As you know, the H1N1 flu season is upon us. The Ministry of Education has been working closely with the Ministry of Health to coordinate protocols for schools to ensure that schools can deliver their programs and also react appropriately when the flu bug appears this Fall and Winter.
While the H1N1 strain of the flu itself is a milder form of the 
regular season flu, it will spread more unless we all follow these guidelines.
Everyone should:
- Stay home when you’re sick or have influenza symptoms. Get plenty of rest and check with a health care provider as needed.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away immediately. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
- Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from getting sick. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can become ill by touching a surface contaminated with germs and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and avoid smoking, which may increase the risk of serious consequences if you do contract the flu.
- If you have a fever or cough illness, regardless of where you have travelled, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. See a health care provider if your symptoms become worse but call ahead of time to let them know you have fever or cough illness.
If you would like more information, including recent updates from the government, it is available here:
