With the province announcing that schools will remain open during the 4 week stay at home order, many parents are concerned about the increased risk it poses to their children.
The Ontario Government has said that keeping schools and child care open is critical to the mental health and well-being of Ontario children and youth and will remain open for in-person care and learning in public health regions where it is permitted.
Locally, our school cases in the Elgin/St. Thomas area have been significantly lower since children returned to in-person learning following the extended Christmas break.
Jenna Tregenza, who works closely with the schools as a Public Health Nurse with Southwestern Public Health says it has a lot to do with the resilience of the students.
But with 8 active school cases in the area, Tregenza explains exactly what happens when a positive case has been confirmed in a school community.
She adds that an outbreak will only be declared at a school under specific circumstances.
For parents who may be confused about what action to take once a case has been confirmed at their children’s school, Tregenza says unless you are directly contacted, to just monitor symptoms.
Students who have been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case will need to isolate for 14 days, news that Tregenza says isn’t always easy to hear.
For tips on getting your family through isolation, you can visit the SWPH Youtube Channel.
