The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board continues its proactive preparations both internally and with external partners to plan for the potential spread of H1N1.

Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan

Our plan will follow the advice and guidance of provincial and local public health officials who have the expertise to assess the level of real and potential risk posed by this influenza virus. Information will be made available to schools and parents to reinforce basic infection control procedures as recommended by the public health agencies.

Our priority during a pandemic is to keep schools open for as long as it is safe to do so. Schools will open and operate as planned on September 1, 2009. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and may, as required, make adjustments to non-essential services to allow the district to focus on providing the most essential services to our students and community.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is committed to ensuring that all employees, students, parents and members of the community are kept up-to-date on its plans. Information will be made available to employees as they return to work over the next two weeks and the OCDSB will be providing regular information and status reports through two main sources: the Board website and direct contact from the school through newsletters and other methods of communication.

The following links provide up to date information on identification and prevention regarding H1N1 influenza.

Letter Re: H1N1 vaccine clinics in targeted neighbourhoods | French
Revised letter from the medical officer of health | French
H1N1 Memo (PDF)
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/employ_pregnant.aspx
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/pregnant.aspx
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/clinics.aspx
Letter from the Director (PDF)
Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (PDF)
Ottawa Public Health
Letter to Parents (PDF) - August 19, 2009
Hand washing Directions
World Health Organization
Government of Canada helps schools prepare for H1N1 flu virus (PDF)
Flu Pandemic information in different languages
Routine cleaning of toys (PDF)