Staying safe and healthy this school year

• Public reporting of COVID-19 cases in schools resumed on October 6, with Alberta Health identifying online each school with at least 2 COVID-19 cases.
• Also effective October 6, school COVID-19 outbreaks are reported at 10 or more COVID-19 cases within a 14 day period that were infectious while at school.
• Public reporting categories include:
  • Alert: 2 to 4 cases
  • Alert: 5 to 9 cases
  • Outbreak: 10+ cases
• Parents are also being informed if their child may have been exposed to a COVID-19 case who was infectious while at school.
• Alberta Health Services will take over the lead on contact notification in schools within the next several weeks. Once AHS-led contact notification is in place, parents will be able to check an online map to view alerts and outbreaks at schools.

Last updated: October 14, 2021

• Starting in late October, K-6 schools in Alberta that are experiencing outbreaks will have access to at-home rapid test kits for students and staff.
• This program is voluntary. More information will be shared when available.

Last updated: October 5, 2021

Children

Children under 18, including all students who attend kindergarten through Grade 12 and high school students over 18, should complete the Alberta Health Daily Checklist for Children under 18 before going to school, child care or other activities.

The checklist is also available in the following additional languages: Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese.

Adults

School staff and visitors should review the Alberta Health Daily Checklist to determine if they may enter a school.

• If a student or staff member has any of the following core COVID-19 symptoms (new, or worsening and not related to other known causes), they are required to isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms, or until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result, as per provincial guidelines:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Sore throat (adults only)
  • Runny nose (adults only)
• Schools are encouraged to:
  • promote frequent hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette
  • continue environmental measures such as cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces
  • have a plan for students and staff who develop symptoms to wait in a separate area until they can go home
• Masks are mandatory for students in grades 4 and up, plus staff and teachers in all grades. Masks are recommended for students attending kindergarten to Grade 3.
• Elementary schools are to implement class cohorting.
• We will continue monitoring and take whatever actions are needed to manage any outbreaks in schools.
• Zone Medical Officers of Health and their designates are available to support school authorities throughout the province.

• Masking is mandatory for students in grades 4 and up, plus staff and teachers in all grades.
  • Masks are recommended for students attending kindergarten to Grade 3.
• Masks are required on school buses.
• Schools may choose to have additional masking requirements.
• Schools should support individuals who choose to wear masks, beyond the current public health measures.

• School COVID-19 outbreaks are now reported at 10 or more COVID-19 cases within a 14 day period that were infectious while at school.
• Alberta Health Services will continue to support schools to manage COVID-19 outbreaks.
• A medical officer of health or designate has the authority under the Public Health Act to recommend additional public health measures.

Last updated: October 14, 2021

• For kindergarten to Grade 6 only, if 3 or more COVID-19 cases who attended school while infectious are identified in one class within a 5-day period, the class will shift to at-home learning for 10 days.
• Parents will be notified by the school when the class will shift to at-home learning.
• Staff members who are fully vaccinated will be able to continue to attend a school building, while those who are not fully vaccinated will be excluded from the school for 10 days.
• If a K-6 class shifts to at-home learning, vaccinated children will typically also make this shift for operational reasons.
• School authorities continue to have the discretion to shift a grade or grades to at-home/online learning.
• Approval from the Minister of Education is required for a short-term shift of one or more schools or an entire school authority to at-home/online learning for operational reasons.
• A decision for a school authority request will be based on the ability of a school to have staff available to operate in-school classes.

Last updated: October 15, 2021

• Because children under 12 are not yet able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important that people around them get the vaccine to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 in the community and protect this age group.
• For kindergarten to Grade 6 only, if 3 or more COVID-19 cases who attended school while infectious are identified in one class within a 5-day period, parents will be notified that all students in that class, whether vaccinated or not, are excluded from in-person learning at school for 10 days. The class will shift to at-home learning. Staff members who are fully vaccinated will be able to continue to attend a school building.
• Children under 12 have much lower rates of hospitalization, severe disease and death from COVID-19. Based on Alberta’s experience in the 2020-2021 school year, schools were not the primary drivers of COVID-19 transmission during that time.
• Students, parents/guardians, staff and visitors are encouraged to assess their personal risk factors and/or the risk factors for their families and take precautions that make sense in their situations.

