Peterborough Public Health Provides Local Families with Guidance to Reduce Spread of COVID-19 in Schools
Written by Comms Team, January 24, 2022
Personal Measures Taken by Individuals Necessary to Complement Prevention Efforts Undertaken by District School Boards
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has outlined the steps it strongly recommends local school families take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools in a letter from Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health.
“This is a difficult time to be a parent and/or caregiver, and the return to in-person learning is a tough decision to make,” said Dr. Piggott. “I want to assure families that PPH, in partnership with district school boards, is working diligently to ensure protective measures are in place for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission in schools.”
In his letter, Dr. Piggott described the recommendations that were developed for Peterborough County and City schools in consultation with the Provincial Government’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. They focused on the following key areas:
- Close monitoring of school absenteeism rates, and the results of rapid-antigen tests including those submitted to PPH through this online survey (https://chkmkt.com/RAT21). If indicators demonstrate spread of COVID-19 exceeds set thresholds, unvaccinated students will be recommended for dismissal for five days to self-isolate.
- Submitting rapid-antigen test results (positive or negative) to PPH’s voluntary and confidential online survey at https://chkmkt.com/RAT21
- Getting vaccinated with at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for students aged 5-17 years. Second doses are available 56 days (eight weeks) after the first dose. Appointments are available through the provincial booking system https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling for assistance at 1-833-943-3900.
At all local schools, wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, completing the daily screening tool, and not attending school if students or a household member is symptomatic are key public health measures.
Dr. Piggott also encourages parents and caregivers to watch the webinar he gave last Thursday answering their frequently asked questions about the reopening of schools to in-person learning. This webinar, entitled “ABCs of Back to In-person Learning” can be seen on PPH’s YouTube channel here, and was presented in partnership with all three local school boards and Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Durham Region Health Department.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
For more details on COVID-19 public health measures and school guidance, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391