Last updated: May 11, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.
The following recommendations are intended to help JK to Grade 12 schools and school boards reduce the spread of COVID-19. They are based on provincial Ministry of Education guidelines, COVID-19: health and safety measures at schools.
For publicly-funded schools (i.e. Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), CS Viamonde, and CS Mon Avenir, where there is a difference between this guidance document and the school board’s internal policies and procedures, the school board’s plan should take precedence.
Updated information about COVID-19 can be found in Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
The province of Ontario has released updated operational guidance for schools for the Omicron variant. 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.
We are currently seeing an increase in COVID-19 activity in Toronto , Toronto Public Health continues to recommend the following tips to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The guidance document has been updated to include:
Symptomatic students
Information changes frequently. Please visit our website at toronto.ca/COVID19 for updated information or call us at 416-338-7600.
Note: School-specific resources are available on our website at: toronto.ca/COVID19SchoolInfo
Download this information as a PDF (available in French).
Download the Screening Poster for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.
Also available in French.
Download the Screening Questionnaire for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.
Also available in French.
All individuals must 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 should look for new, different or worsening symptoms.
Download this information as a PDF (available in French).
Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Reporting for Schools and Child Care Centres
Download this information as a PDF (available in French).
Parents can complete a Back to Child Care/School Confirmation Form (fillable form) to provide to the school to confirm the child can return to school. Also available in French.
Mature minors/adult students can complete a Back to School Confirmation Form for Mature Minors/Adults (fillable form) to provide to the school principal. Also available in French.
Children and students can present with COVID-19 symptoms for many reasons. While child care centres/ schools are not asked to do a full assessment of each COVID-19 symptom an individual may have, the information provided below may be helpful in determining if they are presumed to have COVID-19.
Temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius/100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and/or experiencing chills
Continuous or barking cough that is more than usual, or that makes a whistling noise when breathing. Not related to asthma, post-infectious reactive airways, or other known conditions they already have.
Out of breath, unable to breathe deeply. Not related to asthma or other known respiratory conditions they already have.
Not related to seasonal allergies, neurological disorders, or other known conditions they already have.
Painful swallowing. Not related to seasonal allergies, acid reflux, or other known causes or conditions you already have.
Unusual, long-lasting. Not related to tension-type headaches, chronic migraines, or other known causes or conditions you already have. Not related to if the student/child received a COVID-19 and/or flu vaccination in the last 48 hours and is experiencing a mild headache that only began after vaccination.
Unusual, fatigue, lack of energy, poor feeding in infants. Not related to depression, insomnia, thyroid dysfunction, sudden injury, or other known causes or conditions they already have. Not related if they received a COVID-19 and/or flu vaccination in the last 48 hours and are experiencing mild fatigue that only began after vaccination.
Not related to seasonal allergies, being outside in cold weather, or other known causes or conditions that the child already has.
Not related to if the student/child received a COVID-19 and/or flu vaccination in the last 48 hours.
Not related to irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, menstrual cramps, or other known causes or conditions they already have. A stomach ache on its own is not a COVID-19 symptom.
If the child/student or someone in their household has one or more symptoms from A or two or more symptoms from B, not related to other known causes or conditions they already have, the child/student should stay home and isolate immediately. A person who has these symptoms is presumed to have COVID-19 even if not tested and should follow the direction on self-isolation on page 2 of the COVID-19 self-screening questionnaire. They are to seek assessment from their health care provider as needed.
There are many reasons children/students may have symptoms that are not related to COVID-19, including seasonal allergies, asthma, etc. Children/students who have a history of related or known causes of symptoms for conditions they already have can seek an alternative diagnosis from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. The alternative diagnosis will confirm that they do not have COVID-19, but another condition that explains the child’s/student’s symptoms. If the child/student has a chronic health condition and symptoms are getting worse, they should stay home and speak to a health care provider or seek medical attention.
Parents can complete and submit a Back to Child Care/School Confirmation Form to the child care or school to confirm that the child is safe to return to school. Toronto Public Health does not recommend the use of medical notes for return to child care or school.
Download this information as a PDF (available in French).
Student Nutrition Programs should follow the safety measures set out by the Ministry of Health, Toronto Public Health and the Ontario Food Premises Regulation (493/17) for schools, community centres and organizations. The COVID -19 information is applicable for all sectors. See information on Toronto Public Health’s Student Nutrition Program.
TPH has established a team of liaison public health nurses to provide COVID-19 and mental health and well-being support to schools as they reopen
Read Toronto Public Health’s school information for parents and caregivers, including tips on how to prepare for school during COVID-19 and what parents need to know if there is a case of COVID-19 at school.
Practice good oral hygiene by:
Please go to the Toronto Public Health web page: Dental & Oral Health Services for more information.
Call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 if you do not have dental coverage, or if you need emergency dental care. Information about dental clinics in Toronto is also available.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and read Toronto Public Health’s information about COVID-19 vaccines and children and COVID-19 vaccine resource list for youth (also available in French).
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. You can find more information and public health guidance for schools at toronto.ca/COVID19SchoolInfo and for child care settings at toronto.ca/COVID19ChildCareInfo.
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | Contact List and How to Report a Case or Childcare/School Absenteeism | Staff in child care centres and schools |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Guidance for Schools JK to Grade 12 | Staff in JK-12 schools |
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 | JK-12 E-Newsletter Inserts for Parents/Caregivers and PA Announcements for JK-12 Students | Staff in JK-12 schools |
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 | Back to Child Care/School Confirmation Form | Parents for children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Back to School Confirmation Form for Mature Minors/Adult Students | Mature minors/adult students for JK-12 schools |
Toronto Public Health | COVID-19 Decision Tool for Schools and Child Care Centres | Staff in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Understanding COVID-19 Symptoms in Child Care Attendees and JK-12 Students | Staff and parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | How to Count Self-Isolation Days If You Have COVID-19 | Staff and parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | A Parent’s Guide if your Child is a Close Contact of a Person with COVID-19 | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | What to Do if Your Child Has COVID-19 Symptoms | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Know When to Self-Monitor, Self-Isolate or Send your Child to School | Parents/caregivers of 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 |
Toronto Public Health | My Child Has Symptoms of COVID-19. Now What | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Toronto Public Health | Planning to travel with your child outside of Canada? | Parents/caregivers of children/students in child care centres and schools |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
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 |
Government of Canada | COVID Alert app | Staff and students in
secondary schools |
Source | Resource Link | Audience |
---|---|---|
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 |