School Staff

Learn about preventing communicable diseases in schools this year.

Last updated: September 13, 2023

Students, staff, and others can take preventive actions to reduce the spread of communicable diseases in K-12 school settings. Students can attend school safely when we work together to follow public health recommendations.

Everyone stays up to date on all vaccinations including COVID-19 and influenza.
Schools implement and update communicable disease plans.
Students, staff and parents/caregivers follow school communicable disease plans.
Regions provide additional guidance when there is greater risk in a community.

The current public health guidance for schools for the 2023/24 school year:

Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance for K-12 Schools - Updated September 13, 2023

Preventing illness in schools

Attending school in person is important for a student’s education and well-being. Every school in B.C. has a communicable disease plan that details prevention measures. Plans include multiple layers of protection.

What schools are doing

Ensuring ventilation systems are working effectively
Providing frequent opportunities for hand cleaning
Regular cleaning and disinfection
Following food safety practices and any requirements of regulated food services
Sharing evidence-based information on vaccination and promoting vaccination opportunities
Ensuring students, staff and visitors are aware they should not come to school if they are sick and unable to participate fully in routine activities

These plans also support staff, students and their families to practice personal prevention measures like monitoring for symptoms of illness and staying home when sick.

School-based staff safety

School staff play an important role in keeping schools low risk by following the safety measures below.

Get vaccinated

Vaccines are important tools to protect against serious outcomes of many communicable diseases, such as COVID-19 and influenza. School staff

are encouraged to stay up to date on all recommended vaccines for communicable diseases.

Learn more

Health awareness

Health checks mean checking yourself for symptoms of illness.

Stay home when sick

If you are sick or have symptoms of illness and are unable to fully participate in regular activities, you should stay home.
You can return when you feel well enough to participate in regular activities or when a healthcare provider advises you can return.
Those experiencing certain illnesses, such as gastrointestinal illness caused by norovirus, may be advised to stay home for longer.
You can also consult a health care provider or call 8-1-1 or visit HealthLink BC for advice.

Clean Hands

Clean your hands often. This means washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer.

Respiratory etiquette

School staff should practice good respiratory etiquette and reinforce good respiratory etiquette practices among students, including:

Cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue. Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene.
Refrain from touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Refrain from sharing any food, drinks, unwashed utensils, cigarettes, or vaping devices.

Masks

Masks may provide some protection to you, and to those around you. The decision to wear a mask should be based on personal choice.

Some students and staff may choose to wear mask or face covering throughout the day or for certain activities. The choice of students and staff to practice additional personal prevention measures should be respected.

See the Masks page for more information on how to use a mask properly.

Staff and those providing services to children with medical complexity, immune suppression, receiving direct or delegated care, or with disabilities and diverse abilities who are in close proximity to a child should follow routine infection control practices and care plans for the child, if applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know if there are regional or provincial recommendations or orders our school should be following?

If a regional or provincial recommendation or Order that impacts your school is put in place, the school or school district will be notified by public health. This notification will include information about which measures should be implemented in your school.

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Sickness in schools

School staff who are sick or have symptoms of illness and are unable to fully participate in regular activities, should stay home.

School staff who develop symptoms of illness at school and are unable to participate in regular activities will be supported to go home until their symptoms have improved or otherwise advised by a healthcare provider.

Precautions should be taken while the person is preparing to leave the school premises, including use of appropriate hand hygiene and cleaning/disinfection of surfaces soiled with bodily fluids. They may use a mask if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Staff are encouraged to notify their school if an absence is due to illness.

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Provincial Health Services Authority

K-12 Schools and COVID-19