COVID-19 Guidelines for Schools - 2021-2022 School Year
Schools are deemed safe spaces for students and staff as studies show low infection rates among school-associated cases. Emphasizing the importance of near-normal school years, maintaining health protocols like daily checks, hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and respiratory etiquette is crucial. Public health measures including vaccinations and following regional orders are outlined to ensure safety within educational settings. Interior Health has specific gathering and event orders in place, mandating masks and regulating group sizes for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
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Covid-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines 2021-2022 school year
What we know. Schools remain a safe space for students and staff Surveys have shown that school-aged children have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and returning to a near-normal school year is an important action to support the well-being of students (Summary Report of surveys can be found at BCCDC-Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance for k-12 Schools) BC Children s Hospital completed a survery with school staff shows a 2.5% infection rate which is no greater than the general population. (Microsoft PowerPoint - Newsletter_Draft v8 - Final (bcchr.ca) Another study showed for Vancouver Coastal, 92% of school-associated cases were acquired from outside the school environment : 87% in Fraser Health (Recovery Plan investment supports safe K-12 return | BC Gov News
What is staying. Daily Health Check for staff and students Do not come to school or work if you are feeling unwell or required to self isolate Good hand hygiene practices ( same as last year) Wearing a mask in schools and on buses. All SD5 staff and 4-12 students Respiratory etiquette Spreading out avoid crowding
Public Health Measures Vaccinations Local, Regional and Provincial Medical Health Orders Currently Interior health has a Gatherings and Events Oder in place School will need to follow all local, regional, provincial and federal orders. They have aligned schools with communities. For example, at this time, we are not able to do indoor high intensity sports for intra and inter-school programs, activities ( e.g. intramurals, sport teams practices, games)sports academies. PHE/Outdoor education will need to follow the K-12 guidelines
Interior Health- Gathering and Events Orders Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces for people 12 years and older. Low-intensity indoor group exercise is permitted to a maximum 10 people per class. High intensity indoor group exercise is not permitted. Outdoor group exercise is permitted up to 50 people per class. Gatherings in vacation rentals are limited to five guests or one additional household. Indoor personal gatherings are limited to five guests or one other household. Outdoor personal gatherings (e.g. birthday parties, backyard BBQs, block parties) are limited to no more than 50 people. Organized indoor gatherings (e.g. weddings, funerals, seated events) are limited to 50 people, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people, both requiring a COVID-19 safety plan.
Vaccinations Vaccinations are NOT required to attend school or work Are considered the most effective way to reduce the risk of Covid-19 in schools. (BCCDC- Aug 24, 2021) Vaccinated people have milder symptoms and less likely to spread Covid-19 than unvaccinated people. (BCCDC- Aug 24, 2021)
Physical Distance and Space Arrangements No Cohorts or 2M distance requirement. Use the space available and spread out as much as possible. Implement strategies to prevent crowding. Take students outside more. Manage the flow of people in common areas.
Staff only spaces in schools Prevent crowding in rooms Respect occupancy limits - do not use reduced occupancy limits that were required last year Space out Non-school offices (Board, zone, operations) must follow WSBC guidance for office spaces Stage 3 - meetings AT occupancy limits for the space as determined by fire code OR for large sized rooms 1:1 until 50, then 50% of room capacity. E.g. if room capacity is 75, then you could have 50. If room is 300 then it would be 150. Staff only gatherings (on or off school property) must follow all local, regional, provincial and federal public health recommendations
School Gatherings and Event Educational activities can occur as normal Able to hold assemblies and gatherings in schools for educational activities. Assess your school, if there is a number of people away sick, probably not best time to hold large gatherings. If people other than employees or students are invited (plays, Christmas concerts, etc). Stage 3 requirements apply. Respect students and staff comfort levels Use the space, spread out. Avoid over-crowding. School gatherings and events (including inter-school events) must follow all local, regional, provincial and federal public health recommendations
Cleaning and Disinfecting Schools will be cleaned and disinfected 1X/day. (may be completed in after school hours) Operations will continue the same practice as last year for cleaning and disinfecting. If there is an item that is hard to clean (i.e. sand, playdough, cloth) perform hand hygiene before and after use. The recommended cleaning and disinfecting frequency for K-12 schools and other community settings was determined by infection prevention and control experts at the BC Ministry of Health, BC CDC and PHA
Visitors, Community Use and staff use of facilities Visitors are welcome in the schools but are encouraged to make appointments. All visitors, casual staff and people not normally in the school will need sign in (regular staff to that facility will not need to sign-in) Visitors must be informed and follow of the SD5 Communicable Disease Guidelines At this time, we are not allowing both Community Use and use of facilities for staff (Same as last year) This will be reviewed in late fall
Use of Non-Medical Mask All grades 4-12, visitors and all SD5 staff are required to wear mask at all times and in all spaces when indoors or on a bus. This includes at your desk or work areas. Medical proof is not required for people are not able to tolerate wearing a mask. Offices spaces (board, zone and operations) follow the WSBC guidance for workspaces.
