Coronavirus Information in EICS

EICS Fact Sheet 4 - Parent and Community – March 15, 2020

Dear EICS community,

We apologize for the length of this messaging, but given the complexity and importance of clear communication regarding the risk of the COVID-19 Pandemic, ​we strongly urge you to read this information in its entirety. 

We thank you for your ongoing understanding and cooperation as we continue to work together to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families.

In addition to this document for parents/guardians, a comprehensive handbook has been developed and distributed outlining these directives to all Elk Island Catholic Schools staff.

After direct consultation on March 14, 2020 from ​Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health​, and Alberta Education, all schools and school division facilities have been directed to adhere to the following: 

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Directs All Alberta Schools to Remain Open

“What is important to know is that school closures are not universally agreed on as an effective intervention to prevent spread. In some other provinces that have chosen to close schools, they have not taken the other aggressive measures we announced yesterday.

"It should be noted that the World Health Organization does not recommend school closure as the only way to prevent spread in the age group of young children. Instead, they also offer a safe schools checklist which describes the ways that school environments can be kept as safe as possible for students, teachers and staff.

"Given the current situation in Alberta, the fact that any school closure would need to be in place for months, not weeks to be effective, and the fact that students may still be at risk of spreading infection in other settings besides schools, I have advised that school closures not be implemented at this time.

"To be clear, schools, daycares and post-secondary institutions can remain open.”

— Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health, statement Friday, March 13, 2020.


 Zero Tolerance Directive Regarding Student and Staff Illness

Parents/guardians of students/children and staff should be informed that by the direction of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health there is​ zero tolerance for children or staff with any respiratory symptoms attending schools or school division facilities across Alberta.​ ​This includes Elk Island Catholic Schools. 

Any student or staff member with respiratory symptoms, such as a cough, mild cold, or flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and including symptoms that may seem like a mild cold) ​ must inform the school immediately and remain home for 14-days while they monitor their symptoms. 

In the home, parents are urged to closely monitor their children for possible respiratory symptoms such as cough or symptoms of a mild cold, or flu-like symptoms. ​This is crucial, as students with symptoms can then be identified early and remain home​, before riding the morning bus or being dropped off at school. Again, if symptoms are present in a student, they must remain home for 14-days while those symptoms are monitored.

Teachers and school staff are urged to closely monitor their classrooms, and if any student is having respiratory symptoms such as cough or symptoms of a mild cold, or flu-like symptoms the steps below should be followed. The same steps should be followed if a staff member begins to experience respiratory symptoms.

• If a student, child or staff develops respiratory symptoms while at school, they should be removed from the school environment.
• Schools and school facilities promptly separate the student/child or staff with symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and including symptoms that may seem like a mild cold) in an area separate from others, with adequate supervision until they can go home.
• To help prevent transmission, the most important steps are to reinforce strict respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene practices and to ​have the ill student/child or staff stay two meters away from others.​ ​If possible, the student should be placed in a separate room from other students/children with a closed door. Any rooms they have been in while symptomatic should be cleaned and disinfected before others enter them.
• Schools must notify parents/guardians if their child begins to experience respiratory symptoms while at school and arrange for immediate pick up.
• Students and staff must remain home for 14 days, regardless of changes in symptoms over that time. If symptoms have improved, parents must contact the school to update the school upon the end of the 14 day period.
• If symptoms persist past the 14-day period, please consult with your school before your child returns.

Since younger children and children with special needs may not always be able or willing to identify or disclose symptoms, they should be closely monitored by staff for symptoms. 

Students or staff returning from travel outside of Canada

Parents/guardians of students/children and staff are informed that by the direction of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health that, as of 3:30 pm March 12th, any student or staff member who returns from travel outside of Canada ​must contact the school to notify of their return,​ and as directed by Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, ​self-isolate for 14-days before returning to school or school division facilities. 

