The Health Unit’s school reopening document has been released on it’s website.( www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19)

Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jim Chirico says there are 15 topic areas including everything from physical distancing, face coverings, transportation, sports and extra curriculars and much more.

He says links to each school board website are also provided — for parents to look up their board’s return to school plan.

He says they have some calls since releasing the document but not a lot.

Chirico says more information is expected from the ministry before school starts.

“Such as outbreak management, roles for public health units, how schools are involved, how the health system is involved and guidance documents for outbreaks for parents,” he says.

He says they are working closely with all school boards on the return to school.

“Answering questions, helping them implement planning documents that the Ministry of Education is asking them to come up with and implement,” Dr. Chirico says.

In terms of symptoms and screening, all students must self-screen or be screened by parents or caregivers every day before attending school.

The document says if a student has any symptom of COVID-19, they must stay home from school and should seek testing and appropriate medical attention.

Dr. Chirico doesn’t believe there will be a major impact on community spread of COVID-19 when school returns based on current information.

“If you have very little community transmission and we haven’t had a case since July 4th, that is the optimum time to be able to reopen the schools and do it as safely as possible,” he says.

 

(File photo by station staff)

 

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