Child Care/Daycare and COVID-19

Whether licensed or unlicensed (friends, family, in home private child care), the Timiskaming Heath Unit strongly recommends the following to all those providing child care:

• Cohorting - putting children and staff in groups;
  
• COVID-19 response plan - all child care settings will be required to have a plan in place if a child, parent or staff member/provider is exposed to COVID-19;
  
• Screening - all staff and children must be screened prior to entry to the child care setting. Anyone feeling unwell must stay home; 
  
• Daily attendance records - child care settings must keep daily records of all attendees in order to support contact tracing;
  
• Cleaning - child care settings must be thoroughly cleaned before opening and frequently thereafter;
  
• Implementing drop-off and pick-up protocols in a way that facilitates physical distancing. 

COVID-19 self-assessment

Monitor and screen for symptoms of COVID-19. Use the online COVID-19 school and child care screening (Government of Ontario).

COVID-19 Vaccines

Resources

• Poster and social media graphic: these resources describe the situations and locations where masking is still required. 
• Mask posters: These posters have been designed to encourage people to be COVID kind to others and to normalize wearing a mask for those who choose to do so.
  • Poster: There are many reasons to wear a mask. Be COVID kind. English short version | English long version | French short version | French long version. 
• Absenteeism Report 
• COVID-19 Integrated Testing & Case, Contact and Outbreak Management Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge (Ministry of Health)
• COVID-19: How to safely use a non-medical mask or face covering 
• Preventing COVID-19: Refresher Presentations for Schools and Childcare Settings 
• Follow proper cleaning and disinfection guidelines: Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings
• Ensure proper hand washing and respiratory etiquette measures: How to Handwash     Cover Your Cough

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