COVID-19 School Self-Screening Changes
February 22, 2021
The Ministry of Education has revised the self-screening requirements for all students in Ontario, effective immediately.
The online COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool has been revised to reflect the changes below. *Please note: When you use the screening tool, you will see that it has set some specific conditions around each of the symptoms. These conditions will help you to distinguish between COVID symptoms and other possible causes for the symptoms.
*Also note that not all of the PDF documents currently listed on the provincial website have not been updated at this time. Please use the online tool if possible.
Main changes:
- A student with any single new COVID-19 symptom must isolate until they test negative for COVID-19, receive an alternate diagnosis for the symptom, or have isolated for 10 days since symptoms began.
- Everyone in your household should stay home if anyone has COVID-19 symptoms or is waiting for test results after experiencing symptoms. Stay home until the person with symptoms gets a negative COVID-19 test result, is cleared by Public Health, or is diagnosed with another illness.
The online COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool must continue to be completed by all students each day before coming to school or childcare.
When Can A Student Return to School?
If the student gets tested for COVID-19:
If the test result is negative for COVID-19, the student can return to school if all the following apply:
- They do not have a fever (without using medication)
- It has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving
- They can pass the Self-Screening Tool
If the student was assessed and diagnosed with another illness by a health care provider and it has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving, they can return to school.
*Note: Proof of a negative test result is not required.
If the test result is positive for COVID-19:
- Students must follow the instructions of Public Health.
- Household contacts (including siblings) must self-isolate immediately and get tested. They must isolate for 14 days from the last exposure to the person who has COVID-19.
- Students can return to school if all the following apply:
- The student has self-isolated for 10 days from symptom onset
- The student does not have a fever (without using medication)
- It has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving
If the student does not get tested for COVID-19:
If testing is recommended and the student does not get tested, the student must self-isolate for 10 days at home from the start of their symptoms and pass the daily COVID-19 screening tool before going back to school. Household members (including siblings) must self-isolate for 14 days from the last exposure to the student with symptoms.
If the student was assessed and diagnosed with another illness by a health care provider and it has been at least 24 hours since their symptoms started improving, they can return to school.
Thank you for helping to keep our schools safe learning spaces!