Management of ill or symptomatic individuals in the school setting

This section applies to students, staff or other members or visitors to the school community, who become ill during the school day and on school premises.

With any symptoms of illness - COVID‑19 related or not - sick individuals should stay home and seek assessment from their regular healthcare provider if required.

All individuals are expected to screen every day before attending school. Any staff, student, or visitor that does not pass the screening will not be able to attend school. At the advice of the local public health unit, schools and school boards may choose to implement additional screening measures based on local circumstances.

Students should be made aware, in age-appropriate and non-stigmatizing language, how to identify symptoms of COVID‑19 and should be instructed to speak to a staff member immediately if they feel ill.

Schools should maintain a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit specifically for managing students or others who become ill during school hours. Staff should be trained to use this kit (for example, for proper donning and doffing).

Scenario: a student becomes ill during the school day

The following actions apply to an individual, including students, staff, contractors, visitors, parents or guardians, who becomes ill while at school, including before and after school care affiliated with the school.

Recommended action by teacher

The teacher should:

  • be aware of symptom descriptions and alert the principal if a student is ill
  • continue to monitor students and themselves for symptoms

Recommended action by principal

The principal should:

  • coordinate immediate student pick-up and designate an area to isolate the student until parent or guardian arrival
  • advise student and any staff attending to them to use provided PPE kit
  • advise student to remain at home and continue with remote learning, if they are well enough to do so
  • if required, advise all staff of the concern while protecting confidentiality and responding with sensitivity in the circumstances
  • as required, contact superintendent and make them aware of the situation
  • coordinate and ensure environmental cleaning or disinfection of the space and items used by the ill individual or individuals
  • monitor school population for possible new or additional illnesses and absenteeism
  • report in the daily attendance tracking tool as necessary

Recommended action by school board

The superintendent should:

  • inform the COVID‑19 board lead and others at the board office as required
  • provide support to the school principal as needed

The COVID‑19 board lead should continue to monitor attendance and student absences at the board level.

Recommended action by parent and student

The parent and student should: