Appendix D - Management of Staff with Possible COVID 19 Symptoms

This document is intended to provide guidance to School Administrators/Managers/Supervisors in the event a staff member presents with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or reports a probable or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 while attending our Board Facilities.

IMPORTANT: The subject matter expert and lead agency for COVID-19 is the Government of Ontario and Grey Bruce Public Health and no Administrator/Manager/Supervisor should provide any guidance or feedback about an individual’s probable or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 case unless confirmed by the Ottawa Public Health AND authorized by the Board.

COVID-19 Self-Screening:

All staff arriving for work MUST first conduct the Ontario Ministry of Health Self Assessment Tool provided by Grey Bruce Public Health and follow the suggested course of action provided.

1. COVID-19 SYMPTOMS (Ministry of Health)

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and must stay home, self-isolate and be assessed by a health-care provider. Testing is recommended for anyone with these symptoms:

• fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)

• chills

• cough that's new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)

• barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup)

• shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)

• sore throat

• difficulty swallowing

• runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)

• lost sense of taste or smell

• pink eye (conjunctivitis)

• headache that’s unusual or long lasting

• digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)

• muscle aches

• extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)

• falling down often

• for young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite

The symptoms can be mild and similar to cold symptoms. They can also be more severe, like those associated with pneumonia and respiratory failure.

This list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

2. STAY-AT-HOME ORDER (Self-Isolation Instructions-GBPH)

The following individuals must stay at home and NOT access Board schools/sites and self-isolate for at least 14 days, if:

● returned from travel outside Canada

● been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are waiting to hear the results of a lab test for COVID-19

● symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild

● been in contact with a suspected, probable or confirmed case of COVID-19

3. STAFF EXHIBITING POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 WITHIN BOARD SCHOOL/ SITE:

   1. The symptomatic staff member must be promptly removed from the classroom or work area and be asked to go home immediately.

   2. Symptomatic staff should:

      1. separate themselves into an area away from others;

      2. maintain a distance of 2-meters from others

      3. Ensure a mask is covering their mouth and nose if they need to wait to be picked up

      4. Instruct the symptomatic staff member to contact their healthcare provider and inform them of their symptoms and seek guidance on self-assessment, self-monitoring, and self-isolation.

      5. The staff member should, if possible avoid taking public methods of transportation to go home, including buses, taxis, or ride sharing if possible.

   3. School administration should Identify and record common areas the symptomatic staff used prior to symptoms and have staff responsible for facility cleaning, clean and disinfect the space(s) where the symptomatic staff member used.

   4. Administrators/Managers/Supervisors are required to follow the directions in section 4-6 of this procedure and notify their Superintendent to start the internal notification process.

4. NOTIFICATIONS FOR HEIGHTENED CLEANING

The Ontario Public Health’s best evidence supports that the coronavirus survives on surfaces for up to 72 hours.

It is critical to communicate promptly to the Manager of Facility Services when there is a possible issue within a classroom/area within the school where students or staff have become symptomatic or are sick. A plan will be made to disinfect these critical areas promptly with appropriate disinfectant.

Environmental cleaning and disinfecting of the space in which the staff was separated should be conducted immediately after the staff has been picked up and/or left. All items used by the sick person should also be disinfected. Anything that cannot be cleaned should be removed and stored in a sealed container for a minimum of 7 days.

Please refer to appendix P - Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocol

5. COMMUNICATION

The subject matter expert and lead agency for COVID-19 is the Ontario and Grey Bruce Public Health and School Administrators should not provide any guidance or feedback about a potential diagnosis of an individual suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 unless directed to by the Grey Bruce Public Health.

6. REPORTING ILLNESS PROCESS AFTER HOURS

It is important for school Administrators/Managers/Supervisors to understand the usual absenteeism patterns of their school/site. As per routine monitoring and surveillance in schools settings, notify the Grey Bruce Public Health of unusual situations, such as when absenteeism of staff is greater than would be expected.

Notification is received by the School Administrator/Manager/Supervisor:

1. The School Administrator/Manager/Supervisor will gather as much information as possible from the individual who has made contact. Questions to ask include:

   1. Has this individual been in touch with their Healthcare Provider or Grey Bruce Public Health and who did they speak with at Grey Bruce Public Health?

   2. Has their Healthcare Provider or Grey Bruce Public Health provided an official diagnosis of either “probable or confirmed” for COVID-19?

   3. Has the person been directed to be in self-isolation? Are they self-isolating?

2. To prevent transmission, if the School Administrator/Manager/Supervisor becomes aware of a staff member who is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 prior to a formalized diagnosis, that individual must be advised to not attend school or attend any Board facility until they are symptom free and are cleared by their healthcare Provider or Grey Bruce Public Health.

3. If the individual in question does NOT have an official probable or confirmed diagnosis from Grey Bruce Public Health, please direct them to contact their healthcare provider for further direction and remain at home until they are cleared for work by their healthcare provider or Grey Bruce Public Health.

4. If the individual in question HAS an official confirmed diagnosis from Grey Bruce Public Health, then the School Administrator/Manager/Supervisor will immediately contact their Superintendent to seek instruction on next steps. The Superintendent will immediately contact the Director. Grey Bruce Public Health will initiate contact tracing and contact other staff members, if needed.

5. The School Administrator/Manager/Supervisor will notify the Supervisor of Health and Safety.

Notification to Employee Wellness:

1. The Supervisor of Health and Safety will contact the staff member to obtain information regarding directions that they have received from Grey Bruce Public Health or their Healthcare Provider.

2. The Supervisor of Health and Safety will review the information with the Executive Manager of Human Resources to determine the appropriate leave that will be granted to the staff member and determine what, if any, documentation is required.

3. The Supervisor of Health and Safety will contact the staff member to advise on the leave status and request required documentation.

4. Within 72 hours of receiving notification that a staff member has contracted a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace, the Supervisor of Health and Safety will submit an Employer’s Report of Injury/Disease (Form 7) to WSIB.

5. The OHSA requires an employer to provide a written notice within four days of being advised that a worker has an occupational illness (including COVID-19) from exposure in the workplace or if a claim has been made to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) by or on behalf of the worker with respect to an occupational illness, including an occupational infection. The Supervisor of Health & Safety will notify the:

   1. Ministry of Labour;

   2. Joint Health and Safety Committee (or health and safety representative); and

   3. Trade union, if any.