The daily mix of students and staff in schools provides numerous opportunities for the spread of illness because large groups of people share the same rooms, toys/items, eating spaces and bathroom facilities. Children are natural explorers of their environments, play closely together and readily share their belongings, food and germs.
Whole School Approaches
A healthy school includes activities that prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. Consider the following activities as part of your health and well-being action plan:
Personal Protective Measures
The health unit continues to encourage all students, staff, and visitors in schools to use personal protective measures to reduce the spread of illness. These include:
- Monitoring for signs and symptoms of illness and staying home if sick until at least 24 hours fever free and your symptoms are improving.
- Wash hands often or use alcohol-based hand rub if hands appear clean.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.
- Know your vaccination status and stay up to date on immunizations.
- Be aware of your personal risk factors. Consider wearing a mask or updating your vaccinations for added protection.
Download, print and post these resources to encourage regular hand hygiene throughout the school day:
Reporting Diseases of Public Health Significance
School principals are legally required to report suspected or confirmed Diseases of Public Health Significance to their local health unit with the exception of influenza and COVID-19. Reports must be made as soon as possible.
Refer to these requirements and reporting procedures for infectious diseases.
Not all diseases are reportable. This Common Childhood Illness: A Guide for Caregivers, available in English and French, includes information about common childhood illnesses, including symptoms, how each disease is spread, the infectious period, and when it is safe to return to school.
Health Unit Programs and Services
Infectious Diseases Program
The Infectious Diseases program offers services including providing information related to common childhood illnesses and supports investigation of Diseases of Public Health Significance (formerly reportable diseases). For further information, see the webpage linked below:
Infection Prevention and Control Program
The Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Program can support infection prevention initiatives in schools including raising awareness of best practices for invasive personal services like tattoos and piercings, as well as supporting the Specialist High Skills Major programming.
Public Health Inspections (Hairstyling and Aesthetics)
Public Health Inspectors from the Infection Prevention and Control program conduct mandated inspections of all Hairstyling and Aesthetics courses being offered within secondary schools.
School boards and/or schools are asked to notify the health unit when a new hairstyling and aesthetics program is being offered and/or when an existing program is being discontinued.
GlitterBug Handwashing Kit
The GlitterBug Handwashing Kit is an activity-based kit for hand hygiene promotion and infection control. This activity-based resource kit is suggested for Kindergarten to Grade 8. The GlitterBug Handwashing Kit includes a UV light, UV potion, ‘Be A Germ Stopper’ teacher resource manual, student activities and ‘Wash Your Hands’ book. Combined with other school-wide and classroom strategies, it can help to promote hand hygiene and infection control.
The GlitterBug Handwashing Kit supports the Healthy Living Strand of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum by addressing expectations under the topic of Human Development and Sexual Health related to hand hygiene and infection prevention & control.
Some School Boards in Simcoe Muskoka have GlitterBug Handwashing Kits available for lending to schools. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit also has kits available.
Schools can also request a consultation with their local School Years Public Health Nurse to help integrate the GlitterBug Handwashing Kit as a component of a comprehensive approach to supporting student well-being.
Teaching and Learning
Educators play a key role in preventing the spread of common childhood diseases by educating children and their caregivers on infection prevention and control practices.
Infection Prevention and Control
Schools are encouraged to follow infection prevention and control recommendations for child care and school settings in order to help prevent the spread of illness.
Bug Out! Get the Facts on Germs by Canadian Red Cross for Kindergarten to Grade 8 can help with teaching and learning about this topic. It includes activity booklets and corresponding facilitator guides by grade.
Student Engagement
Resources to share with students include:
Parent and Family Engagement
Resources to share with parents/families include:
Additional Resources
Contact Us
For more information or to access services, contact your local School Years Public Health Nurse. You can also contact the health unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or by completing our secure online Request for Service Form.
Updated: July 29, 2026
