Contagious Illness in Schools and Childcare Centres

Students and staff may be exposed to a variety of communicable diseases and illnesses during their years in childcare and school settings.

Below are common diseases and symptoms that often make their way into schools. Please read whether the student can continue to attend school/childcare centre and if you need to report the case to the NWHU. Please notify NWHU when absenteeism rates appear relatively high; this will help with the early detection and management of infectious diseases.

For information regarding cleaning protocols in your setting along with printable posters on handwashing and respiratory etiquette, visit our Cleaning Protocols for Schools and Child Care Centres page.

Please contact us any time if you need guidance on infection prevention and control measures.

If you are sick, please stay home – break the chain of infection by stopping exposure to illness.

If a child/student or staff is having any of the following symptoms, they should automatically be excluded from attending:

  • Fever 38.0° celsius or higher stay home until the fever is gone and feeling better for at least 24 hours
  • Respiratory symptoms that are new or unusual. Stay home a minimum of 24 hours. Based on symptoms, follow the guidance provided from the Ontario School and child care screening tool.
  • Children over 2 should wear a well-fitting mask on the bus and at school until 10 days after the start of any kind of cold/ influenza/ COVID-19-like symptoms
  • Gastro Symptoms that are new or unusual stay home for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped; this includes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Illness-specific guidance

If there has been a diagnosis by a health care provider of one of the following illnesses, please follow the illness-specific guidance.

Norovirus

  • Symptoms: vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • NO, the person should not attend school/childcare while symptomatic and should be without symptoms for 48 hours before returning to school/childcare.
  • For more information on Norovirus, see Norovirus – Health Canada

Rotavirus

Pink eye

Fifth disease

Roseola

Lice

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Thrush

Molluscum contagiosum

Chicken pox

Impetigo

Scabies

  • NO, a healthcare provider should be contacted. The person cannot attend school/daycare until the first treatment has been applied. All people in the same household need treatment also, even if they have no symptoms
  • Does not need to be reported to NWHU
  • For more information about scabies, see Scabies – Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)

Ringworm

  • NO, the person should see a healthcare provider. The person cannot attend school/childcare until treatment has started. No gym class or swimming for the person until fungal infection lesions are clear
  • Does not need to be reported to NWHU
  • For more information on ringworm, see Ringworm – Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)

Pinworm

Mononucleosis (Mono)

Disease or SymptomCan a student attend school/child care centreReport to NWHU if disease is on reportable disease list or if absenteeism is high
Any one symptom of COVID-19 not related to seasonal allergies or pre-existing medical conditionsFollow guidance from the school screening toolYes
Rash (dry) (i.e. fifth disease, roseola)– YES. if the student feels well and does not have a fever, may stay at school. Lots of handwashing is needed!
– If a student feels unwell or has a fever, NO. They should stay home until these symptoms resolve and should be seen by a healthcare provider.		Yes
Rash: moist, draining, or oozing lesions (i.e. hand, foot & mouth disease, impetigo, chickenpox)Should be seen by a healthcare provider.
– If it is viral, YES, can attend school; lots of handwashing is needed!
– If it is bacterial (e.g. diagnosed impetigo or MRSA), NO.  Should begin antibiotics before returning to school. Keep draining sores covered and lots of handwashing is needed.		Yes
Mono (mononucleosis diagnosed)– YES.  May attend school if able to participate in activities. Avoid contact sports until recovered. Lots of handwashing is needed!No
Lice– YES. Students can continue to attend school. Treatment instructions are available at local pharmacies without a prescription.No
Scabies– NO. Exclude until 24 hours after initiation of treatment. All people in the same households need to be treated also, even if they have no symptoms.No
Ringworm– NO. Exclude from school until treatment has started. No gym class or swimming until fungal infection lesions are cleared.No
Pinworm– YES. May attend school. Sunlight destroys eggs, so keep blinds/curtains open. A physician will prescribe treatment. Lots of handwashing is needed.No
Molluscum contagiosum– YES. Exclude from close contact sports, do not share equipment.No

*Healthcare Provider means a family physical/nurse practitioner (if possible), the emergency room, or call Health Connect Ontario at 811. Those without a care provider may be able to find one using Ontario’s Find a doctor or nurse practitioner page.

Last modified: 29 January 2024