Grasslands Back to School Plan - 2021-22 - Updated April 2022

Updated April 2022 - Bold and italicized indicates a new change

Background

This plan is founded on the following four guiding principles that were established by the government in collaboration with education partners. 

• The safety of children, students and staff comes first. 

• Children and student learning will continue. 

• Provincial funding is still flowing to schools. 

• School authorities have flexibility to do what is best for their community. 

This plan balances the need for provincial direction and standardized approaches in some areas while also providing flexibility and respecting school authority autonomy at the local level. 

The Government of Alberta’s 2021-2022 School Year Plan is based upon the recovery phase reflecting a corresponding shift from mandatory health measures to recommended health best practices. Their plan is focused on a normal return to school, with in-class learning for the majority of students.

Although some health and safety protocols are no longer required by the Government of Alberta, Grasslands School Division will continue to implement some additional measures and protocols. The health and safety of students and staff remains our top priority. This plan outlines key elements for the resumption of learning. Portions of this plan may need to be modified in accordance with provincial directives and timelines, and/or by Board directive. 

Health and Safety Management

Joint Worksite Health and Safety

The Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee is a group of worker and employer representatives, working together with shared responsibility to identify and solve safety concerns at the work site. Committee members work together to actively improve conditions in the workplace and promote safe work practices. Health and Safety Committees form an important part of the internal responsibility system and help ensure that work site parties are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the workplace.

The Committee also provides support for the three basic rights that all workers have in protecting their health and safety: the Right to Know about hazards in the workplace, the Right to Participate in the health and safety of the workplace, and the Right to Refuse dangerous or unsafe work.

All Grasslands employees are jointly responsible for their own safety and are required to:

• Follow applicable legislation;
• Participate in any and all COVID-19 and/or related training;

General Building Safety

• HVAC systems should be maintained in accordance with manufacturer operational guidelines. For more information on building ventilation, please refer to the General Operational Guidance and School Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - Mechanical Ventilation in Schools (albertahealthservices.ca).
  • The use of portable HEPA filters should be considered only with the advice of professional experts in the ventilation field. They should only be used in combination with established public health measures, considering the impact they may have on overall indoor air quality and ventilation, and only in situations where enhancing natural or mechanical ventilation is not possible. If used, air purifiers should be large enough for the size of the room or area where they are being used
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting will continue in schools and facilities:
  • Increase frequency of cleaning (removing visible dirt) and disinfection (killing germs) of high-touch areas and equipment (e.g., desks, doorknobs, handrails, vending machines, etc.) inside and outside classrooms.
  • Common area surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.

Masking

• Masking is no longer required for students, staff, parents or volunteers. Masking during the school day remains a personal health choice for students, staff and their parents/guardians.
• Students and staff who prefer to wear a mask while attending school should be supported to do so.
• Students at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 are recommended to continue wearing a well-fitting three layer cloth mask or medical mask to reduce their risk of infection.
• Students who become ill while at school should be provided with a medical mask that can be worn while waiting to go home (See Section on Responding to Illness).
• Fully vaccinated students or staff recovering from COVID-19 who are completing their day 6-10 mandatory masking period at school must wear a mask at all times and must not share breaks where masks must be removed to consume food or beverages with non-COVID-19 infected individuals. If more than one individual is isolating, it is possible to cohort people with COVID-19 for breaks and lunch.
• Face shields may be worn in addition to a mask, at the discretion of the individual. Staff may elect to wear a face shield or eye protection in addition to a mask when completing personal care of students or when staff are in close contact with students where droplets may be a risk factor (i.e., symptomatic students awaiting pick up by parents/guardians).
• Gaiters and bandanas are not acceptable as a non-medical face mask.
• A mouth-shield is not an acceptable replacement for a non-medical face mask.

Hand Hygiene

• Placement of hand sanitizer in entrances/exits, classroom entrances, high-touch equipment, and other high traffic areas will continue this year.
• Hand hygiene frequency should be based on activity (e.g., entering/leaving school or classroom, boarding/exiting the bus, changing activities, before and after using shared equipment, before and after eating, putting on/removing a mask, after using washrooms, etc.).

