Students and staff in child-care centres and schools provincewide will be given two rapid antigen tests each over the next two weeks to use if they have symptoms of COVID-19, Ontario announced Wednesday. Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce makes an announcement at St. Robert Catholic High School in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. If there is a lag in beginning daily testing, children need at least 2 negative tests, 24-hours apart, to be released from quarantine (days 6-7, 7-8, 8-9). ALSO:Guidance for Students Who Have Signs or Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccination. What if my child refuses to take the test on the day of testing? We are relying on masking to prevent spread in the event of a false negative test result. To ensure schools remain safe, LifeLabs will operate hub collection sites for COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic students and their family members, teachers, and staff in Ontario schools. Does a negative test mean they do not have to mask?No, masking remains very important. Vaccination clinics will now be allowed to operate at schools during the day, officials said. In addition, to help with the shortage of replacement teachers for absent staff, schools will be allowed to use first-year education students. Your school district is aware children may test out of quarantine in seven days and this is acceptable to Ontario County Public Health. We encountered an issue signing you up. If you registered for an account on the LifeLabs Workclear Thrive website: You can access your test results on the same website within 48 hours of collection. Daily testing should resume and continue through day seven. Click here to learn more about how the Ontario Ministry of Education is keeping students and staff safe during the 2020-21 school year. More tests may be distributed when supplies are available, said officials. A welcome email is on its way. ), the school administrator will seek input from the Public Health Director. Below are a few frequently asked questions to assist you. The news arrives as two million elementary and secondary students are set to return to in-person classes on Monday amid criticism over whether classrooms will be safe enough as the province faces the widespread transmission of the Omicron variant of the virus. Repeating the test daily, lowers the likelihood of false negatives. A doctors note including a specific, alternative diagnosis may be accepted by the school if criteria to return (per school policy) is met. Education Minister Stephen Lecce is scheduled to give a news conference to talk about back-to-school plans on Wednesday afternoon. 2022 London Free Press, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Please follow the instructions in this document and those given to you by your school. What if I or my child has COVID-19 symptoms? Students, parents, guardians and staff can access COVID-19 testing through the My.Thrive.Health platform to ensure a safe return to school. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. The rapid tests will be delivered over the next two weeks, with secondary students the last to receive them, officials from the health and education ministries said at a technical briefing. Samples are then sent to the lab for PCR testing. We recommend using Chrome for the best visual experience. If you are registering for yourself, complete the consent form, choose the main profile (Myself) and enter in the details required for testing. Get the London Free Press, National Post and 14 other news sites for only $2/week. Why can exposed children now remain in school?Keeping children in the classroom is a priority for you, your child, your childs school, and Ontario County Public Health. You can contact the WorkClear application support team via: Hours of operation M-F 10:00am 6:00pm PST (7:00am-3:00pm EST). There is no mobile version of this app. If you test positive for COVID-19: You will get a call from our LifeLabs clinical team within 48 hours of collection and you will also get a call from your local Public Health unit within a few days with instructions and next steps. This step provides an added safety net. Please answer these calls. Can exposed students participate in non-school sponsored evening, weekend, or holidayactivities?Non-school activities outside of the home during quarantine are not allowed. Instead, schools will be required to monitor student and staff absences, which local public health units will use to gauge the prevalence of COVID-19 at schools. Ontario County Public Health and County Leadership have been meeting weekly with school superintendents to develop a plan to keep COVID-19-exposed students in the classroom through daily testing in the nurses office. A person testing positive is presumed to have COVID-19. It is impossible for the health department to know if these measures are in place outside of school. Ive heard kids can test out of quarantine after day seven. Rationale:The decision to allow children to attend school during quarantine was made knowing masking and social distancing are monitored and enforced during the school day. Some students may be nervous about testing, but its important to note the test is not painful and should not be uncomfortable for your child. It is possible that your results are not available yet. This is a temporary situation and will be resolved soon. We recommend that parents or legal guardians accompany their child(ren) to the testing site if they are under the age of 18. Please note that face masks are mandatory at all times at all of our locations to ensure the health and safety of all customers and employees. If on day seven, children are without symptoms and remain negative for COVID-19, they need no further testing and may resume all usual activities. If you need to register a second child, click or tap Register for a Partner and enter the same registration code. We are always happy to provide more information and answer additional questions. This testing will only be provided to asymptomatic individuals. If it is impossible to stay apart, other household members will need to quarantine if the child goes on to develop symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. But two negative rapid tests taken 24 to 48 hours apart are required to allow a person with symptoms to leave isolation and go back to school or daycare.

