Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) is no longer providing daily COVID notifications to parents following the loosening of self-isolation and close contact protocols announced by the provincial government late last week.
In a letter dated January 27 to parents of students in the division, PSSD Education Director Darryl Bazylak said parents and caregivers are no longer required to notify schools about positive COVID-19 test results for the purposes of close contact notifications.
Because people who test positive are only required to self-isolate for the required amount of time, schools are no longer notified of cases, and do not have accurate information to share with families.
“In the absence of a Public Health Order or direction from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, we do not have the authority to share health information that parents and caregivers share with us in confidence,” said Bazylak in his letter to parents. “Close contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status. An individual who receives a positive test result on a PCR or rapid antigen test will be required to self-isolate for five days, regardless of vaccination status.”
The PSSD Education Director said students and staff members are expected to stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID.
“If your child tests positive for COVID-19 or is sick, please report their absence as ‘illness’ when you contact the school,” said Bazylak. “This information is requested by Public Health as part of their ongoing monitoring at schools.”