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Illness in schools

We all have a part to play in keeping one another safe. Edmonton Public Schools uses several health and safety measures that work together to help reduce the spread of viruses in schools.

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK

One of the most effective ways to keep one another healthy and safe is to stay home when sick. Families, students and staff are asked to monitor for symptoms of illness before coming to school and work. If you feel sick, please stay home.

HAND HYGIENE

Students and staff are encouraged to wash or sanitize their hands throughout the day and follow good hand hygiene practices.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

Schools maintain cleaning standards intended to keep viruses and bacteria from spreading. This includes:

  • frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces like handrails, door handles and water fountains
  • use of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes for shared equipment

SICK ROOM

Schools have a designated space for students or staff who become ill while at school. If your child becomes sick at school, they will be sent to this place and you will be asked to come and pick them up. Staff will ask students with symptoms of illness if they will wear a mask. This remains a personal choice.

AIR QUALITY

Division schools support air quality through the following practices. We:

  • change filters often
  • run our systems longer
  • maximize fresh-air intake
  • inspect the systems often
  • use the highest quality filter possible for each system (including MERV-13 filters wherever possible)

In addition, every classroom and learning space in the Division has a portable air filtration (HEPA) unit.

  • HEPA units are turned on when students and staff are in the room.
  • The Division follows the manufacturers’ recommendations in replacing the filters in the units
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MASKS

Individual choices about whether to wear a mask in school will be respected.

Schools have masks for staff or students who forget theirs, but want to wear one. Students can pick one up at the office.

TRACKING AND REPORTING ILLNESS

To help parents understand rates of illness at their child’s school, we report on the number of students absent due to illness. To see current absence rates and to learn more about how we respond when illness absences are high, visit our illness rates page.