RACC COVID-19 Practice Guide 2021
Riverview Ashland Child Care Centre Inc. - COVID-19 PRACTICE GUIDE 2021
Prevention Measures
RACC will follow all applicable health and safety legislation to ensure the safety, health and well-being of children. This includes all standards within the Community Child Care Standards Act and Child Care Regulation and guidelines within the Best Practices Licensing Manual for Early Learning and Child Care.
Screening
Screening for symptoms is important to identify any potential cases of COVID-19 as quickly as possible, BEFORE exposures to others.
STAFF:
No staff member who has symptoms or is otherwise required to self-isolate should enter a child care centre. In addition, staff should self-monitor daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Staff that have an elevated temperature or any symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home, isolate and be excluded from work. Facilities must maintain records of staff absenteeism. Public Health directs staff to wear non-medical mask at work, particularly when physical distancing is not maintained.
CHILDREN:
Parents must monitor their child for daily symptoms before sending their child to daycare.
Any child, parent, staff or visitor must not enter the child care space if they are sick, even if symptoms resemble a mild cold. Symptoms the daycare will be monitoring for:
• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath
• sore throat
• runny nose (not related to allergies)
• nasal congestion
• headache
• a general feeling of being unwell
A child who meets any of the exclusion criteria will not be admitted to the centre and will be advised to immediately isolate and consult Health Links – Info Sante or their health care provider. Those with symptoms should be tested, and if negative for COVID-19 can then return 24 hours after symptoms resolve. If individuals choose not to be tested, they should isolate for 10 days from symptom onset, and may return if symptoms have resolved at that time.
Upon arrival to the daycare, staff will be asked daily to confirm that their child has no symptoms and is not otherwise required to self-isolate. Parents will need to either screen their child at home or allow for some extra time to do so at the daycare as staff cannot allow children to enter without screening protocol being done first. Although taking a child's temperature is not mandated, our daycare will continue to take temperatures upon arrival as another layer of precaution.
Guidelines will change based on emerging circumstances and information from public health officials. Visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19 for information on prevention and updates.
Arrival to the Daycare and Pick Up from the Daycare
Daycare hours will be 7:15 am – 5:00 pm . All regular late pick up fees will apply. Employers are expected to be flexible during this time of the COVID-19 virus. Reduced hours allow the daycare to manage staff shifts and to maintain regulated staff to child ratios throughout the day, dividing children into smaller groups as much as possible and to clean/disinfect/sanitize toys at the end of the day (which is especially important as our numbers increase).
There will continue to be no visitors inside the daycare at this time. Our daycare will have many groups of children to manage as per regulations and have chosen to keep visitors and parents outside the daycare for the health and safety of the many children and staff we have in and out of our building daily. Limiting visitor access also minimizes outside contact and the amount of cleaning and disinfecting we must do each day.
Although we will continue to restrict parent access into the daycare, parents will still have an opportunity to say goodbye to their child at the front door and staff will take the child into the daycare to put their belongings in their locker, wash their hands and get settled into the program.
Restricting visitor access is especially important as group sizes increase as staff spend an enormous amount of time making sure our daycare environment is clean and disinfected.
Upon arrival to pick up your child at the end of the day, staff will have children outside with their belongings. During inclement weather, staff will see you in the monitor and will gather your child's belongings and bring them directly to you at the front entrance. If you have any questions or concerns, staff can either talk to you at the front entrance or you can call the daycare at a later date
Day to Day Prevention
COVID-19 is most commonly spread from an infected person through respiratory droplets generated through coughing, sneezing, laughing, singing and talking. It spreads more easily when contact is close (within six feet or 2 metres) and prolonged (more than 10 minutes). It can also be spread by close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands or touching something with the virus on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes before cleaning one’s hands. Some people with few or NO symptoms can spread COVID-19.
Although public health measures can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering and being transmitted in child care settings, the risk is never zero. Staff and the children in our care can take actions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Some of these are already part of the quality of the care provided through our program. Although the most effective measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 include separating children/adults by maintaining social distance, these measures are not practical or possible in child care settings. Please note, although RACC cannot guarantee social distancing as is the nature of any busy child care environment where large groups of children gather, special attention will be paid to ensure they are being followed to the best of our ability at this time. It is important to remember that while children tend to have less severe disease; this is not always the case.
Social distancing it is important to note that social distancing advice is meant for interactions among colleagues, strangers and adults working in a child care settings. The most effective measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 include separating people by maintaining physical distance; however, these measures are not practical or possible in child care settings. We will follow to the best of our ability the strategies below:
- Where possible, spaces will be arranged to encourage more separation. This includes during meals times, free play, outside play, etc.
- Frequent hand washing: at the start of the day and before going home, after going to the washroom, before eating, after getting hands dirty, after wiping nose or handling dirty tissues, after coughing, sneezing, blowing nose, comforting children and after cleaning tasks (staff)
- Cough and sneeze etiquette: staff will encourage children to cough and/or sneeze into their arm or tissue and then wash their hands after.