Last updated: October 14, 2021

• Indoor sports, fitness, recreation, and performance activities are permitted in schools, with requirements to maintain 2 metre physical distancing where possible.
  • Masks and distancing are not required by youth under 18 while engaged in physical activity.
  • Spectator attendance restricted to 1/3 fire code capacity and limited to households or 2 close contacts for those living alone. Attendees must be masked and distanced.

• Before leaving home, staff, students and visitors should assess whether they feel well enough to attend school for any reason.
• Parents/guardians should assess their children daily for any new signs or symptoms of illness using the Alberta Daily Health Checklist.
• If a student or staff member has any of the following core COVID-19 symptoms (new, or worsening and not related to other known causes), they are required to isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms, or until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result, as per provincial guidelines:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Sore throat (adults only)
  • Runny nose (adults only)
• Schools are encouraged to have a plan in place if a student or staff member develops any symptoms of illness while at school.

Vaccine eligibility

• All staff and students born in 2009 or earlier (turning 12+) are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• COVID-19 vaccines help prevent infection and severe illness. All vaccines are safe, effective and save lives.

In-school vaccination clinics

• Immunizations are available through temporary clinics in schools for students in Grades 7 to 12 as well as teachers and staff. Parents can also access clinics if sufficient supply exists. This began on September 7.
• Students, teachers and staff can receive whichever dose they are eligible for in school at this time. However, if they receive their first dose at the in-school clinic, they will need to book their second dose at a local pharmacy or Alberta Health Services (AHS) clinic when it is time to do so.
• Students under 18 will not be vaccinated in schools without parent or guardian consent.
  • Parental or guardian consent for students will be required through consent forms. These will be emailed to parents and guardians in late August and are available to download here: COVID-19 School Immunization Consent Form.
  • It is important that parents or guardians return completed consent forms for their children as quickly as possible.

Proof of vaccination

• We strongly encourage all school authorities to develop policies that require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for teachers, staff and anyone who enters a school.
• This does not include students. A school authority cannot deny students access to education due to immunization status.

Last updated: October 5, 2021

• COVID-19 information for K-12 Schools and School Buses (Updated October 14, 2021) - This guidance is intended to support school and school authority leaders in reducing opportunities for transmission of COVID-19 in schools under the 2021-22 School Year Plan.
• Resource Guide for Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Schools (New as of October 14, 2021 ) – Contains information for schools on roles and responsibilities during a COVID-19 outbreak.
• 2021-22 Parent Guide (Updated October 14, 2021) – What parents can expect during the 2021-22 school year.
• A Mental Health and Well-Being Continuum of Supports and Services - This resource enables school and school authority leaders to enhance mental health supports for students.

The following materials are currently being updated to reflect COVID-19 measures announced September 15 and October 6, 2021:

• COVID-19 School Immunization Program: Questions and Answers for School Administrators

• 2021-22 School Year Plan

• Cover your cough (English / French)
• Wash your hands (English / French)
• Wash or sanitize your hands (English / French)
• Be kind (English / French)
• If you are struggling or lonely (English / French)
• Stay home from school when sick (English / French)

• Video: If there is a COVID-19 case in your child’s class or school

• Letter from Ministers Copping and LaGrange (October 5, 2021) | French
• Letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Health on returning to school for fall 2021 (August 13, 2021). | French

The following resources are archived and will not be updated.

• Guidance for Respiratory Illness Prevention and Management in Schools
• Public Health Management of Respiratory Illness in Schools - Questions and Answers for School Administrators
• COVID-19 Information: Guidance for schools (K-12) and school buses – scenario 1
• COVID-19 Information: Guidance for schools on re-entry scenario 2
• 2020-21 Parent Guide
• How long to stay home from school
• Student illness: What to do if a student has COVID-19 symptoms
• Get the facts: Back to class for 2020-21