Screening and Testing Update
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
There have been some changes to the screening and testing requirements. [Please Note: the changes reflected here are from the provincial government; Hamilton Public Health will also be providing guidance, which may result in further changes. We’ll let you know].
These changes make things less arduous overall, but do make things a little more complicated. We’ve tried to break it down clearly below.
Screening Changes
There are now two categories of symptoms on the screening form: symptoms that may require testing and symptoms that may not require testing. Please be sure to read the new screening forms very carefully.
Other changes:
- Pink eye (conjunctivitus) and abdominal pain have been removed as symptoms.
- Some symptoms have been combined (for eg. fever and chills, and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).
- The question about contact with anyone with a respiratory illness has been removed and replaced with a question about directed isolation.
Testing and Exclusion Changes
If any of the symptoms in the group of symptoms that may require testing are present, things stay the same as what we are used to: contact Hamilton Public Health and your health care provider and follow their direction for testing referral.
From the group of symptoms that may not require testing:
- If you answer “Yes” to ONLY ONE of these symptoms, the child is required to be excluded from school for 24 hours. If the symptom persists or worsens the child must remain absent from school and you are asked to contact your child’s health care provider for further advice or assessment, including if your child needs a COVID-19 test or other treatment. Siblings should also remain home for at least 24 hours and be monitored for symptom development. The child may return to school when the symptom is improving and they feel well enough to do so. A COVID-19 test is not required.
- If you answer “Yes” to TWO OR MORE of these symptoms contact Hamilton Public Health and your health care provider and follow their direction for testing referral.
We will update the “Lyonsgate COVID-19 Exclusion of Sick Children/Staff Policy and Procedures” and the “Lyonsgate COVID19 Supplemental Parent Handbook” once we receive the final direction from Hamilton Public Health. Until then, please refer to this communication and the details on the screening forms. An FAQ from the Ontario Ministry of Health is included below.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. My child has woken up not feeling well, what do I do?
If you notice that your child has new or worsening symptoms, what you do depends on the symptom and how usual they are for your child. If your child has new or worsening:
• Fever/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Decreased or loss of smell or taste
Your child should isolate immediately and you should contact your child’s health provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.
If your child has ONE new or worsening symptom (that is not related to a known cause or condition) that include:
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose/runny nose
• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
• Fatigue/lethargy/muscle aches/malaise
Your child should stay home for 24 hours to be monitored to see whether the symptoms get better or worse. If they start to feel better and symptoms are improving, they can return to school/child care when well enough to do so and no COVID-19 testing is needed. If the symptoms get worse, you should contact their health care provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.
If your child has TWO or MORE new or worsening symptoms (that are not related to a known cause or condition) that include:
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose/runny nose
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue/lethargy/muscle aches or malaise
Your child should isolate immediately and you should contact your child’s health provider for further advice or assessment. The health care provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are related to another non-COVID-19 condition, or if they should get tested for COVID-19.
2. My child has a runny nose, what should I do?
If your child’s only symptom is a runny nose, you should keep your child home and monitor their symptoms as you would in any other year. When they feel better, they are ready to go back to school/child care and no COVID-19 testing is needed. If they get worse or develop other symptoms, you should contact their health care provider for more advice. Mild symptoms known to persist in young children (e.g., runny nose) may be ongoing at time of return to school/child care if other symptoms have been resolved.
3. Who in my family needs to be tested along with my child?
If your child has been identified as needing a test and everyone else in the family is well, no testing of other family members is needed. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, the
local public health unit will contact you/your child and make a plan for additional testing of all close contacts.
4. Do I need a note from a doctor before my child goes back to school/child care or a copy of a negative test result?
No, you do not need a note from your doctor or proof of a negative test before your child returns to school/ childcare.
5. I need more information to feel confident in my assessment, what do I do?
If you need additional information about COVID-19 or have a question specific to your child and their health, please contact your health care provider.