Ontario adds new COVID-19 symptoms to list that require students to stay home

Ontario has updated its screening guidance for schools and child-care facilities, adding two new symtpoms to the list that would require students to stay home.

Under the previous policy children were only required to isolate if they had one of five symptoms that were commonly associated with COVID-19 – a fever or chills, shortness of breath, a loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea or a continuous cough.

But the new guidance, which was quietly updated on Thursday, adds five additional symptoms to the list and requires that the siblings of symptomatic children also isolate at home, even if they are not exhibiting any symptoms themselves.

Under the updated guidance, children will now be expected to stay home if they develop any one of 10 listed symptoms with their return dependent on how soon they get better, which symptoms they had and whether or not they can access testing.

The most stringent rules apply to fever or chills, shortness of breath, a loss of taste or smell or a continuous cough. If a child develops any of those symptoms, they will be expected to isolate for a period of five to 10 days, depending on their age and vaccination status.