News Release
September 13, 2021

In-person learning is essential for the mental and physical wellbeing of students and Toronto Public Health (TPH) is working closely with local schools to continue supporting a safe as possible return to school. As part of this effort, TPH is completing case and contact management for COVID-19 cases to help keep staff, students, and the community as safe as possible, as we continue living with COVID-19.

Now that in-person learning has resumed, TPH is closely monitoring all COVID-19 activity in school settings. As of 10 a.m. today, the following schools have public health investigations underway where TPH will connect with all close contacts:

  • Bellmere Junior Public School
  • Central Montessori School – Maplehurst Campus
  • Cresthaven Public School
  • Dundas Junior Public School
  • East York Collegiate Institute
  • École élémentaire catholique Saint-Michel
  • Elia Middle School
  • Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy
  • Humber Valley Village Junior Middle School
  • Milne Valley Middle School
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School
  • Pauline Johnson Junior Public School
  • Riverdale Collegiate Institute
  • Ryerson Community School
  • Senator O’Connor College School
  • Sir John A Macdonald Collegiate Institute
  • St. André Catholic School
  • St. Brigid Catholic School
  • The York School
  • Topcliff Public School
  • West Hill Collegiate Institute
  • William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
  • Willowdale Middle School

COVID-19 and the more infectious Delta variant continue to circulate in Toronto. It is not unexpected to have cases related to the school setting, even during the first week of school, as cases in school settings often reflect what is happening in the broader community.

In keeping with provincial guidance, several public health measures are in place in schools to protect students and staff including masking, and cohorting students. TPH also continues to recommend frequent hand washing, cleaning protocols, and for staff and students to complete TPH’s screening questionnaire or the provincial school screening tool each day and for schools to confirm the completion of the screen. The Ontario Ministry of Education has also announced a vaccination policy for school staff.

TPH’s screening questionnaire is available here

The provincial school screening tool is available here

TPH staff follow up with each COVID-19 positive case in the city. Case and contact management is, at its core, about investigation. Data gathered through this process helps public health determine where a person may have gotten infected, how the virus is spreading in the community, and how it can be contained.

TPH completes an investigation for all laboratory confirmed cases related to schools. Principals are recommended to follow TPH’s COVID-19 Decision Guide for Principals to Dismiss Cohorts to Self-isolate, which explains when to dismiss affected cohorts, while allowing those who are fully vaccinated to continue to attend school as long as they have no symptoms. The Guide is available here

TPH declares an outbreak if there are two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students and/or staff in a school with an epidemiological link within 14 days. This means that there is at least one case that could have reasonably acquired their infection in school, which includes transportation and before and after school care.

Active school outbreaks are posted on TPH’s Active Outbreaks dashboard, under the “Schools” tab. The dashboard is updated five times per week, from Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays. TPH will also share school cohort dismissal and outbreaks via Twitter at 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

“It is not unexpected that we’ve started to see COVID-19 cases in our school settings as we continue living with this virus. Vaccination continues to be our best defense against this virus.  It provides protection for those receiving the vaccine and for others around them. This is why we continue to remind everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as they are able if they have not yet done so.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Media contact: Toronto Public Health Media Relations, tphmedia@toronto.ca