HWDSB reminding parents of new protocols for children in school and child care

Published October 9, 2020 at 1:46 am

The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is reminding parents of the Province’s revised screening tool for students in school

The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is reminding parents of the Province’s revised screening tool for students in school and child care.

As of October 5, children who attend school and child care must screen for COVID-19 every day before attending.

Additionally, children are to stay home if they are experiencing one or more of: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, and decrease or loss of smell or taste; and two or more of sore, throat, stuffy nose or runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, muscle aches, and malaise.

Should children develop one or more of fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, and decrease or loss of smell or taste; and two or more of sore, throat, stuffy nose or runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, muscle aches, and malaise, while at school, they are to isolate until they can be picked up by a parent.

The child should remain home for at least 24 hours after the onset of symptoms—however, asymptomatic members of the child’s household may continue to attend school and child care, while monitoring for symptoms.

If a child is tested for the virus and tests negative, they can return to school when they are no longer symptomatic; if they test positive for the virus, they are to remain in isolation and follow Hamilton Public Health Services guidance—they and their household contacts are prohibited from attending school or child care for at least 10 days.

If they are not tested, they are to isolate for 10 days; they and their household contacts are prohibited from attending school or child care unless they have been given an alternate diagnosis from a health care provider (they must still wait until they are without symptoms for 24 hours.

Additionally, should parents wish to have their children change from in-person to online learning, or vice versa, the deadline for them to submit the necessary forms is 11:59 p.m. on October 12. Those who decide they want their children to switch models after this date will have two more opportunities to do so: January 2021, and March 2021.

Further, Meet the Educator events will not be happening this year, but parents and teachers can discuss student progress via telephone call or a video conference using MS Teams.

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