In the city of Niagara Falls, 24-year-old public health nurse (PHN) Austin White walks through the quiet hallways of an elementary school with a public health inspector, another PHN, the principal and members of the school board. All are physically distanced and wearing masks. Dressed casually in black jeans, White observes the colour-coded signs on the wall to indicate which direction students are required to walk. The water fountains have gone from the traditional quick-sip-at-the-lips option to water bottle filling stations only. 

It’s Sept. 18 and students are back in school. White enters a classroom and observes the desk placement to see that kids are physically distanced. He checks that each student is wearing their mask properly. The teachers who are helping students should be wearing a face shield when they are closer than the required two metres. Does the classroom have disinfectant hand sanitizer available? Is there a sink and poster showing how to wash your hands properly?