- Keep clean: staff will remind children not to touch their face, particularly their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Staff will divide large groups of children into smaller groups when we can manage to do so in ratio
- Please note RACC will do our best to educate the children of the importance of social distancing but cannot guarantee it will be possible to practice (especially with younger children who require more one on one assistance).
- Minimizing visitor access
Cohorting/Grouping
For child care centres with larger total numbers of children on each site, each cohort or maximum total group size should not exceed 30 children. If groups can be divided, then daycares may operate at full capacity, even if adding all the children together exceeds the maximum number under current public health orders for indoor and outdoor settings.
Groups should avoid sharing spaces. The SA room will use the washroom closest to their room and the PS room will use the washroom closest to their room
Cleaning and Disinfecting
The Centre already has a sanitization protocol in place, we will continue to do our due diligence and clean/ sanitize the toys.
The Centre will supply soap and paper towels. Each child will be required to bring one small bottle of hand sanitizer in the event we go on an outing. Children and staff will be required to wash their hands when entering the building, before and after each activity, before and after lunch and snack, after nose blowing and using the bathroom and again, before leaving the building.
Staff will engage in frequent cleaning every day, especially high touch areas such as door knobs, toys, etc. The daycare also employs a cleaning company for nightly cleaning.
If the daycare has an exposure to a positive covid-19 case, our cleaning company will use EnviroShield Total Disinfection Process (electrostatic spray disinfectant system).
Toys/Blankets from Home
Please do not send toys from home during this third wave. Blankets from home will be permitted but only for children that have naps.
Sensory Play
Sand and water tables will be closed at this time. Playdoh and other sensory activities when provided by staff will be single use and designated to each child. No sharing will occur and sensory materials will be thrown out after single use.
Sunscreen/Mosquito Spray/Hand Sanitizer
RACC will only use sunscreen and mosquito spray. Please do not send lotions where staff must be face to face with your child for a prolonged period applying. Sunscreen your child before leaving home each day. Daycare will reapply as needed throughout the day. Please also send a small bottle of hand sanitizer to use for your child when we are on outings.
Electronic Device Use (school breaks and in-service days)
School age children may bring one electronic device from home; however, staff must disinfect these electronics by wiping them down before children will be allowed to bring them into the room. Time will be set aside at the beginning and end of each day for electronic use. RACC is not responsible for any damaged, lost or stolen property. If your child's device has Wi-Fi/data, it must be disabled or turned off before entering the daycare
Snacks, Lunch and Food Handling
Parents will be responsible for providing all snacks and meals for their child everyday (including disposable utensils). Please do not send any of the following allergens in your child's snack or lunch:
- nuts of any kind or peanut butter
- fish and/or shellfish of any kind (including tuna/salmon)
- Daycare kitchen will be closed and hot lunch program and all food related program activities will cease. No warm ups will be permitted at this time.
Please plan to send enough snacks and food for the entire day. Parents will be charged $6.00 per child if we need to supply food to your child.
“No sharing” policy: Generally these policies are intended to reduce potential exposures to allergens but the practice of not sharing food in daycare also helps reduce virus transmission between staff and children. School Age children may bring water bottles and keep them in their locker. Preschool children have a harder time identifying items so please do not send water bottles for them as water will be available and offered often throughout the day by staff in disposable plastic cups.
What Happens If My Child Exhibits Symptoms At Daycare?
If a child develops symptoms while at daycare, the child will be isolated in a separate room (if ratios allow and there is a space available). If there is not separate space available or staff cannot leave the group due to ratios, the child will be kept at least 2 metres away from other children and a mask will be provided to them to wear.
The parent will be notified to come and pick up their child immediately (within the hour). Parent will be asked to contact Health Links (204-788-8200) or the child's physician, if required. Staff caring for your sick child will be wearing PPE (mask).
As per Health Links guidelines, children need to remain home during illness, remain symptom free for 24 hours and get tested for COVID-19. If the test is negative, your child may return to daycare as long as they have been symptom free for 24 hours. You must keep your child at home for 10 days of isolation if you choose NOT to get tested for COVID-19. If a child or someone in their household is being investigated by public health to confirm whether they have COVID-19, direction will be provided to the daycare by regional health authority nurses.
What Happens If A Staff Member Exhibits Symptoms At Daycare?
If a staff member develops symptoms while at daycare, that staff will be sent home immediately. They should then contact Health Links – Info Sante (204788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257).
A sick staff member must isolate, get tested for COVID-19 and provide the Executive Director with a copy of their negative result before they can return to work. If that staff has a positive test, further direction will be provided by a public health
Note: Public Health will follow up if a child or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and they will be in contact to provide advice. Contacts of positive cases will be followed up within 24-48 hours by public health.
Daily Activity Restrictions
Staff will do their best to provide familiar activities and routines to enforce a sense of security for the children in their care. Play is a priority as it promotes physical, mental and emotional healthy development. However, COVID-19 measures have been put in place to keep everyone safe and healthy that would affect the day to day normal routines such as: dress up clothes and soft/plush toys which are temporarily unavailable, toys in each of the play areas have been condensed and will be rotated and disinfected regularly.
