Public and private schools  are open for full-time in-person learning. Remote learning continues to be an option for students and families.

For the 2022-23 school year, schools will:

  • provide optional three-ply cloth masks for students and non-fit-tested N95 masks for all school staff
  • encourage students on appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette (for example, washing hands or coughing into your sleeve)
  • have signs to reinforce self-screening for symptoms of illness and hand hygiene
  • schedule breaks for students to wash their hands
  • have hand sanitizer available at key locations throughout the school
  • have mental health services and supports available for students

Self-screening

Students, teachers, school staff and visitors should self-screen for symptoms of COVID‑19 every day before going to school.

Use the COVID‑19 tool to assess your child or yourself for symptoms. The results will tell you:

  • if you should go to school or stay home
  • what to do next

Cleaning practices

Schools will continue to have enhanced cleaning practices. This includes cleaning high-touch surfaces, like eating areas, washrooms, doorknobs and desks at least once a day.

Ventilation

School boards will continue to implement ventilation best practices and make upgrades to improve ventilation in all classrooms. This includes:

  • increasing fresh air intake
  • running ventilation systems longer and using the highest-grade filters possible (for example, MERV-13)
  • increasing the frequency of filter changes
  • using standalone high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units in every occupied kindergarten class and in all occupied learning spaces without mechanical ventilation, including classrooms, gyms, libraries, lunchrooms, child care spaces, administrative spaces and portables with no or poor mechanical ventilation

Schools are encouraged to support outdoor education where possible and open windows where this augments ventilation for classrooms and learning environment and it is safe to do so.

We have deployed over 100,000 HEPA filter units and other ventilation devices to schools.

Check your school board's website to find out about their ventilation measures.

Rapid antigen tests

Students and staff in publicly funded schools will have access to rapid antigen tests that can be used if needed. Distribution of tests and directions for use will follow provincial testing guidance.