Public reporting of COVID-19 cases in schools will resume on Oct. 6, with Alberta Health identifying online each school with at least two COVID-19 cases. Starting Oct. 12, parents will also be informed if their child may have been exposed to a COVID-19 case who was infectious while at school. At this time, school authorities will support an interim process for contact notification using data supplied daily by Alberta Health Services. An updated guidance document will be provided directly to school authorities to support them through this process.
Alberta Health Services will take over the lead on contact notification in schools within the next several weeks. Once AHS-led contact notification is in place, parents will be able to check an online map to view alerts and outbreaks at schools.
Alberta’s government will be offering a targeted rapid testing program for kindergarten to Grade 6 schools experiencing outbreaks, as vaccines are not yet available to this age group.
Alberta’s government is strongly encouraging all school authorities to develop policies that require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for teachers, staff and anyone who enters a school. This does not apply to students. A school authority cannot deny students access to education due to immunization status.
The Alberta Daily Screening
Has your child been a household contact of a case2 of COVID-19 in the last 14 days? A household contact: a person who lives in the same residence as the case OR who has been in frequent, long-duration, close-range interaction with a case of COVID-19. For example, siblings, someone who slept over, or someone who provided direct physical care to the child.
If the answer is “YES” AND they are NOT fully immunized
: Child should stay home and NOT attend school, childcare and/or other activities for 14 days from the last day of exposure and monitor for symptoms. If your child has symptoms, proceed to question 2.
