Here is what happens at the school level;

• When a family gets a positive test result, this has to be processed by OPH.  If the test is done at a rural location, there is a delay in how quickly OPH gets that information.  

• Once OPH has confirmed a positive case they contact the school

• The school creates a contact list based on staff that teach in the room, recess cohorts etc. and provide it to OPH.  This is a list of people that have had direct, prolonged contact with the person that has COVID-19. This information is reviewed by OPH and then a letter is provided to the school to share with families of students that were in direct contact.

• OPH then provides a letter to be sent to the whole school community

• All communication regarding a positive case must come from OPH.    

• Following a positive case, the students and staff with direct contact are asked to self isolate for at least 14 days.  This isolation time may be extended if symptoms occur.  Even with a negative test result, these individuals cannot return to school.  

• OPH has said that they will contact each family at some point during the 2 week isolation period.  

• Family members of the isolated people (excluding the family with the positive test result) can continue to go to work/school as long as no one in the household shows signs of illness.

What happens when your child is ill
If a child is showing any of the below symptoms (as outlined by Ottawa Public Health) they cannot be sent to school and if they do come to school, they will be sent home, as will their siblings.

• Fever/chills

• Cough

• Difficulty breathing/ shortness of breath

• Sore throat/difficulty swallowing

• Runny nose (not related to allergies)

• Loss of taste or smell

• Unexplained headache, tiredness and muscle aches

• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

• Link to Ministry of Health symptom guide

Ottawa Public Health mandates that If your child develops these symptoms during the school day you will be called to pick up your unwell child and his/her siblings that are at the school.  While at school, your child will be placed in an isolation room and will be asked to put on a mask.  In order to return to school, the following must occur:

• If your family does not pursue COVID testing your child with symptoms and their siblings must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days and be without symptoms for 24 hours before returning.  

• You can seek a medical note from a healthcare provider that indicates an alternative diagnosis.  With this medical note your child can return to school 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.  

• If you seek COVID testing for your child and the results are positive OPH will provide guidance to your family and the school outlining next steps.  If the results are negative, the individual with symptoms needs to isolate until without symptoms for 24 hours.  Siblings may return if without symptoms.

Link to Ottawa Public Health symptomatic flow chart