Daily Screening

• Before leaving home, staff, children/students, substitute teachers, visitors, and volunteers who will access the school for work or education, are encouraged to self-screen for symptoms each day that they enter the school.
  • Children Under 18 years of age Daily Screening Questionnaire (See Appendix A)
  • Daily Fit for Work Screening Questionnaire (See Appendix B)
  • Adults 18 years and older Daily Screening Questionnaire (See Appendix C)
• Anyone who reports symptoms should be directed to stay home and use an at-home rapid antigen test, if available. For more information refer to the rapid testing at home website.
• If anyone requires urgent medical attention, they should call 911 for emergency response.
• Rapid testing kits have been made available to staff and students.  Although voluntary, it is recommended that rapid testing be done twice a week (ex. Sunday/Wednesday, Monday/Thursday).
• Anyone who feels unwell with other symptoms should stay at home until they are well.
• Schools should keep records of children’s known pre-existing medical conditions. If a child develops symptoms that could be caused by either COVID-19 or by a known pre-existing condition (e.g., allergies), the child should be tested at least once for COVID-19 to confirm that it is not the source of their symptoms before entering or returning to school. Following a negative test result, such symptoms will be considered part of the student’s baseline health. Written confirmation by a physician that a student or staff member’s symptoms are due to a chronic illness is not necessary. Repeat testing is not indicated unless the nature of the symptom changes (e.g., a chronic cough worsens).
• Signs will be posted reminding persons not to enter if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Strategies for Reducing Crowding

• As much as operationally possible, limit the number of classrooms that teachers and EA’s belong to.
• Schools will implement strategies to reduce crowding between all students/staff in areas inside and outside of the classroom, including hallways, washrooms and common areas. This may include:
  • Staggering start and end times for classes to avoid crowded entrances or exits and hallways.
  • Removing and restaging seating in public areas to reduce crowding.
  • Spacing of desks to minimize risk of disease transmission.
  • Removing additional items or pieces of equipment from classrooms to allow more space to spread out.
  • Utilizing virtual options instead of holding large in- person gatherings of students and staff. If virtual assemblies are not possible, minimize the number of people in attendance as much as possible..
• In situations where crowding or large gatherings are occurring, consider options to promote hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, not attending school when ill and cleaning and disinfecting on a regular basis before and after activities.
• Schools should develop procedures for drop-off that reduce crowding between all persons (except household members). Consider strategies to support physical distancing or utilize other protocols to limit contact between staff/parents/guardians/children/students as much as possible:
  • Designate entrances for classes/groups of students.
  • Physical distancing markers in crowded areas.
  • Stagger drop off/bus arrival times, coordinated with entry/exit.
  • Encourage parents/guardians to remain outside during drop-off and pick-up.
• School may stagger recess/snack, lunch and class transition times to provide a greater amount of space for everyone.

Classroom Barrier Shields

• Classroom barrier shields are available to assist with one to one or small group work (ex. BAS testing, LLI, etc.)

Emergency PPE Tubs

• Each learning space in the school is equipped with an emergency PPE tub with face masks, a face shield and gloves in the event a student becomes symptomatic and extra PPE is required.

Parents, Visitors and Service Providers Entering the School

• All visitors entering the school will use the self screening tool before they enter the school.
  • If a visitor answers YES to any of the questions, the individual must leave the building.
• All visitors must sign in and sign out at the office.
• Parents, volunteers and non-essential visitors will be limited at any one time in the school.
• Service providers, including delivery drivers and independent contractors are asked to use the self screening tool.
  • If a service provider answers YES to any of the questions, the individual must leave the building
  • In the case of a delivery driver answering Yes, the driver/school will make alternate delivery arrangements.

Shared Use of Equipment and Student Supplies

• Use of shared items or equipment is to be minimized where possible (scissors, markers, pencils, computers, etc.).
• When shared items or equipment can not be cleaned or disinfected, users need to sanitize their hands before and after use.