Children will be encouraged to spread out as much as possible in the daycare during free play. Children will be spaced out during snacks and meal times when possible.
Daily Fees
Daily fee for preschool is $20.80 per day and $10.30 per day for school age ($20.80 for all in-services and school breaks); these fees are set by Early Learning and Child Care. Fees will be charged and due based on the daycare's regular billing periods (every 20 days). All regular late pick up fees apply after 5:00 pm.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
All staff will wear medical grade-masks continuously when unable to consistently and reliably maintain 2 metres/6 feet of physical distance from children. Staff also have the option of wearing frames/lenses for eye protection to further mitigate the risk of being in close contact in the child care facility. Masks, lenses and frames will be provided to child care centres by the Government of MB. All children are welcome to wear masks, however, only grades 4 (ages 8/9 years) and older are mandated to wear masks if a distance of 2m cannot be maintained. Mask free breaks will be given whenever possible throughout the day (walking to and from school, outside time).
Please review mask guidance prepared by MB Education – https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/covid/docs/mask_guidance.pdf
Please Note:
Since the onset of COVID-19, daycares have had to make many adaptations to ensure the well-being and safety of all the children, their families and our staff at RACC. Please keep this in mind when reviewing all of these new guidelines. These guidelines are not to inconvenience anyone or exclude anyone; they are in place to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Although children seem to be at lower risk for the virus, adults are not and we have over 20 staff members to consider as well as their families they go home to. Please do not send your child if they are symptomatic. Our goal is to provide the best care possible under these circumstances up and until we receive updated directives for further loosening of restrictions.
Appendix A – SMD Risk Assessment Screening Questionnaire
Please screen your child(ren) every day before they arrive at the daycare. Staff will also take a quick temperature upon arrival.
Do you have an onset, or worsening, of any ONE of the following symptoms?
YES OR NO
FEVER > 38 C or think you have a fever and/or chills
YES OR NO
COUGH YES OR NO
SORE/HOARSE THROAT YES OR NO
SHORTNESS OF BREATH/BREATHING DIFFICULTIES
YES OR NO
LOSS OF TASTE AND/OR SMELL
YES OR NO
VOMITING OR DIARRHEA FOR MORE THAN 24 HRS
YES OR NO
IF “YES” TO ANY ONE OF THE ABOVE, DO NOT ENTER
Do you have an onset, or worsening, of any TWO of the following symptoms?
YES OR NO
RUNNY NOSE YES OR NO
MUSCLE ACHES YES OR NO
FATIGUE YES OR NO
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE)
YES OR NO
HEADACHE YES OR NO
SKIN RASH OF UNKNOWN CAUSE
YES OR NO
NAUSEA OR LOSS OF APPETITE
YES OR NO
POOR FEEDING (IF AN INFANT)
YES OR NO
IF “YES” TO ANY TWO OF THE ABOVE, DO NOT ENTER
EXPOSURE HISTORY YES OR NO
1 - Have you been in close contact with in the last 14 days with a confirmed COVID-19 test?
2 - Have you been exposed to COVID-19 in a work or public setting?
3 - Have you travelled outside of Canada, or within Canada, east of Terrance Bay, Ontario in the last 14 days?
4 – A. In the last 14 days has anyone living in your household travelled outside of Canada, or within Canada, east of Terrance Bay, Ontario? If “YES”, proceed to question 4B. If “NO”, do not complete 4B and 4C.
4 – B. IF YES, to 4A, is your household traveler exempt from isolation (quarantine) requirements (www.manitoba.ca/covid19/soe/html)? If “no”, proceed to question 4C. If “yes”, do not complete 4C.
4 – C. If NO to 4B, have you been in close contact with the household traveler in the last 14 days since their return from travel?
IF “YES” TO QUESTION 1,2,3 OR 4C – DO NOT ENTER
If the checklist advises you Not To Enter: stay home, isolate and refer to online COVID-19 Screening Tool at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool OR call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788—8200. Updates can be found at www.manitoba.ca/covid19
SAFE AT HOME MANITOBA!
RACC was awarded a grant called “Safe At Home” back in December, created to help Manitobans enjoy active, engaged lives during a period of critical level restrictions in our communities. Enjoy some of the 'how to' videos that were created.
VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR:
Storytelling with Mary Barton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldP96Kw-Cw
Gingerbread House Making - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuuam0J4U4
Maureen Cooper - Pita Pizza video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4wyJci2Wjs
Maureen Cooper - Smoothies - https://youtu.be/JbAEImrdrGw
Maureen Cooper - Rice Rolls - https://youtu.be/_-FyuFder14
Maureen Cooper - Cookies video - https://youtu.be/E8rjjoafl4c
Keith Taylor - Birdseed Feeders - https://youtu.be/CwXQOxIQCaA
Mary Jane Swain - Making Bannock - https://youtu.be/dPcsoAUy6_g
Sue Pridham - Lemon Volcanos - https://youtu.be/e4CxjjaS9pg
SPONSORED BY “SAFE AT HOME MANITOBA” GRANT