An outbreak in a school is defined as “two or more students and/or staff whom tested positive for COVID-19 in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one person could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school (including transportation and before or after school care)”.
The health unit is responsible for determining if an outbreak exists, declaring an outbreak and providing direction on outbreak control measures to be implemented. We work closely with the school board and school, following the School Protocol When COVID-19 Outbreak is Declared, to prevent further spread of the virus. This may require partial or full closure of the school.
When an outbreak is declared at a school, the health unit will:
- Notify the school board and school principal
- Conduct a thorough investigation and risk assessment
- Request information from the school board and/or school principal to inform the investigation, as needed.
- Identify any close contacts in the school who must be excluded from school, and provide a letter for distribution to these individuals with instructions for self-isolation and testing (even if they have no symptoms)
- Post an outbreak notice on the SMDHU website
- Support the school board, school and child care operator, as needed, with general communications to school staff and families.
- Notify the school board, school, and before and after care when the outbreak is declared over and when staff and students can return to school
The school board and school will be required to compile information, to be provided to the health unit, including:
- Attendance records
- Class/cohort lists and seating charts
- Before/after school child care lists
- Transportation lists & seating charts
- Current contact info for students/staff
- Special assignments/programs/activities (e.g., Special Education)
- Records of essential visitors.
Schools and school boards will also need to work with the health unit to create and distribute communications to staff, students and/or families. The health unit will advise the school board and school of additional outbreak measures that are needed and will provide recommendations to support implementation.
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All efforts will be made protect the privacy of individuals who have been diagnosed. Due to privacy laws, the health unit will not release personal or identifying information about any individual who is ill unless deemed necessary.
After an outbreak has been declared over:
The health unit will determine when an outbreak is over. The outbreak does not necessarily need to be over to re-open the school. Cohorts without evidence of transmission can be gradually brought back to school as more information and test results become available.