Responding to Illness

• Staff members, parents, and children/students should not enter the school if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or do not feel well.
• Child/student develops symptoms while at the school:
  • The parent/guardian will be notified to come and pick up the student immediately.
  • Schools will have an emergency contact list for each child, in the event parents are unable to pick up your child within one hour.
• If the child/student requires close contact and care, staff can continue to care for the child/student until the parent is able to pick up the child/student.
  • The student and staff should wear a medical mask and close interactions with the student that may result in contact with the student’s respiratory secretions should be avoided.
  • If very close contact is required the staff member should also use a face shield or eye protection.
• The infirmary will be cleaned and disinfected as soon as the child/student has been picked up.
  • Schools will maintain records of a student’s known pre-existing conditions.
• Anyone with symptoms should isolate immediately, following AHS isolation guidance and orders, and use an at-home rapid test if available. Refer to rapid testing at home for more information.
• Fully vaccinated students experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of sense of taste/smell must continue to isolate at home for 5 days (days 1 through 5) from when their symptoms started or until they resolve, whichever is longer. For more information on isolation please visit alberta.ca/isolation.
• For days 6 through 10 (5 days) following their isolation, all fully vaccinated individuals must wear masks at all times when around others outside of home (10 days total). This means they must eat or drink alone, away from others.
  • If it’s not possible to give each student in their day 6-10 mandatory masking period a private space to eat in, they can cohort together for meals in the same well-ventilated room. Distancing is recommended and individuals should remain masked at all times when not actively consuming food and drink.
• If schools find this operationally challenging to accommodate, the consistent use of a 10 day absence prior to return, for both immunized and non-immunized cases, is an acceptable approach.
• Students who are not fully vaccinated, who are a case of COVID-19, or who have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of sense of taste/smell must continue to isolate for 10 days from when their symptoms started or until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving, whichever is longer. If they receive a negative test result, they must continue to isolate until their symptoms resolve. For more information on isolation please visit alberta.ca/isolation.
• Please see Appendix D for management of adults and children who are symptomatic and/or tested for COVID-19.
• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test result is not necessary for a student, teacher or staff member to return to school.
• It is strongly recommended that household contacts who are NOT fully vaccinated, of COVID-19 cases, stay home for 10 days from the date of last household exposure.
  • In addition, they should monitor for symptoms for 10 days from the last day of household exposure, and if they develop any symptoms, they should isolate and complete the AHS Self-Assessment tool.
  • If rapid antigen testing kits are available, they can be used on individuals to test for COVID-19. Refer to rapid testing at home for more information.
  • For more information on isolation requirements for people with symptoms, please visit alberta.ca/isolation.

Confirmed Case of COVD-19

• Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test is required to isolate and follow the protocols outlined by Alberta Health Services. (See Appendix D - Management of Symptomatic and Positive COVID-19)

Student Transportation

• Students should not enter the bus if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Students are encouraged to  sanitize their hands when boarding the bus.
• Seating plans will be in places and students will be required to sit in assigned seats.
• Student attendance will be taken.
• Masks are optional for all teachers, staff members and visitors on school buses.
• Cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, such as door handles, seats and backs, window areas, and rails will occur after each bus run.

Alberta Health COVID-19 Vaccinations 

• The choice to get a vaccine is an individual one. Schools do not require or maintain vaccination records nor will students be asked for proof of immunization to attend school.
• All Albertans aged 5 and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Vaccines provide a significant level of protection against severe outcomes from COVID-19. Two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine plus a booster, when appropriate, have been shown to be highly protective against infection, and most importantly against severe disease.
• While vaccine uptake in children aged 5 to 11 years old continues to grow, the subsequent protective effects of the vaccine may take time for this age group. It is important that those around them, including parents/guardians, older students and school staff, receive the vaccine in order to reduce community transmission and protect this age group.
• For more information, please visit alberta.ca/covid19-vaccine.

Student Learning Contingency Plans

In the event that there is a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic that impacts the education system, the following two contingencies have been determined by Alberta Education. 

Scenario 1: In-school classes with enhanced health measures 

Alberta Education and Alberta Health Services may mandate enhanced or increased health measures which the Grasslands School Division would be required to follow.

