Magical Memories Daycare

Public Health Guidance for Child Care Settings

Updated: February 12, 2021  

Introduction

This document guides childcare providers to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children and staff. It identifies key infection prevention and exposure control practices to implement child care settings.  

The risk in child care settings is considered low in B.C. as: 

  • They are controlled environments where effective infection prevention and exposure control measures can be consistently implemented and adhered to.

  • Young children (aged 10 and under) in B.C. Are unlikely to be infected with COVID-19.

  • COVID-19 is less commonly transmitted among children, and between children and adults; COVID-19 is more commonly transmitted between adults, and from adults to children; and

  • Young children are less at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

This remains true, even when the rate of COVID-19 cases is higher in some communities. However, while COVID-19 is present in our communities, it will exist in some child care settings. The infection prevention and exposure control measures in place have been shown to be effective at stopping or limiting transmission of COVID-19 within childcare settings. 

Childcare settings differ from kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) schools, as childcare generally have smaller, consistent cohorts of staff and children, typically serve younger age groups (0-5 years of age), with different types of adult-child interactions, and a less structured environment due to the different developmental stages and needs of infants and young children. The public health guidance differs between the two settings to 

Reflect on these considerations. Child care provided for school-aged children in K-12 school settings should also follow the Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools. 

See additional information from WorkSafeBC on protocols for child care settings. 

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website.

COVID-19 and Young Children

COVID-19 has a relatively low infection rate among young children. Based on published literature to date, the majority of cases of COVID-19 in young children are the result of droplets spread from asymptomatic adult family members in the household setting. Children do not appear to be the primary drivers of COVID-19 spread in childcare facilities, schools, or other community settings.

Children tend to have very mild symptoms of COVID-19 if any. They often present with mild respiratory symptoms, such as a cough. Children can experience the same symptoms as adults, but may show symptoms differently. For example, fatigue may show children as lack of appetite, decreased activity, or changes in behavior. Younger children are not at high risk for COVID-19 infection; however, children under one year of age and those who are immunocompromised or who have pre-existing lung conditions are more likely to experience severe illness (see Children with Immune Suppression on the BCCDC website for further details). Children who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 can still attend child care. Parents and caregivers who are concerned about their child’s level of risk are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider. 

Physical Distancing and Minimizing Physical Contact

Physical distancing is used to help limit close contact with others because COVID-19 tends to spread through prolonged, close, face-to-face contact. 

Within childcare settings, physical distancing should include avoiding physical contact between staff, avoiding unnecessary physical contact between staff and children, minimizing close, prolonged, face-to-face interactions where possible, and encouraging everyone to spread out as much as possible within the space available. It is not necessary to attempt to eliminate close contact between children, recognizing the importance of children’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs.

The physical space requirements for licensed child care settings set out in the Child Care Licensing Regulation mean that child care centers have sufficient space to practice physical distancing between staff without reducing the number of children in care at any one time. 

Staff should try to: 

  • Reduce prolonged face-to-face contact between other staff members and practice physical distancing where possible.
  • Reduce the number of different staff that interact with the same children throughout the day.
  • Minimize unnecessary physical contact with children.
  • Minimize the number of visiting adults that enter the center, unless that person is providing care or supporting the inclusion of a child in care.
  • Organize more activities that encourage individual play and more space between children and staff.
  • Encourage children to minimize physical contact with each other.

Visitors

Parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, volunteers, and other non-staff adults (e.g., visitors) entering childcare settings should be limited to those supporting activities that are of benefit to children’s learning and wellbeing.  

  • All visitors should provide active confirmation (e.g., sign in at entry, e-mail before entry, etc.) that they have no symptoms of illness and are not required to self-isolate before entering.
  • Childcare settings should keep a list of the date, names, and contact information for all visitors who enter the setting.
  • All adult visitors should wear a mask when in the setting.

Hand Hygiene

Frequent handwashing with plain soap and water reduces the spread of illness. Provide regular breaks and encourage staff and children to wash hands with plain soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol. Soap and water are preferred when hands are visibly dirty; otherwise, use a hand wipe followed by an alcohol-based hand rub. It is particularly important to practice hand hygiene immediately before and after eating, and immediately after using the toilet. To learn more about how to perform hand hygiene, please refer to the BCCDC’s handwashing poster. Children should be supervised or assisted in using hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should not be used on infants. Some hand sanitizers are for adults only because they contain ingredients that are not safe for children, so labels should be read carefully. More information on the proper use of hand sanitizers is available here. 

Food and Beverages

FOODSAFE Level 1 covers important food safety and worker safety information, including foodborne illness, receiving, and storing food, preparing food, serving food, and cleaning and sanitizing. It is a helpful resource for those seeking education and training in food safety practices.

For food contact surfaces, ensure any sanitizers or disinfectants used are approved for use in a food service application and are appropriate for use against COVID-19. These may be different than the products noted in this document for general cleaning and disinfection. Additional information is available here. Child care centers can continue to accept food donations to support learning and the delivery of meal programs, breakfast clubs, and other food access initiatives. 

Food and beverages should not be shared. Children and staff can bring their own reusable food and drink containers to the facility for their own personal use. 

Reusable dishware, glasses, and utensils should be cleaned and sanitized after each use. 

Personal Measures

People can take personal measures to protect themselves and others. Examples include physical distancing, minimizing physical contact, frequent hand washing, practicing respiratory etiquette, and staying home if sick. When COVID-19 is present in the community, the risk of introducing COVID-19 into childcare settings is reduced if staff, children, and parents/caregivers: 

  • Follow public health recommendations and Orders.

  • Self-isolate if required by law or public health.

  • Perform a daily health check.

