The Ontario government has released new guidelines indicating different rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff.
In a document released today, officials say individuals who are fully vaccinated and aren't showing symptoms will not need to self-isolate after a high-risk exposure to COVID-19.
As well, double-dosed household members of a student exposed to the virus won't need to go into isolation.
However, unvaccinated students and staff who are high risk contacts of positive or likely cases will need to isolate for ten days.
It's recommended they get a COVID-19 test seven days into their isolation period.
The province also says household members of students or staff members who are close contacts of positive cases will also have to remain in isolation.
Alexandra Hilkene, Press Secretary for Health Minister Christine Elliott, tells us the changes were made to ensure a "balanced and cautious" approach in order to keep schools open for the entire school year.
"The Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will continue to review data and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health and safety of Ontarians and keep our kids in the classroom," she notes
As well, public health units will be able to dismiss entire cohorts if they contain students who are unvaccinated.
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