During self-isolation, monitor for the development of any possible symptoms. If possible COVID-19 symptoms do develop, please notify Alberta Health by phoning 811.

If students or staff are tested for COVID-19, those who test negative will be advised individually by AHS about a return to school and work.

Important Considerations: 

• If your family is planning travel outside of Canada for March Break, and that travel includes an EICS student, that student will have to self-isolate for 14-days starting upon your return home. The student WILL NOT be able to return to school until that
  14-day self-isolation expires.  
• If parents or family members have travelled outside of Canada, but your child or a related staff member has not, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health advised that the child and staff member can still attend school or work. If any symptoms develop they will then be subject to the same 14-day period away from school and school division facilities. 

Large Gatherings

Until further notice, the following events should be cancelled:

• Events with more than 50 attendees that involve ​international participants, critical infrastructure staff, seniors, or other high-risk populations, such as immune-compromised individuals. 
• Large events with more than 250 attendees, including sporting events, school assemblies, and community events.

School administrators will be taking steps to ensure that no more than 250 people are in the same room at any given time. 

 Proper Hygiene and Precautions

A new virus such as the COVID-19 can create anxiety and be difficult for students/children to understand, especially if someone in their school or family is sick, or they see or hear troubling messages on the radio, internet or television. It is normal for students/children to feel worried or nervous and have questions. All staff in schools and parents at home can support children by doing the following: 

Reassure students/children about their personal safety and health. Telling students/children that it is okay to be concerned is comforting. Reassure them they are safe and there are many things they can do to stay healthy:

• Hand washing:​ Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing. 
• Cough/sneeze etiquette: ​Cough and sneeze into arm or tissue. 
• Stay home when sick: ​ Students/children should tell parents if not feeling well.
• make a plan to stay home from school. 
• Keep clean:​ Keep your hands away from face and mouth. 
• Stay healthy: ​Stay healthy by eating healthy foods, keeping physically active, getting enough sleep.

As referenced in a previous communication, additional sanitation measures have been taken across all schools, division facilities, and EICS Transportation vehicles.
These measures include:

• Our custodians have increased their cleaning and sanitizing practices at all schools and sites and transportation vehicles in Elk Island Catholic Schools and buses.
• Custodians are sanitizing all high-touch areas in our schools to help prevent the spread of germs 
• Custodians will wipe down/sanitize door hardware, handrails, drinking fountains, telephones in common areas and other high-touch areas as they move throughout their schools

 NOTE​: Enhanced sanitizing is planned over the March Break by EICS staff. 

Actions to be Taken if there is a Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in a School

School and Division administration will continue to work closely with local public health officials to determine the best course of action for schools. That includes close collaboration on decisions about facility closures or cancellation of large events. 

IMPORTANT: Alberta Health has directed that schools are not expected to make decisions about the closure or canceling events on their own. 

This is generally done under the direction of local public health officials in collaboration with the sites that are impacted. Schools and Division facilities can determine what events may need to be cancelled and seek specific public health guidance in advance about precautionary measures for these events. 

If an ill student or staff member attended school prior to being confirmed as a COVID-19 case

● AHS or public health officials, depending on the location, would conduct contact tracing of the case and in consultation with the Medical Health Officer, inform decisions about appropriate public health measures for staff and/or children/students that were at risk of exposure, including instructions about self-isolation (staying at home) or self-monitoring. Local health officials will work directly with the school/school authority administration to determine the best course of action and this may or may not include a school closure.

● Local health officials may recommend temporary school dismissals if a student or staff member attended school prior to being confirmed as a COVID-19 case. AHS Public Health recommendations for the scope (e.g., a single school, a full district) and duration of school dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis based on the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and information about cases in the affected community.