We will continue to rely on guidance from the Alberta Government, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and local public health officials regarding provincial and regional health measures based on local context. We will continue to work closely with Alberta Health and we will adjust recommendations when advised to do so by Alberta Health. We remain committed to communicating when health measures are adjusted.

Scenario 2: At-home learning (in-school classes are cancelled)

Grasslands will offer at-home learning opportunities to children and students based on the provincial or regional context.

• Teachers continue to be responsible for assessing the progress of children and students.
• Students continue to be responsible to actively engage in learning and diligently pursue their education.
• School authorities, parents/guardians, children and students must continue to follow public health measures in place.

Supporting Growth in Student Learning

Under Contingency Scenario 2, school authorities can, as deemed appropriate at the local level, for Grades 1 to 9 reduce time spent teaching non-core subjects to allow for additional instruction time on core (English, Français, French Language Arts, Math, Social, and Science).

 

Program Guidelines

At this time, regular school programming is allowed.  

Physical Activity

• Students are permitted to participate in group physical activity as part of an education program curriculum or extra-curricular activities.
• Schools will use strategies to reduce crowding and improve/increase ventilation in indoor settings to reduce potential transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
• Participants should practice good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
• Use of change rooms should be carefully managed.
  • Participants could come dressed for their activity.
  • PE teachers should set capacity limits on use of change rooms if they are in use.

Performance Activity (Music/Drama/Dance)

• Students are able to participate in a group performance activity (i.e.,singing, dancing, playing instruments, theatre) as part of their education program curriculum or extra-curricular activities.
• Schools will use strategies to reduce crowding and improve/increase ventilation in indoor settings to reduce potential transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
• Singers and wind instrument musicians should keep 2 metres away from other performers and individuals at all times.
• Wind instruments should be equipped with a cover intended to prevent droplet transmission.

Work Experience, Green Certificate, & Off Campus

• These programs may continue.
  • If the work experience placement is in a workplace, the student is expected to follow health rules set out by the workplace with the sector-specific requirements (masking, hand hygiene, vaccines, symptom checklists, etc).

Field Trips and Extracurricular Clubs

• If schools wish to continue with off-sites activities, they should follow the school guidance, as well as any sector-specific protocols relevant to the location of the field trip. This may include masking, hand hygiene, bus seating plans, and enhanced cleaning.
• Avoiding off-site activities or locations with higher risks including those that might involve crowded public venues, hands-on activities with shared items, shared transport or situations where vulnerable populations are involved (e.g. congregate care, hospital).
• Parent permission forms for each activity must be submitted.  Permission forms must outline:
  • Safety procedures/expectations
  • Risks including contracting COVID-19
• Schools are encouraged to plan outdoor field trip activities.
• Field trips must be approved by the principal.
• Extracurricular clubs and programs (ex. Art Club, Student Council) can occur. Depending on the nature of the club or program, staff will need to consider and implement health protocols such as  hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, reduced group size, etc.

Sports and Team Events

• Student athletics/sports are allowed.
• As athletics and sport participation are voluntary, each participant must have a signed parent/guardian permission form prior to participation.
  • Permission forms will outline expectations and risks of participation.
• Teams using community-based facilities are required to follow the applicable safety protocols.
• Spectators attendance is allowed.:
  • It is recommended schools implement strategies to reduce crowding which may include identified home and away sections.
  • Good health practices such as  hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are encouraged.

General Infection Prevention Measures

• Attendees should refrain (to the extent possible) from touching their eyes, nose, mouth and face during activities.
• It is important that sports/activities that involve shared equipment (e.g., shared baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, etc.) include regular hand hygiene and cleaning of high-touch surfaces.
• Hand hygiene should occur before and after each activity.
• Respiratory etiquette is important to prevent the spread of droplets that may contain the COVID-19 virus.
• Attendees should refrain from spitting and clearing their nasal passages during activities.
• Attendees should proactively and regularly monitor for symptoms.
• Symptomatic individuals are prohibited from participating. Students need to complete the Daily Screening Checklist before participating.
• Limit celebration gestures or customs during activities (e.g., handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, chest bumps) that promote physical contact.
• Water bottles are labelled with the name of the owner and not shared.
• It is recommended that access to locker rooms is limited to reduce gathering.

