Last updated: March 24, 2023
This page includes respiratory virus guidance and resources that may be applicable for both child care centres (includes licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, before and after school programs and early years programs) and schools (JK to grade 12).
For information on other School Health resources visit our Health Information & Resources for Elementary & Secondary Schools webpage.
Schools, licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, before and after school programs and EarlyON settings should follow the guidance provided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education for the management of COVID-19:
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Education
Reporting a Communicable Disease to Toronto Public Health:
At this time, the risk of MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) to children in Toronto is low. Learn more about MPOX, including how to spot the differences between MPOX, Chickenpox and Hand, Foot & Mouth disease.
Non-reportable communicable diseases do not need to be reported to public health. Examples of non-reportable communicable diseases include: the common cold; hand, foot and mouth disease; pink eye; ringworm; and strep throat. See the Communicable Disease Information for Schools & Child Care Centres for more information about common reportable and non-reportable diseases.
Child care centres and schools are to continue to monitor their own absence rates. Should the absence rate in a child care centre or school increase above what would typically be experienced at that time, and absences are not perceived to be linked to other factors (e.g., holidays), follow the steps below:
OR
Contact the TPH Communicable Disease Notification Unit at 416-392-7411 during business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
The agent will receive your report and a member of the communicable disease team will contact you for further support.
Please refer to the Infection Prevention and Control Measures for more information on infection prevention and control in child care centres.
Visit Early Learning & Child Care Partners to see Toronto Children’s Services’ resources and supports available to child care centres.
The following recommendations are intended to help JK to Grade 12 schools and school boards reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for the 2022-23 school year. They are in line with provincial Ministry of Education guidelines, COVID-19: health and safety measures at schools and Ministry of Health guidance, including Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19.
For publicly-funded schools (i.e. Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), CS Viamonde, and CSC MonAvenir), where there is a difference between this document and the school board’s internal policies and procedures, the school board’s policies and procedures should be followed.
School Liaison Public Health Nurses (SL PHNs) have been assigned to provide support to publicly-funded schools in Toronto. SL PHNs are available for consultation, education and support regarding reducing the spread of respiratory viruses, the Student Immunization Program, Comprehensive School Health, and other public health programs.
The Province of Ontario has released updated COVID-19 health and safety measures for schools for the 2022-2023 school year.
Toronto Public Health’s guidance for schools is consistent with the guidance provided by the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Toronto Public Health continues to recommend the following measures to reduce the spread of respiratory infections:
School measures from Ministry of Education and Health to support in-person learning:
Nutrition/third party food programs and non-instructional food events such as pizza day should ensure food handlers use adequate food handling and safety practices.
Learn more about communicable diseases and when to report to Toronto Public Health.
Learn more about what to do if your school is experiencing a high absentee rate and when to contact Toronto Public Health.
See Toronto Public Health respiratory virus resources for school administrators, child care operators, parents/caregivers and students/children.
This information is also available in French
It is recommended that individuals continue to complete a self-screening questionnaire before entering school/child care each day. Individuals with a chronic health issue that is medically diagnosed and unrelated to COVID-19 or another respiratory virus should look for new, different or worsening symptoms. Symptoms should not be chronic or related to other known causes or conditions (see examples here).
For 10 days after the start of symptoms OR a positive COVID-19 test (whichever came first) OR for 10 days after your last close contact with a person who has symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test:
Follow this advice even if you test negative for COVID-19 or you did not do a test. These measures are an added layer of prevention against the spread of COVID-19 and respiratory viruses.
This tool is consistent with the Ministry of Health’s (2022) Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario and the Government of Ontario’s (2022) COVID-19 School and child care screening.
This information is also available in French
Download the Screening Poster and Questionnaire for Child Care and Schools. Available in multiple languages.
Read Toronto Public Health’s respiratory virus information for parents and caregivers, including what parents need to know if their child is sick or is identified as a close contact at home or in the community.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines. For information about COVID-19 vaccines for children, visit Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccines for Infants, Children & Youth webpage.
Routine immunization for children and youth is still important during COVID-19. Learn more about routine childhood vaccines and visit the Childhood Vaccines – Quick Reference Guide webpage.
The table below includes links to resources that may be helpful for school administrators, child care operators, parents/caregivers and students/children. Please check the links often as the information is updated on a regular basis.
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Government of Ontario | COVID-19: health and safety measures at schools | Staff in JK-12 schools |
Government of Ontario | COVID-19: health and safety measures for child care | Staff in child care centres |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | Communicable Diseases in Child Care Centres and Schools | Child care operators / School administrators |
Toronto Public Health | High Absenteeism | Child care operators / School administrators |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | Screening Questionnaire for Children/Students/Adults | Staff and children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Screening Poster for Children/Students/Adults | Staff and children/students in child care centres and schools |
Government of Ontario | COVID-19 school and child care screening | Staff and children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Who is a close contact in the community | Staff and parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Government of Ontario | Provincial COVID-19 Testing Locations and Clinical Assessment Centres | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Fact Sheet | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | How does COVID-19 Spread? | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
SickKids | About Kids Health-COVID-19 | Staff, families, and children/students |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | Flu vaccine webpage | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | Routine childhood immunizations webpage | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Vaccine Resources (available in multiple languages) | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Vaccines | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | Information on COVID-19 vaccines and children | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 & Vaccines: Children | Staff, families, and children/students |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | Clean Hands Kit resource package | Students in grades 4 – 6 |
Health Canada | Hand washing heroes | Students in grades JK – 3 |
Health Canada | Coughing and sneezing hygiene for kids | Students in grades JK – 3 |
City of Toronto | Cover your Cough | Staff in child care centres and schools to use as needed |
Toronto Public Health | Cover Your Cough Poster | Staff in child care centres and schools to use as needed |
Toronto Public Health | Wash your Hands | Staff in child care centres and schools to use as needed |
Toronto Public Health | Hand Washing Poster | Staff in child care centres and schools to use as needed |
Toronto Public Health | Hand Sanitizing Poster | Staff in child care centres and schools to use as needed |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
City of Toronto | How to wear a mask at school/child care | Staff and students/children in child care centres and schools |
City of Toronto | Helping children wear masks at school/child care | Staff and students/children in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | How to safely wear a mask | Staff and students/children in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Face Mask and Coverings Offer Best Protection | Staff and students/children in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | When using a mask, choose one that is high quality and fits well | Staff and students/children in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Face Masks & Respirators | Staff, families, and children/students |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
City of Toronto | Self-Care Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety | Staff, families, and children/students |
City of Toronto | COVID-19 Mental Health Support | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Mental Health Resources | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | Taking Care of Your Mental Health and Well-Being | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | What is Resiliency? | Staff, families, and children/students |
Toronto Public Health | Box Breathing | Staff, families, and children/students |
Government of Ontario | Mental Health, Wellness and Addictions Support | Staff, families, and children/students |
School Mental Health Ontario | School Mental Health Ontario | Staff, families, and children/students |
School Mental Health Ontario | COVID-19-Parents and Families | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Children’s Mental Health Ontario | COVID-19 Resources | Staff, families, and children/students |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Government of Ontario – Ministry of Labour | COVID-19 and workplace health and safety | Child care operators and school administrators |
Government of Ontario – Ministry of Labour | COVID-19 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act | Child care operators and school administrators |
Government of Canada | Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19): List of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19 | Child care operators and school administrators |
Toronto Public Health | Infection Prevention and Control in Child Care Centres – Requirements and Best Practices | Child care operators and staff |
This information is also available in French.