COVID-19: Keeping schools safe

Health and safety measures at schools

All public and private schools will return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. Remote learning will continue to be an option for families.

Here are some of the measures that will be in place to keep kids safe at school.

• Provincewide ventilation improvements:
  • school boards will continue to optimize air quality in classrooms and learning environments through improving ventilation or filtration. Learn more about ventilation improvements.
• Wearing a mask:
  • students in Grades 1 to 12 must a wear mask or face covering in schools and on school transportation
  • we encourage students in kindergarten to wear a mask or face covering
  • school staff and school bus drivers must wear medical masks
• Students and staff must screen for COVID-19covid 19 symptoms every day
• Extra-curricular activities will be allowed with some modifications
• Students can share materials during recess, in shared spaces and indoors with appropriate physical distancing
• Regular hand washing or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer and other everyday actions like sneezing and coughing into your sleeve
• Shared spaces will be allowed, for example homerooms, libraries, tech labs and cafeterias, when they follow indoor gathering measures

Read measures for schools Read measures for child care

Improving ventilation

As part of our plan to keep students and schools safe for the 2021-2022 school year, school boards have improved ventilation in classrooms. This includes:

• running ventilation systems longer to improve air flow and using higher grade filters (for example, MERV 13)
• increasing frequency of filter changes
• increasing fresh air intake at schools with mechanical ventilation
• having standalone high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units in all occupied classrooms, gyms, libraries and other instructional spaces that don’t have mechanical ventilation
• having standalone high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units in junior and senior kindergarten classrooms in schools with mechanical ventilation

School boards must inspect and maintain ventilation systems throughout the year to ensure they are in good working order.

99% of schools in Ontario have increased fresh air intake, are using higher-grade filters and running ventilation system longer. Check your school board’s website to find out about ventilation improvements, such as the number of HEPA filter units in place.

Other upgrades

We are also building better infrastructure by:

• supporting remote learning by investing in network and broadband infrastructure
• installing water bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water
• supporting renovations to enable better physical distancing

Vaccines

Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to stay protected from COVID-19covid 19.

They are an important tool to help to stop the spread of the virus and allow students and families to safely resume activities.

Get the facts about vaccines for youth ages 12 to 17.

Learn about booking a COVID-19covid 19 vaccine in Ontario.

Find mental health services

There are mental health services for children and youth who are feeling anxious or are experiencing other mental health or addiction challenges. Many services are available online or by phone.

Contact your child’s principal to learn about mental health supports and services at your child’s school.