Schools and Child Care During COVID-19
Vaccinating Children and Youth
The COVID-19 vaccine remains the single best protection against COVID-19 and variants
Screening and managing symptoms
Daily screening is an effective practice to help prevent COVID-19 infection from entering a school or child care setting.
Public Health continues to recommend that staff, students and visitors complete the COVID-19 school and child care screening each day before going to school or child care.
Self-isolation
Visit self-isolation to learn what to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19 or you're a contact.
Learn about COVID-19 vaccination, testing, isolation or treatment.
Contact
- For child care and financial assistance, connect with a Children's Services staff member
- School administrators, principals and teachers can email HealthySchools@niagararegion.ca
Provincial health and safety measures
Masks
Public Health encourages schools to promote the use of high-quality masks, and encourages students, staff and visitors to wear a mask indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces, particularly when community transmission of COVID-19 is increasing. Parents/guardians can contact their child's school for free masks if they don’t already have one.
Masking is one of the most reasonable protections we can all take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our vulnerable community members from severe outcomes. Masks are not just a personal protection, but also a community one that protects each other. See Public Health Ontario's comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on masking in children that showed that:
- Mask requirements prevent infections in children
- Masks are well-tolerated by children
- There is no objective evidence of harms or negative consequences from masking in children
Learn more about masks, including situations where masks should be worn in schools based on provincial guidance, and how to properly wear a mask.
Regardless of someone's mask choice, Public Health strongly encourages a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals who choose to wear or not to wear a mask within their school communities.
Returning from international travel and international students
- COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): International students
Transportation
For Niagara-specific transportation information and guidelines, visit Niagara Student Transportation Services or Francobus and your child's school board website.
If a child is shows any symptoms of illness, they should not take public transportation or share transportation, such as carpooling.
Curriculum supports
More resources for schools and child care
- COVID-19 posters and resources
- Preventing COVID-19: Refresher Presentations for Schools and Childcare Settings
Post-secondary institutions
© Niagara Region - 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7 - Phone: 905-980-6000, Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215
