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Updated symptoms checklist for Albertans under 18, effective November 2, 2020

The Government of Alberta has updated the list of symptoms for Albertans under 18, and high school students who are over 18 (see pages 1-2). All other Albertans who are 18 and over, including school staff, will continue to use the original Alberta Health daily checklist (see page 3).

The key change for students is:

Symptoms of runny nose and sore throat have been removed from the mandatory isolation checklist, effective November 2.

Removing "runny nose" and "sore throat" from the symptoms checklist brings Alberta in line with changes made in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. 

The Government of Alberta School Re-entry website provides the following information on what to do if a student shows symptoms.

If a student has these symptoms What to do

The CORE isolation symptoms for children are now one (or more) of the following:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of taste or smell

     
  • Isolate at home for a minimum of 10 days from when symptoms started or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.

  • COVID-19 testing is recommended.

  • Can return to school before 10 days only if a COVID-19 test is negative, symptoms are gone, and the student was not a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

  • Do not enter any long-term care settings for 10 days and until symptoms have resolved.

  • If test results are positive, isolate at home for at least 10 days and follow instructions received from Alberta Health Services.

The OTHER symptoms for children are now:

  • Chills
  • Sore throat/painful swallowing
  • Runny nose/congestion
  • Headache
  • Muscle or joint aches
  • Feeling unwell/fatigued
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Unexplained loss of appetite
  • Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)

 

If the child has any 1 of these OTHER symptoms:
 

  • Stay home from school and monitor for 24 hours.

  • If after 24 hours your symptoms improve, you may return to school when you are feeling better.

  • A COVID-19 test is not required but is available.

     
  • Do not enter any long-term care settings for 10 days and until symptoms have resolved.


If a child has any 2 of these symptoms, or after 24 hours, their condition gets worse or they develop a second symptom:

  • Stay at home.

  • COVID-19 test recommended.

  • May return to school after symptoms are gone AND it has been 24 hours or more since their symptoms started.

  • Do not enter any long-term care settings for 10 days and until symptoms have resolved.

  • If test results are positive, isolate at home for at least 10 days and follow instructions received from Alberta Health Services.

 

Learn more: https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-testing-in-alberta.aspx

Use the AHS Online Assessment Tool or call Health Link 811 to arrange for testing and to receive info on isolation.

Dr. Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health, has written a letter to parents to explain the changes to the daily symptoms checklist. It is attached below.

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Posted November 2, 2020

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