Ministry of Health - COVID 19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care - Version 1 - October 1, 2020

This tool provides basic information only and contains recommendations for children to support decision making by parents about whether their child should attend school/childcare and/or needs to be tested for COVID-19. This can be used to assess symptoms of any child who attends child care or school (junor, intermediate, high school). It is not to be used as a clinical assessment tool or intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Screening must occur daily and at home before a child enters school or child care.

When assessing for the symptoms below, you should focus on evaluating if they are new, worsening, or different from your child’s baseline health status or usual state (check off “Yes”). Symptoms associated with known chronic health conditions or related to other known causes/conditions should not be considered unless new, different or worsening (check off “No”). (see examples below).

After developing symptoms, in general, children should no longer have a fever and their symptoms improving to be able to return to school/child care. Mild symptoms known to persist in young children (e.g. runny nose or mild cough that may persist following infections) may be ongoing at time of return to school/child care if other symptoms have resolved.

Required Screening Questions - please review all 5 questions below. Click here  for the pdf version of the Toronto Public Health screening tool, or  use the online screening tool from the Ministry of Health.

​​​Results of Screening Questions:
If you answered “YES” to any of the symptoms included under question 1:

• Your child should stay home to isolate immediately.
• Contact your child’s health care provider for further advice or assessment, including if your child needs a COVID-19 test or other treatment.
  

Results of Screening Questions

If the individual answers “YES” to question 3, 4 or 5

• Your child should stay home to isolate immediately and follow the advice of public health.
• If your child develops symptoms, you should contact your local public health unit or the health care provider for further advice.
  

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.

What to do when your Child is sick

​When Children get Sick at Daycare
Staff will complete a basic health check and screening to ensure children are asymptomatic. This will be done before school at the screening station and after school by daycare staff.  If a child or staff begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 during the day, we will:

• Isolate the child/staff in a designated room until they are picked up or able to go home. Parents/guardians or emergency contacts will be notified to pick up a sick children as soon as possible and within 1 hour.
  
• The child will be assisted to wear a mask (if tolerated)
  
• Spaces used by the symptomatic child or staff will be disinfected after pick-up. If items cannot be disinfected, they will be sealed away for 7 days.
  
• Children or staff who have been in contact with a suspected COVID-19 case should be monitored for symptoms and maintain cohorting (i.e., grouped together) until laboratory tests have been completed or until directed by Toronto Public Health.
  
• Staff and children exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be informed immediately and excluded from the daycare program for 14 days.
  

Childcare centres have a duty to report confirmed cases of Covid-19 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.  Jackman Community Daycare will contact Toronto Public Health (TPH) with confirmed cases of Covid-19 and the Ministry of Education to report suspected and confirmed cases.  The daycare must receive a copy of negative and positive test results.  They must be emailed to Karen Anthony at jackmandaycare@bellnet.ca.

Outbreak Management
Jackman Community Daycare will immediately report the following to TPH at 416-392-7411 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM or 311 after hours:

• Clusters of suspected cases (e.g. two or more children or staff with Covid-19 symptoms within a 48 hour period.)
• Cases of Covid-19 among staff or children that are laboratory-confirmed or probable (i.e. symptoms occurring among a staff or child who has been exposed to a person with confirmed Covid-19.
  
• 
  

Two, symptomatic, laboratory confirmed cases of COVID19 in a daycare staff member or child participant is considered a COVID-19 outbreak. Outbreaks will be communicated in collaboration with Toronto Public Health, to ensure an outbreak number is provided.  Staff and children exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded from the program for 14 days.  If asymptomatic, individuals who have been exposed to a confirmed case of Covid-19 should get tested as soon as any symptoms develop. ​​

​​Results of Screening Questions
If you answered “YES” to only one of the symptoms included under question 2:

• Your child should stay home for 24 hours from when the symptom started.
• If the symptom is improving, your child may return to school/child care when they feel well enough to do so.  A negative COVID-19 test is not required to return.
  
• If the symptom persists or worsens, contact your child’s health care provider for further advice or assessment, including if your child needs a COVID-19 test or other treatment.
  

If you answered “YES” to two or more of the symptoms included under question 2:

• Your child should stay home to isolate immediately.
• Contact your child’s health care provider for further advice or assessment, including if your child needs a         ​COVID-19 test or other treatment.