If the absences rise 30 per cent above usual levels, the school principal must notify local public health officials and parents would also be notified, officials said at the briefing. Thrive Health is a Vancouver based software company that works on improving the Canadian healthcare system. What if this student returns after day seven?If the student returns after day seven but before day 11, the child needs a final test on their first day back. If you or your child(ren) have any COVID-19 symptoms, please follow public health guidelines. After you create an account, click or tap on Register with a Partner and enter your registration code. Exposed childrenexcept those exposed by a household member who DO NOT have ANY symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste/smell, significant nasal discharge, sore throat, excessive fatigue) may remain in school if they test negative for COVID-19 during the school day and if masking is strictly enforced. Email support@thrive.health to connect with our Support Team. Their exposure did not occur in their home, Their school has enough staff and test kits to do daily testing, Their parent or guardian has given the school permission to test their child. What if this student returns after day seven? ATTENTION TRAVELLERS: If you are looking to register for travel-related COVID testing or access your FlyClear results,here. Schools will test exposed children daily by rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (pcr) through day seven. Those symptom-free and negative through day seven, are unlikely to have virus in their bodies. In London and surrounding Middlesex County, for example, there were 324 new COVID cases recorded on Wednesday and nearly 4,000 active cases though the actual number is likely much higher given testing and tracing limitations. You can learn more about our team and mission here. You can reset your password by clicking on Forgot your Password? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Just more than 47 per cent of children in that age category have a first dose. Select your ordered Provinces Rush Test to start booking: Book your Home Visit appointment with the, COVID-19 Antibody Blood (serology) testing. After much thought and discussion, health department leadership believes it is reasonable for exposed students to be tested daily and kept in school if they are negative for COVID-19. If a child tests positive or get symptoms in the 48 hours after such an activity, all who had close, unmasked contact with them for >15 minutes will be considered exposed and will require a 10-day quarantine. If you do not answer, they will call back. Whats this about?The CDC allows for testing out of quarantine if the local health department is agreeable. Exposed children should stay away from other family members to the extent possible based on age and developmental level. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. A designated school will be selected to host the hub collection site for neighbouring school participants, allowing for streamlined access. Officials also said there will be renewed efforts made to get students vaccinated, especially children aged five to 11, who only became eligible for the vaccine in late November. At these designated locations, participants will be tested on a voluntary basis using either PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or rapid antigen testing. If the student returns after day seven but before day 11, the child needs a final test on their first day back. Contact your school administrator for more information. If your flight is within the next five days and you have received your FlyClear requisition, please contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday Friday, 9am-5pm EST). Can I accompany my child during the procedure? We are focused on making this a brief and gentle experience for students. Book your appointment online here. If you provided a health card number: You can also access your results on the COVID result portal: https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/agree. Daily testing should resume when the student returns to school. Rationale: By day seven, if virus is growing in the body, most exposed people will either have symptoms or test positive. Yes, participants are able to walk-in to the location during the allocated testing time. You will receive a text every day through day ten, even if your child tests out of quarantine after day seven.

How COVID testing, tracking will be different when Ontario schools reopen. If an exposed child becomes sick at school, can they be tested prior to going home?In this case, the child may be tested prior to being sent home, if the school has testing supplies and staff available. Please answer their texts through day ten. There are 129 COVID-19 patients in London Health Sciences Centre, 49 of whom are being treated for something else but also have the virus. LifeLabs uses the nasal swab collection method. The province has now restricted the use of PCR tests to the highest-risk people and settings, such as long-term care centres and hospitals. A medical provider should evaluate and test this child for COVID-19. Positive results will be communicated as required by the public health unit. Boards have already been using education faculty students in their second year, with 3,400 filling in at schools in the 2020-21 school year. The County is working with the NY State Department of Health and the New York State COVID-19 Investigation and Contact Tracing Unit to streamline this process. If you did not provide a health card number: You will receive a call from our LifeLabs clinical team advising you of your COVID-19 test results. If you are registering for your child under the age of 18, complete the consent form, add a profile (+ New family member), and enter their details. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The school administrator must be aware of the following: Antigen tests are less sensitive than pcr tests and are more likely to give false negative results, particularly in people without symptoms. LifeLabs will work directly with the school or school board to determine the time of collection. Asymptomatic testing in schools acts as an important layer of protection that helps to track and prevent the spread of COVID-19. If a school cant accommodate rapid pcr testing and is considering use of rapid antigen testing (BinaxNOW cards, QuickVue, etc. LifeLabs is proud to support the Ontario government with the ongoing operation of in-person learning at child care centres, elementary and secondary schools across the province. Using the application, students and staff can book appointments to get tested and check their test results as soon as they're ready. What if the exposed child has symptoms?A child who becomes ill between the end of the school day and the following morning, should not be sent to school the next day. In Ontario County, school children can test out after seven days if they test negative at school through day seven. One piece of government-issued identification, such as an original birth certificate, health card or passport will be required for proof of identification. Sign up to receive a curated collection of links and highlights from our award-winning breaking news coverage, in-depth analysis and unmatched investigative features at lunchtime weekdays. Originally, Ontario