During the pandemic, it can be difficult to know when your child is able to go to school and what happens if they are feeling unwell. There are a number of important resources available to help families understand what they are required to do if their child is sick – when you must isolate, when to be tested, how long you must stay home and when you can go back to school.
Note | These are general guidelines and families should follow the specific directions of Alberta Health Services Public Health and/or Alberta HealthLink 811.
Should I Send My Child to School
Families should complete the new
Daily COVID-19 Checklist prior entering school daily. This checklist applies for all children, as well as all students who attend kindergarten to Grade 12, including
high school students over 18. There is a seperate checklist for adults. Both checklists are available through the link above.
Experiencing Symptoms of COVID-19
The core symptoms for students that
require isolation for 10 days are one
(or more) of the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
A student can return to school before 10 days ONLY if a COVID-19 test is negative, symptoms are gone AND the student is not a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
Read |
How Long To Stay Home From School
Watch |
Chief Medical Officer of Health Video
Feeling Unwell
If a student has one of the following other symptoms, they can return to school if their symptom is improving, as long as it has been at least 24 hours:
- Chills (without fever, not related to being outside in cold weather)
- Sore throat or painful swallowing;
- Runny nose or congestion;
- Feeling unwell or fatigue;
- Lack of energy
- Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Unexplained loss of appetite;
- Muscle or joint aches;
- Headache; or
- Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
Testing is not necessary if the child has only ONE of these symptoms and it improves after 24 hours. If the symptom does not improve, gets worse or another symptom develops, parents should continue to keep their child home until their symptom(s) go away. If a child has TWO or more of the other symptoms, they can return to school once their symptoms go away, as long as it has been 24 hours since their symptoms started. A COVID-19 test is recommended but not required.
Read |
How Long To Stay Home From School
Exposure at School
If your child has been exposed to a diagnosed case of COVD-19 you will be contacted by AHS. Students are usually asked to isolate at home for 14 days after the exposure.
Follow AHS
directions for self-isolation.
Watch |
Chief Medical Officer of Health Video
Learning From Home
If you are required to isolate or remain at home, let your school know when your child will be returning to school
Connect with your child's teacher(s) to arrange for learning at home, if your child is well enough to do so.
