SCCS COVID-19 Communicable Disease Plan
INTRODUCTION
For the 2021-22 school year, districts and schools are transitioning from a COVID-19 Safety Plan to a COVID-19 Communicable Disease Plan. This document outlines that Plan, and is informed by the Ministry of Education and Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance BC Centre for Disease Control. For more comprehensive information, supporting data and additional resources, please click on the hyperlinks below:
- Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12
- BCCDC COVID-19 Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance for K-12 Schools
- WorkSafeBC Communicable disease prevention: A guide for employers
- K-12 Recovery Plan
COMMUNICATION
SD48’s Communicable Disease Plan will be updated when there are changes to provincial or health region requirements. The Plan will be reviewed with employees prior to the start of school on September 7, and when there are changes to the plan. The Plan is available for viewing on the District website here, and related school plans will be available for viewing on each school website. When changes are made to the Plan, communications will be distributed. The District Occupational Health and Safety Committee and site-based Occupational Health and Safety Committees’ support in the review, implementation, and revision of the Communicable Disease Guidelines.
THE HIERARCHY OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND EXPOSURE CONTROL MEASURES FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
The health and safety of our staff and students remains a top priority. Public Health reminds everyone that vaccines are the most effective way to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in schools. Schools continue to be considered low-risk settings for COVID-19 transmission, particularly in the context of a highly immunized population The Hierarchy of Infection Prevention and Exposure Control Measures for Communicable Disease graphic below outlines the protectiveness of each measure, from the least protective at the bottom to the most protective at the top:
The following tables outline in detail how we are addressing each measure:
Public Health Measures
Environmental Measures
Administrative Measures
Personal Measures
Personal Protective Equipment
Supportive School Environments