Dear Parents / Guardians and School Staff:

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise and Omicron spreads rapidly because of high transmissibility, Public Health Units (PHUs) are shifting focus from case management and contact tracing to vaccination. Case and contact management across the province will be shifting from an individual case and contact management to limiting spread in highest risk settings and protecting the vulnerable. Case management will be completed in accordance with the Ministry of Health Omicron Surge guidance.

Public Health Management of Cases and Contacts

  • Cases will receive notification via text or call
  • All cases will be provided with details on isolation, testing, and asked to inform their household and other close contacts.
  • Schools and providers will work with Public Health to identify and provide information to close contacts.
  • Public Health will notify high-risk contacts related to exposures within high-priority settings such as school and childcare centres.
  • All high-risk contacts within schools, childcare centres, camps, post-secondary dormitories or other high priority settings must isolate 10 days from the last exposure to the case regardless if they are fully vaccinated or previous cases. High-risk contacts must be tested immediately and after day 7 from the last exposure.

Instructions for Household Members of a High-Risk Contact:

  • Household members who are fully vaccinated or are a previously cleared positive case in the last 90 days do not need to self-isolate, but should continue to follow public health measures (i.e. masking, physical distancing, handwashing, etc.).
  • Household members who are not fully vaccinated or are not a previously cleared positive case in the last 90 days, should stay home except for essential reasons (i.e. work, school/child care, essential groceries/pharmacy and medical appointments) while the high-risk contact is self-isolating. Household members who cannot isolate away from a high-risk contact (e.g., a young child) must isolate and follow the same isolation requirements as the high-risk contact.

Public health measures, such as appropriate masking, distancing, and optimizing ventilation, reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is still strongly recommended to reduce the risk of severe infection from any COVID-19 variant.

Please refer to the Region of Waterloo Public Health Return to School page for the latest information: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/return-to-school.aspx

Additional COVID-19 resources can be found on Region of Waterloo Public Health’s COVID-19 webpage at http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/COVID19. See the links below for specific resources:

For further information, please call Region of Waterloo Public Health.

Phone: 519-575-4400

TTY: 519-575-4608