Symptoms added to the list requiring students to isolate

Amid the Omicron COVID-19 variant surge, the province changed the way public health monitors and responds to the virus.

School cases are no longer reported due to overwhelming case counts across Ontario.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit posted information on its website for parents concerned about their children attending in-person classes.

SYMPTOMS AND ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS

Parents must complete the COVID-19 screening before school each day.

The province changed the list of symptoms in January that would require parents to keep them home.

A fully vaccinated child is required to isolate for five days before returning to school, and a not fully vaccinated child must isolate for 10 days if they have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fever and/or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease or loss of taste or smell
• Or two or more of these symptoms:
• Runny nose/nasal congestion
• Headache
• Extreme fatigue
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches/joint pain
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (i.e. vomiting or diarrhea)

In either case, all household members must isolate for the same amount of time as the COVID-19 positive child regardless of vaccine status.

OTHER SYMPTOMS

A child with a runny nose, congestion, headache, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, and vomiting or diarrhea should stay home for at least 24 hours or until symptoms improve.

Household members are not required to isolate.

This recommendation is the same as pre-COVID-19.

RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS

Students have been supplied with rapid antigen test kits for home use that can be used to find out if symptoms are related to COVID-19.

Positive test results do not need to be reported to the health unit or followed up with a PCR test, but the isolation rules listed above should be followed.

According to public health, a negative rapid antigen test doesn't rule out COVID-19.

If a child tests negative with a home kit but has COVID-19 symptoms, they need to self-isolate and be tested again in 24 to 48 hours.

Students can return to school when symptoms improve after two negative rapid tests.