible for contact tracing. Any student or staff member determined to be a close contact of a confirmed case will be contacted by the appropriate health unit to inform them of their exposure and outline next steps. If you, or your child, is not contacted by the appropriate health unit, they have not been considered a close contact.

A close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case is an individual who has been within six feet for more than 15 minutes with some who: has symptoms (in the period from two days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation), or has tested positive for COVID-19, but has not had any symptoms (in the two days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).

If your child has been identified as a close contact to a confirmed case of COVID-19, you will be contacted by the local health unit (Brant County or Haldimand-Norfolk). The local health unit will outline next steps, which may include instructions to seek testing.

The Ministry of Health mandates public health units to be in contact with known close contacts within 24-48 hours of being made aware of them. The local health unit may not be aware of all close contacts at the time Grand Erie families receive the initial notice from the school about a COVID-19 case. The local health unit needs time to conduct their investigation. This investigation includes gathering all known close contacts to the initial case.

The local health unit will determine the extent of all students/staff exposures, based on activities within the classroom/cohorts as well as the broader school (i.e., transportation, child care and before/after school programs). This assessment and management is based on the provincial School Outbreak Management Guidance from the Ministry of Health.

If your child has been identified as a close contact to a confirmed case, you will be contacted by the appropriate local health unit. The health unit will outline next steps, which may include instructions to seek testing.

If you have not been contacted by your local public health unit, your child has not been identified as a close contact of the individual who has tested positive, and therefore testing is not required. If despite this, you remain concerned about your child’s exposure, you are free to seek assessment from your healthcare provider.

Logs and seating plans for student transportation services are kept to assist health units in contact tracing. Any student or staff member determined to be a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case will be contacted by the appropriate health unit to inform them of their exposure and outline next steps. This close contact determination includes the time of transportation to and from school. For students below 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be contacted in place of the student.

Grand Erie follows prescribed and thorough cleaning protocols. All high-touch areas of the school and classrooms are attended to multiple times each day and the school is thoroughly cleaned each night. Authorized products that kill the COVID-19 virus are utilized and are an effective method of sanitizing.

Any student or staff member testing positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by the local public health unit from the jurisdiction in which they reside. The public health unit will direct the individual on their isolation period. When the public health unit has deemed the case resolved the individual will be able to return to school.

No additional testing is required following the isolation period.

Local health units do not need to provide written or verbal clearance for an affected student or staff member to return to school after they have satisfied the above requirements.

To enter schools, all students and staff must be able to pass Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool.

This is dependent on each individual situation:

NEGATIVE WITH LOW-RISK OR NO EXPOSURE

• If your child tested negative for COVID-19, they can return to school 24 hours after any symptoms have resolved (if they are showing symptoms)
• You can find your child’s test results online
• It’s important to note that mild symptoms known to persist in young children (e.g., runny nose) may be ongoing at the time of return to school if other symptoms have been resolved and there is a negative test. Everyone else in the household can return to daycare, school or work once the test result is negative

NEGATIVE WITH HIGH-RISK EXPOSURE

• If your child tested negative, but they have been declared a close contact of a confirmed case or travelled out of country, they need to self-isolate for before returning to school
• Household members will be directed depending on their exposure risk

POSITIVE

• If your child tests positive for COVID-19, your local health unit will contact you to determine isolation requirements

Medical notes or proof of negative tests are not required for students to return to school.

Grand Erie District School Board and the local public health units have a duty, under the Personal Health Information and Protection Act, to protect the privacy of patients, including those who have COVID-19.

While the identities of those with COVID-19 can not be disclosed, any student or staff member identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case will be contacted by the appropriate local health unit to inform them of their exposure and outline next steps.

For students below 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be contacted in place of the student.

Please call the appropriate local health unit (Brant County Health Unit or Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit) and your school to report non-compliance of isolation orders.

Please complete Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool to determine next steps.

If your child is waiting for direction from their health care provider and/or waiting for COVID-19 test results, they need to isolate.

Members living in the same household as the sick child also need to self-isolate if the child has had a high-risk exposure - for example: traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days or is a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19.

If the sick child has had no high-risk exposure, household members should self-monitor.