• Schools should work with the local Public Health department and other relevant leadership to communicate information about the possible COVID-19 exposure appropriately. In such a circumstance, it is critical to maintaining the confidentiality of the child/student or staff member. EICS has had daily contact with our AHS zone office and will continue to do so.
• If a child/student or staff member has been identified with a case of COVID-19, school administrators will receive guidance from AHS Public Health about when students and staff should return to schools and what additional steps are needed for the school community. In addition, children/students and staff who are well but are taking care of, or sharing a home with, someone with COVID-19 will receive instructions from public health officials as to when they can return to school/child care and other follow-up instructions (e.g., enhanced cleaning, disinfection and hygiene practices).

Dear EICS Community,

We are striving to keep everyone up to date as much as possible on how EICS is effectively dealing with coronavirus pandemic throughout our division.  Moving forward, instead of relying of messaging via emails, we will be sharing all updates directly as they become available throughout the day on our EICS website on the coronavirus page located at: https://www.eics.ab.ca/coronavirus-information-in-eics

School Closures
At this time, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Chief Medical Officer of Health has not called for any schools or daycares to be closed. 

Guests/ Visitors/ Parents in our School
On Thursday, March 12th, the Alberta Health Services Chief Medical Officer of Health updated protocols regarding the Coronavirus and how to keep our communities as safe as possible.  One of these recommendations involves new public health restrictions involving more than 250 attendees. In compliance with this, Elk Island Catholic Schools is ensuring our school and staff safety by reducing visitors to our schools by having our schools open to students and staff only. This will take effect on Friday, March 13th.

This will impact the following:
1. Schools within EICS will be open to staff and students only.  Parents and other guardians may come to the office to collect a student/drop off items, but are not to be allowed further into the school. 

2. School functions will only be open to staff and students. 
3. Any events within a school (sporting events; theatre productions; facility rentals by outside groups; open houses for schools;) will be postponed until further notice.  
4. The School Principal will either postpone the Student-led conference / Parent-teacher interviews to a future date or staff may contact parents by phone to conduct the interviews.  Each school will communicate how this may occur.
5. Sporting competitions between schools are to be postponed until further notice.  
6. Field trips are to be postponed to a later date or cancelled.  
7. Before and After School Care / Daycares - will be allowed to operate however, operators will be asked to bring the child to the front entry doors for pick up and drop off with the parent.  *Please know that Strathcona County Boys and Girl Club will not be operating in either the Holy Redeemer Catholic School or Madonna Catholic School locations as of Monday, March 16, 2020.

We realize that this will impact our parents and community members and many volunteers that are such a welcome presence in our school.  We are so appreciative of your understanding and cooperation as we all work together to continue to keep our schools and staff safe during this serious public health situation.
                                                                                                                                          TTravel 

As of 3:30 pm, March 13th, Alberta public health officials are directing the following actions as a precaution:

• All persons returning from travel outside Canada are now asked/directed to self-isolate for 14 days. 
• All persons who have flu like symptoms are asked/directed to self-isolate for 14 days.
• Parents should call Health Link 811 for additional information. 

Self-isolation is a precautionary measure and does not mean that the individual is infected with COVID-19.  See specific information on how to self-isolate on the Alberta Health Services website

Departing Travellers

Albertans are NOT recommended to travel outside of the country at this time to any destination:

• Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Health Advisories
• World Health Organization's Bulletins for Updated Travel Advice

In closing, we want to thank the entire EICS school community for their attention to these changing protocols and for everyone’s effort in keeping our community safe.  Please visit eics.ab.ca for all up to date coronavirus updates for EICS.

Take care,

Shawn Haggarty
Superintendent  

In light of recent increases with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Alberta, Elk Island Catholic Schools would like to share with our school communities and partners what we are doing within our division.  Please know that things are changing daily during this time, and we will continue to update you with any new relevant information as it becomes available. We understand our students, staff, and families may have questions about coronavirus.  We encourage you to refer to  Alberta Health Services for the latest information.