  • Stay at home when sick and call 8-1-1 or use the BC Self-Assessment Tool to determine if the further assessment or testing for COVID-19 is needed.

Daily Health Check 

Childcare managers should ensure:

  • Staff and other adults entering the setting are aware they should not enter if they are sick or are required to self-isolate.

Parents and caregivers are aware that their children should not attend childcare if they are sick or are required to self-isolate as per public health officials’ direction.

Childcare managers can support this practice by communicating the requirement for everyone to do a daily health check.  

  • For staff and other adults in the child care setting, an active daily health check should be completed in line with the requirements of the Provincial Health Officer’s Order on Workplace Safety. WorkSafeBC resources to support this can be found here.

  • For children, this means ensuring their parent or caregiver is aware of common symptoms of COVID-19 and is checking their child daily to see if the child is experiencing any of these symptoms, as well as ensuring their child is not required to self-isolate.

  • If the staff or children (or their parent) indicates that the symptoms are consistent with a previously diagnosed health condition and are not unusual for that individual, they can continue to attend childcare settings. No assessment or note is required from a healthcare provider.

Those experiencing symptoms of illness can also use the BC Self-Assessment Tool. 

What to Do When Sick

Staff and other adults in the childcare setting and parents/caregivers of children are expected to follow the guidance from BCCDC. This is outlined in the when to get tested for the COVIDresource. Staff, other adults, and children should not attend childcare if they are sick. 

What to Do When Symptoms Develop While in Child Care

If a staff member, child, or other person develops symptoms while in the childcare setting, follow the guidance in

Appendix A, ‘what to do if a student or staff member develops symptoms.’  

Returning After Sickness

When a staff, child, or other persons entering the setting can return to child care depends on the type of symptoms they experienced as outlined in the when to get tested for the COVID-19 resource. 

If based on their symptoms, a test is not recommended (i.e., the guidance is to ‘stay home until you feel better), the person can return when their symptoms improve, and they feel well enough to participate in all activities.

If based on their symptoms, a test is recommended (i.e., the guidance includes ‘get tested’), the person must stay home until they receive their test result. 

  • If the test is negative, they can return when symptoms improve, and they feel well enough.

  • If the test is positive, they must follow directions from public health when they can return.

Staff, children, and parents/caregivers can also use the BC Self-Assessment Tool app, call 8-1-1, or their healthcare provider for guidance. 

Other Considerations for Managing Illness in Child Care Settings

Establish procedures for those who become sick in a childcare setting to go home as soon as possible.

  • Some children or staff may not be able to leave or be picked up immediately. Operators should have a space available where the child or staff member can wait comfortably, which is safe and is separated from the others. This can include being in the same room as others, as long as the person experiencing illness is at least two meters away from the others and wears a mask if they’re able to. Provide supervision for younger children.

  • Do not require a health care provider note (i.e., a note from a doctor or nurse practitioner) to confirm the health status of any individual, beyond those required to support medical accommodation as per usual practices.

Children or staff may still attend childcare settings if a member of their household develops new symptoms of illness provided the child or staff member has no symptoms themselves. If the household member tests positive for COVID-19, public health will advise the asymptomatic child or staff member (even if they don’t have symptoms) to quarantine or self-isolate and when they may return to the child care setting. Most illnesses-19 resource experienced in B.C. Is not COVID-19, even if the symptoms are similar. 

Personal Items and Books

Personal items (e.g., blankets, reusable food, and drink containers) can be brought into the childcare setting from home for individual use. Parents and caregivers should label these items. Personal containers should be washed daily, and blankets washed weekly. There is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted by books or paper; therefore, there is no need to limit the use of books and paper-based materials.

Personal Protective Equipment

Non-Medical Masks & Face Coverings (Masks)

Although personal protective equipment (including masks) is low on the hierarchy of infection prevention and exposure control measures, it can provide an additional layer of protection when more effective measures are not feasible. Masks have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19. They provide some protection to the wearer and to those around them. The term “mask” in this document means a non-medical mask or face covering. Medical-grade masks are not recommended within childcare settings for general use. The masks do not prevent the spread of COVID-19 on their own. They should not be used in place of physical distancing, or any other measures noted in this guidance.

Though the physical space requirements for licensed child care settings mean that child care centers have sufficient space to practice physical distancing between staff, it is likely that there are numerous times throughout a day in childcare where the required physical distance cannot be exercised in practice, particularly where staff must meet the needs of children in care. 

Based on our understanding of COVID-19 in children and adults, in child care settings: 

Children may wear a mask based on personal or family choice; however, infants under two years of age should not wear masks as it may make it difficult for them to breathe. Childcare staff should supervise and support children to ensure safe and proper use if masks are worn.

Childcare staff and other adults should wear a mask when indoors and interacting with other adults except when

  • they can consistently maintain physical distance,

  • or  there is a barrier in place,

  •   or eating and drinking.

Masks may only provide limited protective value for adult-child interactions in childcare settings, as there are multiple effective infection prevention and exposure control measures in place and young children are less likely to be infected. Childcare staff and other adults may choose to wear a mask indoors when engaging in prolonged, close interaction with children. Careful consideration should be given to the potential impact of mask-wearing on visual cueing and non-verbal communication with children, as these interactions play an important role in learning and development.

Masks are not needed for interactions between household members. Masks are not needed when urgent actions are required to support child safety.

Face shields are a form of eye protection for the person wearing it. They may not prevent the spread of droplets from the wearer. Face shields should not be worn in place of masks, except for those communicating using lip-reading, when visual facial cues are essential, or when people may be unable to wear a mask. Clear masks that cover the nose and mouth are another option when visual communication is necessary.

          Additional information on mask use is available from the BCCDC and WorkSafeBC.