Both the BRANT COUNTY HEALTH UNIT and the​​​​ HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT are also directing the following additional measures:

• Siblings of symptomatic students at school also need to be dismissed.
• If students have symptoms, they need to isolate while waiting for their COVID-19 test results. Members living in the same household as the sick student also need to self-isolate while awaiting the student’s COVID-19 test results.
• If a symptomatic student does not get tested, everyone in the household needs to self-isolate for 14 days.

Please complete Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool to determine your and your child’s next steps. If testing is recommended, then household contacts should self-isolate pending testing and results.

If you believe your child does not have COVID-19, but is experiencing allergies, a common cold, flu, etc., please take your child to their health care provider for further assessment. Your child’s health care provider may send your child for COVID-19 testing or provide an alternative diagnosis.

If the health care provider does not recommend testing for COVID-19, then your child can return to school once it has been at least 24 hours since symptoms started improving.

Medical notes or proof of negative tests are not required for students to return to school.

Both the BRANT COUNTY HEALTH UNIT and the​​​​ HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT are also directing the following additional measures:

• Siblings of symptomatic students at school also need to be dismissed.
• If students have symptoms, they need to isolate while waiting for their COVID-19 test results. Members living in the same household as the sick student also need to self-isolate while awaiting the student’s COVID-19 test results.
• If a symptomatic student does not get tested, everyone in the household needs to self-isolate for 14 days.

COVID-19 shares some of the same symptoms as a cold, flu or seasonal allergies. As a result, students and staff will need to be vigilant and watch for common COVID-19 symptoms. If they experience these symptoms, particularly if they are new or worsening symptoms, they should consult with their health care provider before attending school.

Students and staff are required to monitor their symptoms daily and not attend school when they are feeling ill. Everyone within the school community has an important role to play in ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.

Please complete Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool to determine next steps.

If your child is waiting for direction from their health care provider and/or waiting for COVID-19 test results, they need to isolate.

Members living in the same household as the sick child also need to self-isolate if the child has had a high-risk exposure - for example: traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days or is a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19.

If the sick child has had no high-risk, household members do not need to self-isolate but should self-monitor.

Both the BRANT COUNTY HEALTH UNIT and the​​​​ HALDIMAND-NORFOLK HEALTH UNIT are also directing the following additional measures:

• Siblings of symptomatic students at school also need to be dismissed.
• If students have symptoms, they need to isolate while waiting for their COVID-19 test results. Members living in the same household as the sick student also need to self-isolate while awaiting the student’s COVID-19 test results.
• If a symptomatic student does not get tested, everyone in the household needs to self-isolate for 14 days.

Contact your local COVID-19 assessment centre to arrange for testing:

• Brant County Health Unit COVID-19 Online Scheduling Information
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit COVID-19 Online Scheduling Information

Your child needs to isolate while waiting for direction from their health care provider and/or while waiting for test results.

If your child has been tested for COVID-19, you can see your results online here.

Please use a walk-in clinic or call Telehealth Ontario: Toll-free: 1-866-797-0000 or Toll-free TTY: 1-866-797-0007.

If a Grand Erie student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 or there is an COVID-19 outbreak declared, you will be informed as soon as possible via School Messenger. For more information on COVID-19 in Grand Erie schools, For more information on COVID-19 in Grand Erie schools, click here for more information..

Additionally, the Brant County Health Unit and the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit will also provide daily updates on their respective sites for school outbreak statistics.

A ‘variant’ is when the virus has changed or mutated. Some variants of the virus can become a concern for public health when the mutation or change makes it harder to stop the spread. For example, a variant of concern (VOC) can:

• Spread more easily
• Cause more severe symptoms
• Make it harder to diagnose

The same public health measures you and your family are practising now will also work to prevent the spread of variants of concern, including practising physical distancing, wearing a mask, and screening your child daily for symptoms before sending them to school.

Grand Erie’s policy on cases and close contacts remains the same even for variants of concern cases. 

Individuals that have tested positive are directed by the health unit to self-isolate, along with any family members who reside in the same household.

Individuals notified that they have been identified as a close contact must self-isolate immediately. Within 24-48 hours of a case confirmation the local health unit will provide you with further direction and next steps, including the date your child can return to school.

Visit the Brant County Health Unit’s website or call 519-753-4937 and press 1. Check the website for hours of operation. You can also email your questions to covid19@bchu.org.

Visit the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit’s website or call 519-426-6170, ext. 9999.