On September 8, Toronto Public Health (TPH) recommended that schools and school boards gradually return extra-curricular activities, field trips and high contact sports with mixed cohorts for the start of the school year when school routines are established.
Today, TPH has released updated guidance outlining the gradual return of extra-curricular activities in Toronto schools and school boards. The full guidance and list of recommendations can be found on the COVID-19 Guidance: Elementary and Secondary Schools web page.
As school communities establish their routines and student cohorts, and are confident in their health and safety protocols, a gradual return of clubs, activities, sports teams, bands (without wind and brass instruments) and extra-curricular is recommended. TPH recommends prioritizing the gradual return of lower risk activities, and activities that occur outdoors.
To facilitate contact tracing, schools should keep accurate records of all students who are part of these clubs/activity cohorts. Attendance records in the extra-curricular activity should be maintained and screening should be completed and confirmed on the day of the activity. Masking and physical distancing also continue to be recommended where possible given the activity.
TPH continues to monitor COVID-19 activity and advise local school boards to carefully assess the current daily situation based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence and local data to help keep our community as safe as possible.
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