KFL&A Public Health are Implementing Additional Screening requirements for Students, Staff, and Visitors

KFL&A Public Health are Implementing Additional Screening Requirements for Students, Staff, and Visitors

Kingston – Today, KFL&A Public Health is implementing additional screening requirements related to COVID-19 symptoms, for school attendance. Our case and contact management data demonstrate that most of the cases were symptomatic in school and their symptoms were predominantly nasal congestion and runny nose.

These additional screening requirements are being put in place to slow the rise of positive cases in our community and to prevent cases in schools, especially to avoid having to dismiss entire class cohorts.

Students and staff must continue to follow the provincial screener and in addition KFL&A Public Health is requesting students and staff to also screen for symptoms on the extended symptom list below:

• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Abdominal pain
• Headache (that is unusual or long lasting)
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Decreased or lack of appetite

Any staff, student, or visitor that does not pass the screening procedures, this includes both the provincial school screener and the additional symptoms list, should not attend school, and should book an appointment at an assessment centre as soon as possible. The student or staff with symptoms must not attend school until they are symptom free for 24 hours or their symptoms are improving AND they receive a negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional.

KFL&A COVID-19 assessment centres offer a less invasive swab test for children to help ease the testing experience for them. Please be sure to request a less invasive swab for your child’s test.

If students or staff have one of the symptoms listed on the provincial school screener, all household members that are NOT fully vaccinated are required to isolate until the person with symptoms receives a negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional.

Household members who are asymptomatic and live with a person who has one or more symptoms from KFL&A Public Health’s additional symptom list, not the provincial symptom screener, do not need to isolate while the symptomatic person is getting tested and waiting for the negative result.

We all have a role to play to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community, and the ongoing efforts of community members, health professionals, educators, families, and students will all contribute to a safe and healthy school environment.

To learn more about COVID-19, how you can protect yourself and what to do if you suspect you may be at risk, visit kflaph.ca/Coronavirus or visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

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