Illness Policy

The following applies to all staff, children and volunteers in the University Heights Nursery School Association preschool classroom:

Our illness policy draws on guidance published by the province regarding symptoms common to influenza, common respiratory illnesses and COVID-19. Please note that these are recommendations and not requirements.

It is recommended to monitor for symptoms and isolate (5 days at home + wear a mask for another 5 days while indoors near others) if you experience symptoms not related to a preexisting condition and/or if you test positive for COVID-19.

STAY HOME IF SICK

Symptoms to monitor for:

  • Fever or chills
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Loss or altered sense of taste/smell

During COVID-19, in 2020: some symptoms, such as runny nose and sore throat – if experienced in isolation from other symptoms – were removed from the symptom checklist for Albertans under 18 years of age.

  • Headache and muscle or joint pain
  • If you have symptoms and test negative, it is recommended you:
    • Stay home and repeat the test after 24 hours
    • If both tests are negative, stay home until symptoms improve and free of fever (without use of medication) for 24 hours
  • If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, monitor closely for symptoms for 7 days after last exposure to the contact. Where possible, avoid contact with vulnerable people (elderly or with significant immunocompromising conditions), and if you must have contact with vulnerable people, consider taking precautions like masking.

PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE

  • Wash or sanitize your hands often
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Avoid touching your face

Alberta Health Services highlights other communicable conditions common in education/childcare settings. These conditions are listed below and students should not attend until free of symptoms. Teachers will monitor for students showing the following symptoms and contact parents and/or secondary/emergency contacts to arrange for immediate pick up if required.

  • Pink Eye (alberta.ca) – see the check your symptoms tool at this link.
  • Head Lice (alberta.ca) – Students should not attend until treated with anti-lice shampoo and nits have been removed.
  • Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease (alberta.ca)
    • HFM symptoms include:
    • Tired, sore throat, and fever of ~38.3°C (101°F)-39.4°C (103°F)
    • On day two or later, a skin rash, sores or blisters may appear in or on the mouth and on the hands, feet (and sometimes buttocks).
  • Strep Throat (alberta.ca) – If prescribed antibiotics, do not attend until 24 hours after the first dose, or as advised by a doctor
    • Strep throat symptoms include:
    • Sudden, severe sore throat without coughing, sneezing, or other cold symptoms
    • Pain when you swallow, or trouble swallowing
    • Fever over 38.3°C (101°F) (Lower fevers may point to a viral infection and not strep.)
    • Swollen neck lymph nodes
    • White or yellow spots or coating on the throat and tonsils
    • Bright red throat or dark red spots on the roof of the mouth near back of the throat
    • Swollen tonsils (This symptom may also be caused by a viral infection)
    • Headache and belly pain
    • Less common symptoms include red skin rash, vomiting, lack of hunger, and body aches

If prescribed antibiotics for any reason, do not attend until 24 hours after first dose, or as advised by a doctor.

Additional resources: