Directive concerning exclusion from school, preschool, and holiday camps in case of transmissible diseases

1 This directive specifies the diseases that require exclusion from public and private recognized and non-recognized schools of all levels, from collective daytime reception facilities (nurseries, day care families, after-school centers, day camps, etc.), and from residential camps, for public health reasons.

2 The areas referred to in sub-paragraph 1 are categorized as follows

– School: all schools from kindergarten to tertiary level schools, the entire after-school sector including day camps and day care families that host individuals after the start of kindergarten;

– Preschool: nurseries and day care families that host individuals before the start of kindergarten;

– Camps: residential camps and off-site schools.

3 In the presence of acute health problems, remaining or returning home is always advisable, to protect the health of the sick person and in view of the proper functioning of the school institution, facility, or camp. In particular, acute health problems include: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, inconsolable crying. Re-entry into the community is possible only when the state of health permits.

Exclusion is regulated according to the annex, it being understood that the person subject to exclusion is also excluded from attending any extracurricular activities (for example, sports, recreational, musical activities, etc.).

1 Non-listed diseases are not grounds for exclusion (e.g., strep throat, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, etc.): in these cases, the state of health is the sole reason for an absence.

2 Some diseases for which exclusion is not mandated require informing individuals who have been in contact with the index case and are particularly at risk of complications, who are advised to contact their doctor

– Cytomegalovirus infection: pregnant women;

– Parvovirus B19 infection: pregnant women;

– Rubella: pregnant women;

– Chickenpox: pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals.

Exclusion for serious but rare transmissible diseases occurs according to specific provisions of the Cantonal Doctor. The following are considered serious but rare transmissible diseases: anthrax, cholera, diphtheria, hemorrhagic fevers, plague, poliomyelitis, influenza A (HxNy) new sub-type, and any other emerging infectious disease deemed dangerous.

1 The director of the school may request the intervention of the school doctor assigned to their institution in case of doubt or uncertainty in individual situations related to transmissible diseases.

2 The final decision rests with the school doctor.

3 An appeal against the decisions of the school doctor may be lodged with the Cantonal Doctor. The appeal does not have suspensive effect.

The directives and recommendations issued by the Federal Office of Public Health for the containment of communicable diseases are also applicable in Ticino according to the decision of the Cantonal Doctor.

The directive concerning admission to and exclusion from school in cases of infectious diseases of December 19, 2019, is repealed.

This Directive, together with its Annex, will be published in the Official Gazette of Laws and will enter into force on December 1, 2022.

Published in OG 2022, 276.

Annex