Health Information
Contact 8-1-1 (Health Link) or your health care provider for questions about your personal health situation. Please understand that School divisions do not have the authority to make public health decisions, such as the closing of a school.  If steps are taken in relation to a public health concern, it is at the direction of the Alberta Health Services and local health authorities. EICS is in regular communication with Alberta Education, Alberta Health Services, and school divisions across the province. At this time, school divisions have not been directed to take additional steps in relation to coronavirus.

Prevention
There are two important ways to prevent and control respiratory viruses in school settings:
 
1. The first is for students and staff who are ill with respiratory illness symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, and/or muscle aches) to stay home from school. If your child is not feeling well, we ask that you keep them home so that they can rest and recover. As always, remember to inform the school of the absence.
 
2. The second way to prevent and control respiratory viruses is the consistent practice of good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. Good respiratory etiquette includes covering the mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing with a tissue or a flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues in a plastic-lined waste container, followed by hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is the washing of hands with plain soap and water, which is effective at removing visible soil as well as viruses.
 
Children in the school setting should clean their hands:

• Before leaving home and on arrival at school.
• After using the bathroom.
• After breaks and sporting activities.
• Before food preparation.
• Before eating any food, including snacks.
• Before leaving school.

If you have a younger child, support them at home by supervising and assisting in hand hygiene. In schools, instruction will be provided by staff. We are enhancing our communication to students about hand-washing, sneeze/cough etiquette, and preventing illness – including new signage and supplies at each site across the school division.
 

Travel During Spring Break
Employees, families, and students who are travelling overseas for personal travel should be encouraged to regularly monitor the Government of Canada Travel Advisories. The current areas where health travel notices have been issued are China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain. Impacted areas may change and expand as the situation evolves.

When Should Students who have Travelled Remain at Home
As noted in Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s March 3, 2020, Memo to Parents, Alberta public health officials recommend the following precautionary measures:

If a student has visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended they self-isolate until 2 weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well. Parents should call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if their children have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following:|

 - contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
 - were in a health-care facility
 - have symptoms, such as cough or fever

School Absence Notification
If your child is sick, you will continue the usual process of using School Messenger app or website located at  https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/#/home to let the school know.  If you are clicking Influenza – this is solely for confirmed influenza/Coronavirus cases and the school staff will be following up with you so as we can record this in our public health screening protocols. 

Field Trips and School Events
As indicated by Alberta Health Services the current risk to Albertans is low and they have not called for cancellations of any large public gatherings.  If this changes, our Division will respond accordingly with respect to field trips, school events, and extra-curricular events.  

All school trips to International destinations have been canceled.

Cleaning and Disinfecting in our Schools and Facilities
Regular cleaning and disinfecting of all high-touch surfaces and all EICS Transportation vehicles (school buses and other transportation vehicles) helps prevent the transmission of viruses. Our school division has asked our custodial services to focus attention on daily cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces within schools and facilities and all EICS Transportation buses and vehicles.

Food Sharing
Students should not be sharing food, utensils, dishes, and water bottles or drink containers. Although this practice is important for preventing exposures to allergens, it is equally important in reducing virus transmission between children.

Mental Wellness
A new virus such as the COVID-19 can create anxiety and be difficult for students/children to understand, especially if someone they know is sick, or they see or hear troubling messages on the radio, internet or television. It is normal for children to feel worried and nervous and have questions.
 
Support your children by reassuring them about their personal safety and health:

• Limit their access to news and online stories about the issue.
• Maintain a normal routine unless otherwise advised by an authority.
• Encourage them to talk to you about their concerns.
• Reassure them they are safe. 
• Advise them of steps they can take to stay healthy:
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing the ABC's to measure time), especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Cough and sneeze into arm or tissue.
• Stay home if they are not feeling well.
• Keep hands away from the face and mouth.
• Stay healthy by eating healthy foods, keeping physically active, and getting enough sleep.

Check out the following resource from the Alberta Psychologists’ Association of Alberta on tips on how we as parents can stay mentally healthy during this pandemic.