Monitoring COVID-19

I want to assure you that we have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and, at present, everything has been proceeding normally. However, I think it is important that I acknowledge concerns and implications around COVID-19. Here at Greenwood, we are putting in place recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Toronto Public Health (TPH) who continue to advise that, at the moment, the risk to Torontonians remains low. 

However, with only days until the March Break, I understand that many families have international travel plans over the coming weeks. I would ask that you please remain informed and up to date on advisories regarding COVID-19. Updates and current recommendations can be monitored on the Canadian government’s travel advisory site, where risk levels regarding COVID-19 are updated regularly. 

If you are travelling internationally, you may also wish to consider registering with the federal government’s Registration of Canadians Abroad system which will provide you with important alerts. At the moment that I am sending this, Active Travel Health Notices for COVID-19 have been issued for China, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Northern Italy, Singapore and South Korea.

I would also ask that all travelling families continue to monitor their own health, both while away and upon return. If you become sick while travelling, call ahead to a health professional to explain your symptoms. If you become sick upon your return, call your local Public Health Authority for further instructions.

 

Key information from PHAC can be found on their website. If you are travelling outside Canada, you can reduce the risk of spreading infection by following prevention measures when returning to Canada. 

 

As a school, we continue to monitor this situation daily and plan and prepare for various scenarios and accompanying protocols. We have increased cleaning protocols, and after the March Break you will notice enhanced hygiene requirements in place such as hand sanitizers at entrance points and around the school and increased signage.

As stated in earlier communications, any student who presents with flu-like symptoms (respiratory issues, fever, cough, headache) should be kept home and assessment by a doctor should be considered. If a student arrives at the school presenting these symptoms, they will be sent home and medical follow up may be required prior to returning to school. 

We will ensure that you continue to be updated with information during and after the March Break as required. Please ensure that your child has their laptop home over the break as we also have some contingency planning that would allow for some on-line learning to be implemented. Also, thank you for reinforcing with your child the importance of basic hand washing and hygiene that will help keep them and everyone here at Greenwood healthy. 

Despite the concerns, I hope that you will enjoy a safe and restful holiday.