Update to Provincial Health and Safety Guidance

Earlier today, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced several changes to province-wide public health and safety measures to live with and manage COVID-19 over the long-term. The changes in provincial guidance with respect to school boards are as follows:

• As of March 14, the end of mandatory vaccination policies and the 3x a week rapid testing of staff who are not vaccinated/did not disclose vaccination status is no longer required.
• As of March 21, provincial mask mandates are lifted in schools.
• As of March 21, lifting of other measures in schools, including cohorting, distancing and daily on-site screening.
• There are now no limits on indoor or outdoor social gatherings and organized public events.

We are consulting with the Durham Region Health Department on these updated procedures to confirm directions for staff and students. The Board of Trustees are also meeting tomorrow evening to discuss masking. We will provide further updates on this topic as they are available.

In addition, enhanced cleaning, optimizing air quality/ventilation and the DDSB’s absence reporting measures will remain in place. The province has indicated that they will continue to provide school boards with a supply of rapid tests that can be distributed to students and staff.

If your child is sick, please ensure that they stay home to protect everyone at school. We ask that families continue to complete the daily self-screening for accurate guidance on whether your child should attend school.

If you have not yet been vaccinated, please consider doing so to help protect yourself and your family. You can find out more information on vaccination from the Durham Region Health Department.

We understand that some of these changes will have an impact on individuals and schools will be doing their best to support families during this time. On behalf of our school teams, we ask that everyone approach these changes from a place of kindness and understanding as these decisions do not fall on school-based staff.

Thank you,

Durham District School Board