Health and Safety Information

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

• What type of masks are students required to wear to school?

  Students in Year 1 - 12 are required to wear masks inside all school buildings and while outside on school grounds.
  We continue to maintain our standard of at least three-ply quality, well-fitting masks for all students, with a strong recommendation that disposable procedural/surgical masks, like the one pictured below, be used instead of three-ply cloth masks.

  

  It is strongly recommended that SK students also wear a mask while in school and on campus. Please ensure your students have extra masks in case they need them during the school day.

   

  Please note that masks with exhalation valves are no longer permitted for use in school buildings or on school grounds.

• I heard that a student and/or UCC employee has COVID-19. Is this true?

  If a positive case of COVID-19 among a student, faculty or staff member is identified to UCC, the school is obligated to report it to public health as well as the Ministry of Education. Once UCC receives instructions from public health, it will communicate the relevant information while maintaining strict confidentiality as per the Privacy of Personal Health Information Act. Information will also be posted on the COVID-19 section of UCC’s website.

• What is the school protocol when someone has a medical reason for not wearing a mask?

  We expect all staff and students to be respectful of those who wear masks and those who cannot wear a mask for medical and other reasons for which an exemption applies. Students, parents and staff can expect that there may be individuals in the school who will not be wearing masks because they qualify for an exemption. In such cases, accommodation measures such as face shields, greater physical distancing, clear barriers, enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures are considered. In situations where a student or staff is not wearing a mask due to an approved medical exemption, a face shield may be adequate as an alternative measure of protection.
  
  Accommodations require consideration of the human rights needs of the person requesting an exemption, as well as medical and health and safety needs of others, being mindful to avoid stigmatizing the individual. Protecting students, families and staff who are at high risk for COVID-19 should be considered in relation to assessing the appropriateness and nature of a mask exemption. It is expected that all reasonable steps and considerations will be taken before a student is not permitted to attend school in person, or an employee is not permitted to attend work in person.

• If a COVID-19 positive student is identified at UCC, will their name be shared?

  Names of students are confidential as per Privacy of Personal Health Information Act. The school will communicate all pertinent information about each positive case, usually including year and cohort on the COVID-19 section of UCC’s website. All families directly affected will be contacted by the local public health authority and will be instructed to isolate if necessary.

• How will UCC determine an outbreak?

  Outbreaks are determined by the local public health authority and depend on a thorough risk assessment and contact tracing procedures. The school will inform community members of an outbreak or closure as soon as that information is available.

• What are the protocols for when a student can return to school?

  • Students who are COVID-19 positive cannot return to school until they are cleared by public health (typically 10 days after symptoms started). 
    • Students who are being managed by TPH (e.g. confirmed cases of COVID-19, close contacts of cases) must follow TPH instructions to determine when to return to the school: 
    • Clearance tests are not required for staff or students to return to the school.
  • Students who test negative can return to school as long as their symptoms are improving for 24 hours, and they are not a close contact of a positive case. 
  • If any other household member has symptoms, they are to self-isolate until the household member tests negative. Children will need to stay home from school if any household member is a close contact of a positive case. 
  • For students who do not go for testing and receive an alternative diagnosis not related to COVID-19 from a health care provider, they can return to school once their symptoms are improving for 24 hours; siblings and adults who attend the school setting can return at that time as well. 
  • Students/staff who do not go for testing and who do not have an alternative diagnosis (i.e. a new or worsening symptom not related to an existing medical condition), must self-isolate for 10 days from the date their symptom(s) started. They may return to school after 10 days if they do not have a fever (without taking medication) and their symptoms are improving for 24 hours as long as they pass the screening tool questions. 
  • New colds or respiratory illnesses (flu, bronchitis or pneumonia) present with similar symptoms to COVID-19. An alternative diagnosis cannot be made for an infectious respiratory condition or a cold without a COVID-19 negative test. A cold is not an alternative diagnosis, as a cold can be COVID-19. It is advised that these individuals are tested.