Equipment

Participants should be encouraged to bring their own equipment for any activity (shared equipment should be cleaned and sanitized at an increased frequency and between each use). 

• Where equipment is provided (ie. football), coaches and players will be responsible for proper cleaning and disinfecting before it is offered to the next participant.
• If gym or field equipment is being used, it is strongly recommended this equipment be sanitized before and after each session.
• It is recommended that the number of people setting up and putting away the equipment be kept to a minimum.
• It is strongly recommended that hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes be made available to participants and those responsible for setting up and putting away equipment.

Food in Schools

• Lunches and drinks/snacks are not to be shared between students.
• Food classes are allowed. Classes that teach food preparation may occur as long as students follow general precautions, such as ensuring hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and avoiding handling common or shared serving utensils or cookware.
  • Schools may consider strategies to reduce crowding.
• Food sharing such as pot lucks, buffet-style services are not permitted at this time.
• Hot lunch programs, teacher provided snacks or parent treats may continue provided there is a designated person serving the food and snacks/treats are individually wrapped.
• For classroom meals and snacks:
  • Pre-packaged meals or meals served by designated staff should be the norm. No self-serve or family-style meal service should occur.
  • There should be no common food items (e.g., salt and pepper shakers, ketchup bottle).
  • Designated staff should serve food items using utensils (not fingers).
• For food service program (e.g., cafeteria) establishments:
  • Use alternate processes to reduce the numbers of people dining together at one time.
  • If a school is using a common lunchroom and staggering lunch times, ensure that all surfaces of the tables and chairs (including the underneath edge of the chair seat) are cleaned and disinfected after each use.
  • Adapt other areas to serve as additional dining space to increase spacing among persons in the same room.
  • Dispense cutlery, napkins and other items to students/children, rather than allowing them to pick up their own items.

Outside User Groups

• Approved outside user groups are required to follow all provincial health protocols.
• Additional custodial costs may be charged due to enhanced cleaning and disinfecting.

 

Appendix A

Appendix B

 

Appendix C

 

Appendix D

MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SYMPTOMATIC AND/OR TESTED FOR COVID-19 

• Current as of March 1, 2022

Symptoms	COVID-19 Tst Result:	Management of Individual:
Symptomatic	Positive PCR test or rapid take- home test	Fully vaccinated staff (i.e. staff who have received the complete vaccine series for COVID-19 and it has been 14 days after the second dose in a two dose series, or one dose in a one dose series (i.e. Janssen vaccine)or student (2 doses of mRNA vaccine): Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition Following their home isolation period, all fully vaccinated individuals must wear masks at all times when in a public place or otherwise in the company of other persons for up to 5 more days (10 days total). This means they must eat or drink alone, away from others. If it’s not possible to give each student on day 6-10 isolation a private space to eat in, they can cohort together with other COVID-19-infected individuals for meals in the same well- ventilated room. Distancing is recommended and individuals should remain masked at all times when not actively consuming food and drink. If schools find this operationally challenging to accommodate, the consistent use of a 10 day absence prior to return, for both immunized and non- immunized cases, is an acceptable approach.   Not fully vaccinated: Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.
	Negative PCR test	Fully vaccinated staff (i.e. staff who have received the complete vaccine series for COVID-19 and it has been 14 days after the second dose in a two dose series, or one dose in a one dose series (i.e. Janssen vaccine) or student (2 doses of mRNA vaccine): Stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving, before cautiously resuming normal activities.     Not fully vaccinated: Stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving if symptoms are not related to a pre- existing condition, before cautiously resuming normal activities.
	Negative rapid take- home test	NOTE: A negative test result does not rule out infection.Rapid tests can be falsely negative, early in COVID infections. Continue monitoring your symptoms and following public health guidelines. Isolate immediately for 24 hours. Take second rapid test not less than 24 hours from initial test: If negative, continue isolating until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving before cautiously resuming normal activities. If positive, continue isolation: Fully vaccinated: Isolate at home for 5 days or until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and other symptoms are improving, whichever is longer. For up to five days following their home-isolation period, they must wear masks at all times when in a public place or otherwise in the company of other persons for up to 5 more days (10 days total). This means they must eat or drink alone, away from others. If it’s not possible to give each student on day 6-10 isolation a private space to eat in, they can cohort together with other COVID-19-infected individuals for meals in the same well- ventilated room. Distancing is recommended and individuals should remain masked at all times when not actively consuming food and drink. If schools find this operationally challenging to accommodate, the consistent use of a 10 day absence prior to return, for both immunized and non-immunized cases, is an acceptable approach. Not fully vaccinated: 10 days or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer
	Not tested	Student: If symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of sense of taste/smell, follow instructions for symptomatic positive above. Adult: If symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste/smell or runny nose, follow instructions for symptomatic positive above.
		Student: If other symptoms (chills, sore throat/painful swallowing, runny nose/congestion, feeling unwell/fatigued, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, unexplained loss of appetite, muscle/joint aches, headache or conjunctivitis): ·  ONE symptom: stay home, monitor for 24h. If it improves, return when well enough to go (testing not necessary). ·  TWO symptoms OR ONE symptom that persists or worsens: Stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, and other symptoms are improving. Adult: If other symptoms, stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, and other symptoms are improving.

