Hamilton Public School Boards to Eliminate School Validation of COVID Screening Tests – Hamilton | The Canadian News

Hamilton health officials have removed the requirement that public school students demonstrate that they have completed a daily COVID-19 exam to attend class.

In a statement, a public health spokesperson said the low case count overall and among the student body across the city precipitated the decision to skip assessments via the attestation calendars or the tool’s green check mark. online evaluation.

“As COVID-19 cases and key trends remain low in our community, Hamilton Public Health Services is cautiously eliminating the need for students to complete in-school validation of the results of the test tool. provincial screening, ”said James Berry.

“Please note that students, teachers, school staff, and visitors should continue to self-assess COVID-19 symptoms every day before going to school using the province’s screening tool.”

Spokespersons for the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and the Catholic Board confirmed the change in assessments and tutors will receive more information Tuesday via a school update.

In late August, the province required children to stay home from school or daycare if their daily exam revealed fever and chills, a barking cough or cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Parents are required to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms every day before they arrive at school and complete a attestation form to confirm its status.

As of Monday, the Hamilton Public Schools together have had a total of 29 cases in the past 14 days, 26 of them involving students.

There have been only three cases among staff during the same period.

Of the four school shoots in the city, only two are with the HWDSB at Bennetto Elementary School in downtown Hamilton and Viola Desmond Elementary School in the far east.

Each school has two cases involving students.

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