EXCEPTIONS FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND VISITORS to a person who cannot tolerate wearing a mask for health or behavioural reasons; to a person who is unable to put on or remove a mask without the assistance of another person; if the mask is removed temporarily for the purposes of identifying the person wearing it; if the mask is removed temporarily to engage in an educational activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask (e.g. playing a wind instrument, engaging in high-intensity physical activity, etc.); if a person is eating or drinking; if a person is behind a barrier; or while providing a service to a person with a disability or diverse ability (including but not limited to a hearing impairment) where visual cues, facial expressions and/or lip reading/movements is important. ( contact District Learning Services for more support)
Ventilation and Air Circulation SD5 will continue to maintain all ventilation systems to ensure they remain in good working condition. Including timely replacement of filters that meet or exceed the manufactures recommendation. SD5 will continue to draw a higher percentage of outside air in through the ventilation system. This will diluted the indoor air with outside fresh air. Do not bring in additional fans or heaters. Contact Manager of Operations for more information. Staff can open windows and doors-where able and weather permitting. We encourage going outside.
Student Transportation Buses will be cleaned a disinfected 1x/day. Bus drivers, staff and students should wash/sanitize hands before entering the bus. 4-12, volunteers and all staff will need to wear a mask. Drivers when people are loading/unloading but NOT when driving. Parents/caregiver and staff will need to do a Daily Health Check. If unwell, stay home. Spread passengers out on the bus. No seating assignment required. However, operations may continue this practice for other reasons. Staff transporting students will be assessed on a case-by-case situation. Talk to your PVP.
Curriculum, Programs and Activities All on and off campus programs and activities should align with the K-12 H&S guidelines. ***All staff and students must follow the safety protocols required by the off-campus facility.
Field trips Walking and bus field trips can be planned for outdoor venues. No indoor field trips permitted. Will be reviewed mid-fall. Volunteers are welcomed to join but must be trained in and strictly adhere to required H&S guidelines. Trips including over night camps or group accommodation must align with the BCCDC and BC Camps Association Field trips must follow all local, regional, provincial and federal public health recommendations. Including International travel.
More. Can provide food services, including sales - follow normal practices. Music programs - singing must wear a mask, can remove for activities that cannot perform with a mask Refer to the BC Music Educator s Association document PHE/Outdoor Education: Spread students out in space available Wear a mask for low intensity sports, not required for high intensity Shared equipment must be cleaned 1Xday. Practice good hand hygiene Can use lockers Outdoors for high intensity sport is encouraged Play grounds .no spacing required. Wash hands before and after use.
School Sports and Extra Activities (including interest clubs) Follow PHE guidelines Spread out using space available Good hand hygiene Equipment must be cleaned 1Xday Sport activity should be held outside whenever possible See Return to School Plan from BC School Sports (if a discrepancy schools must follow the MoE H&S guidelines) School sports and extra must follow all local, regional, provincial and federal public health recommendations. Including International travel
When can a staff or student return to school or work after illness? Stay home if sick and use: Use the K-12 Health Check app (students) or Refer to BCCDC s When to get tested for Covid-19 or The BCCDC Self-Assessment Tool If testing is recommended, stay home until test results are received If positive, follow the health authority s direction on when to return to school or work. If negative, stay home until symptoms improve and you feel well enough to participate in all school and work activities. If no test recommended, stay home until symptoms improve and you feel well enough to participate in all school and work activities. No medical note required.
Compensation for leave from work: Covid-19 If you are sick and/or asked to self-isolate, time away from work will come from your paid sick leave in accordance with your collective agreement. Paid sick time will be used until depleted and then the employee will be moved to unpaid time. day will be provided for obtaining the vaccination (both shots) Compulsory Quarantine may be applicable (as per respective collective agreement). Must be directed by a Medical Officer. (IH Public Health) If you feel you contracted Covid-19 from work staff are able to submit a claim to WSBC.
Student becomes sick at school. Isolation rooms not required Will require a space to place a sick student, until a parent arrives, that is at least 2m away from others. Provide a mask, if they do not have one, unless there is a risk the student may vomiting. Schools must provide supervision for younger children. Provide a mask and face shield for staff. Practice good hand hygiene. The area the sick person touched multiply times (desk, bathroom stall etc.) will need to be disinfected (i.e. use Sprayer). Complete cleaning of a room is not required
PVP Responsibilities Please review this information with all staff and remind everyone where they can find additional information Remind staff to report all hazards to you JOHSC and staff must review this information and be able to offer feedback. Process must be completed by September 30th PVP need to communicate with parents about the safety measures. No site-specific plans are required.
Communicable Disease Plan Updates/Review The Communicable Disease plan will be made available on SD5 website Interior Health Order BCCDC Communicable Disease Guidance for K-12 BC Education-Training for K-12 Safe Schools Provincial COVID-19 Communicable disease Guidelines for K-12 Schools K-12 Health Check App When to get tested for COVID-19