Symptoms	COVID-19 Test Result:	Management of Individual:
Asymptomatic	Positive PCR Test	Fully vaccinated staff (i.e. staff who have received the complete vaccine series for COVID-19 and it has been 14 days after the second dose in a two dose series, or one dose in a one dose series (i.e. Janssen vaccine) or student (2 doses of mRNA vaccine): Isolate for 5 days from the collection date of the swab or from the date when the PCR test was completed. Following their home isolation period, all fully vaccinated individuals must wear masks at all times when in a public place or otherwise in the company of other persons for up to 5 more days (10 days total). This means they must eat or drink alone, away from others. If it’s not possible to give each staff on day 6-10 isolation a private space to eat in, they can cohort together with other COVID-19-infected individuals for meals in the same well- ventilated room. Distancing is recommended and individuals should remain masked at all times when not actively consuming food and drink. If schools find this operationally challenging to accommodate, the consistent use of a 10 day absence prior to return, for both immunized and non- immunized cases, is an acceptable approach.   Not fully vaccinated: Isolate at home for 10 days from the collection date of the swab or from the date when the PCR test was completed.
	Positive Rapid take- home test	Individuals can conduct a second test not less than 24 hours after the initial test, and if negative, and still no symptoms, they do not need to continue to isolate. If the result is positive on the repeat test, they should continue to isolate. If at any time, symptoms develop, they must follow isolation instructions for symptomatic individuals. Fully vaccinated staff (i.e. staff who have received the complete vaccine series for COVID-19 and it has been 14 days after the second dose in a two dose series, or one dose in a one dose series (i.e. Janssen vaccine) or student (2 doses of mRNA vaccine): Isolate for 5 days from the collection date of the swab or from the date when the rapid take-home test was completed. Following their home isolation period, all fully vaccinated individuals must wear masks at all times when in a public place or otherwise in the company of other persons for up to 5 more days (10 days total). This means they must eat or drink alone, away from others. If it’s not possible to give each staff on day 6-10 isolation a private space to eat in, they can cohort together with other COVID-infected individuals for meals in the same well-ventilated room. Distancing is recommended and individuals should remain masked at all times when not actively consuming food and drink. If schools find this operationally challenging to accommodate, the consistent use of a 10 day absence prior to return, for both immunized and non- immunized cases, is an acceptable approach.   Not fully vaccinated: Isolate at home for 10 days from the collection date of the swab or from the date when the rapid take-home test was completed.   Individuals can conduct a second test not less than 24 hours after the initial test, and if negative, and still have no symptoms, they do not need to continue to isolate. If result is positive on the repeat test, they should continue to isolate. If at any time, symptoms develop, they must follow isolation instructions for symptomatic individuals.
	Negative	No isolation required.