September 12 th, 2021 Additional Public Health Directives for All Schools in Campbellton and Dalhousie communities (Both Anglophone and Francophone School Districts)

Dear Parent/ Guardian,

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that additional public health directives are being implemented in your child’s school for at least the next 2 weeks (Sept 13-24 inclusive). If there is an extension to these measures you will be notified before September 24. This is in response to increased COVID-19 activity in your community that is impacting local schools.

We understand this may be a difficult time for you and your child as we work together to ensure everyone’s health and safety is protected from COVID-19.

The public health directives are as follows:

• Students are to wear community or disposable masks all day at school, both in common areas AND in classrooms;

• Staff who are fully vaccinated (it has been ≥14 days since receipt of a second dose of an approved two-dose COVID-19 vaccine OR since receipt of an approved single-dose vaccine) may remove their masks in the classroom for teaching purposes but will continue to mask in common areas;

• Schools are to reduce the amount of contact between students in separate classrooms to the greatest extent possible, including but not limited to maintaining class groupings for cafeteria seating, outdoor play, and gym time;

• Schools are not to start any interscholastic, extra-curricular or intramural activities in this two week period that have not already been initiated.

The specific schools that are to follow these directives are as follows: District scolaire francophone : Anglophone school district : Polyvalente Roland-Pépin L.E. Reinsborough School Le Galion des Appalaches Lord Beaverbrook Elementary School La Mosaique du Nord Campbellton Middle School Ecole Communautaire Académie Notre-Dame Dalhousie Regional High School Ecole aux Quatre Vents Sugarloaf Senior High School

COVID-19 Symptoms and Testing It can take up to 14 days for your child to have symptoms after exposure to the virus that causes COVID19. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius), a new cough or a worsening chronic cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, headache, feeling tired, muscle pain, diarrhea, and loss of sense of taste or smell. In children, purple marks can appear on their fingers and toes.

Everyone in your household should self-monitor for symptoms and wash their hands frequently. If anyone in the household develops symptoms, then they should get tested for COVID-19; those who are not fully vaccinated should also isolate until receipt of a negative test result.

COVID-19 Disease COVID-19 most commonly spreads from an infected person through:

• Respiratory droplets that are spread through coughing or sneezing,

• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands,

• Touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. People may not know they have COVID-19 because the symptoms are similar to a cold and flu. Most people who have COVID-19 can get better without medical treatment, but the virus can cause severe illness in older adults and in people who are immunocompromised or have chronic medical conditions.

It is natural to feel anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a stressful situation. Everyone reacts differently and your feelings can change over time. Pay attention to how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during stressful times will help you think clearly and protect you and the people you love. For online resources to support mental wellness, please visit Bridge the gapp.

Thank you in advance for your support in maintaining a safe school environment.

Sincerely,  Dr. Cristin Muecke, MD, MSc, FRCPC  

Medical Officer of Health / Médecin-hygiéniste

Craig Caldwell Assistant Deputy Minister

Education and Early Childhood Developmen