Health

 

CHeS Communicable Disease Policy – Nov. 25, 2022

 

CHeS is committed to improving the health & safety of our students and workers and is therefore implementing the following health guidelines. Our guidelines are based on BC’s Communicable Disease update

The most recent recommendations include:

1. Vaccination: Vaccination has been recommended by the province as a way to prevent disease. Families at CHeS are free to make informed decisions about this choice and CHeS will support each family’s personal preference.

2. Stay Home If Sick: Please do not attend face to face meetings with students or staff when you are sick. Stay home and take care of yourself.

3. Personal Space: Staff and students should be encouraged to respect others personal space (the distance from which a person feels comfortable being next to another person).

4. Clean surfaces Often: Regular cleaning and disinfection can help prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces should occur in line with regular practices and when visibly dirty.

5. Regular Hand Washing: Rigorous hand washing with plain soap and water or using an effective hand sanitizer reduces the spread of illness. Everyone should practice diligent hand hygiene.

6. Respiratory Etiquette: CHeS will teach and reinforce good respiratory etiquette practices among students & staff, including:• Cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue.

  • Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene.
  • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Refrain from sharing any food, drinks, unwashed utensils, cigarettes, or vaping devices.

7. Health Awareness: A health check is encouraged. Everyone should regularly be checking to ensure they (or their child) are not experiencing symptoms of illness (including but not limited to COVID-19 symptoms) that would limit their ability to participate fully in regular activities involving others or the public.

8. If You Are Sick, Follow the BCCDC Guidelines: The B.C. Self-Assessment Tool provides more information on whether you should get a test for COVID-19. Those unsure or concerned about their symptoms should connect with a health care provider or call 8-1- 1. If you test positive for COVID-19 you should follow the guidance on the BCCDC website as to how long they should self-isolate. CHeS does not require a health care provider note (e.g., a doctor’s note) to confirm the health status of any individual.

Staff, children, or other persons can attend in-person meetings if their symptoms are consistent with a previously diagnosed health condition (e.g., seasonal allergies) or symptoms have improved enough to where they feel well enough to return to regular activities and their fever has resolved without the use of fever- reducing medication (e.g., ibuprofen, acetaminophen). Information specific to COVID-19 is available from BCCDC.

• If you become ill during a meeting, you should go home immediately and not resume meeting until your symptoms have improved.

9. Supporting Students with Disabilities/Diverse Abilities and/or Receiving Health Services: Staff and those providing services to students with medical complexity, immune suppression, receiving direct or delegated care, or with disabilities and diverse abilities who are in close proximity to a student should follow routine infection controlpractices and care plans for the child, if applicable

10. Mask and Face Coverings: The decision to wear a mask is based on individual preference. The choice of staff and students to choose whether they practice additional personal prevention measures should be respected. Information on non-medical masks is available from BCCDC.