County Public Health allowed children to participate in extracurricular activities if they tested negative on the day of the activity and wore a mask. Can ALL exposed students stay in school?Exposed students may attend school when ALL the following criteria are met. This is very important as in some people symptoms may take longer than seven days to develop. What about weekends and holidays?Schools are not expected to test children on weekends and holidays. Children with mild "sniffles" in the morning on a school day, may present to school for testing. Once you have created an account and registered under the Partners page, click or tap on Book your COVID-19 Test and choose a timeslot. Calls from contact tracers may be identified as unknown numbers or may be from a 518 Area Code. Designated schools will be selected to host the hub collection site for neighbouring school participants, allowing for streamlined access. The initiative will be closely monitored, and it will be adjusted if it becomes clear there is increased spread of COVID during the school day. Copyright 2002-2022 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Can exposed students participate in school-sponsored weekend or holiday activities?No. If positive, the case will be reported to the health department and a 10-day isolation will begin. The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District will enable students to demonstrate college and career readiness by displaying: Strong Moral Character; Critical Thinking Skills; Perseverance; Cultural Awareness; and Innovation, Guidance for Students Who Have Signs or Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccination, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Children exposed at home by a COVID-positive household member may not attend school during quarantine due to the high risk of transmission among household contacts. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you will get a call from your local Public Health unit within a few days. The school-based COVID-19 specimen collection sites will be employed by professionally-trained individuals who will support the participants with a safe and easy testing experience, backed by a lab testing infrastructure of the highest quality. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. How long will this program last?The grant that covers testing expires in July 2022 and testing of school contacts will continue as long as schools are willing, test kits are available, and funds remain. Please note, you will not receive a call about the results if your test is negative. Anything tech-related. The test should take no more than two minutes from start to finish. Ministry officials also confirmed that cases of COVID-19 will no longer be reported at schools, and parents will not be notified if someone in their childs class has or is presumed to have the virus. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. LifeLabs will work with the school boards and schools to schedule the hub collection site visit and the school board or school will inform parents/legal guardians ahead of the scheduled visit. Previously, school clinics only operated when classes were not in session. Synopsis: Testing Exposed Children during the School Day (Testing to Stay). Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. Where will LifeLabs be providing COVID-19 testing in schools? What if the test result comes back as positive? Our trained staff will perform the test in a space designated by the school. You can access the app by going to my.thrive.health on your computer, tablet or by using a browser on your smartphone. Our website is accessible from computers, tablets and mobile devices (iPhone and Android) at my.thrive.health and with all common browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer). This individual will call your home and take a short history (about 15 minutes) and they will set you up with a daily texting program. This includes social events, private lessons, non-school sports, playdates, sleepovers, clubs, etc. Read more about cookies here. We want to assure you that if your child is uncomfortable or unable to be tested, we will not test your child. The rapid tests being delivered to schools and daycares are to be used by people with symptoms of COVID-19. Add a profile (+ New family member) and enter their details. However, with transmission of the virus widespread across the province, testing centres were overwhelmed. Get the London Free Press for only $2/week. The Public Health Director may curtail the use of antigen testing if clusters or outbreaks develop. This is a short swab similar to a Q-tip that is inserted into the front part of the nostril and rotated for fifteen seconds (per nostril). Email support@thrive.health for technical support related to the Thrive platform.

Testing should resume on the next school day. You will not be able to change your time slot after you select it, so please ensure you are available at that time. Does my exposed child have to stay away from other household members? Every collection site will include the following health and safety protocols: Receive updates from LifeLabs regarding COVID-19, For rush results (NAAT within 12 hours and PCR within 24 hours), COVID-19 PCR (24h) Once you receive a registration code from your school, go to my.thrive.health to create an account. If negative, the child may go back to school when school criteria for return are met. on the login page. Previously, students and staff who had symptoms of COVID-19 or who had been exposed to someone with COVID-19 at school were asked to get a PCR test, which is processed in a laboratory. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. The testing is only for asymptomatic students and their family members (over the age of 2), teachers, and school staff. Rapid Antigen (2h), Pre-Departure testing now available from the comfort of your home with MyVisit (Currently Greater Toronto Area only). 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/agree, PPE for Droplet Precautions all staff working in the location with changes to certain items between each individual served, Disinfecting of the cubicles and chairs between each individual tested, Surgical masks will be provided, if necessary, Hand hygiene for students and staff will be required before and after service is provided. Our goal is to empower patients by helping them play a larger role in their personal health journey. Results will be reported within 48hrs, in rare cases, it can take up to 4 days. Rush 12h NAAT Increased testing may also reduce stress and anxiety related to the virus by identifying cases early and managing outbreaks to help ensure that schools remain safe for all to learn and work in. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful.

Masking at home will decrease the likelihood of spread. What if day seven falls on a weekend or holiday?The child should be tested a final time on the next school day. Customer Inquiries: support@thrive.health, Thrive Health Head Office: #200 - 116 W Hastings StVancouver, British Columbia V6B 1G8. At this point in time, staff has been trained and testing supplies have been delivered to all schools in Ontario County. Staff and testing supplies are expensive and though weve planned well, there is a possibility that funds will run out prematurely due to the volume of testing.