CTECLC COVID-19 Practices

Staff Safety

All staff are screened upon arrival, which includes a temperature check (must be less than 100.4° F), and observed for other signs of illness such as cough, trouble breathing, flushed face, or looking ill. The results are recorded.

Staff members conducting screenings wear vinyl gloves, face mask, and an apron or smock that can be removed and washed daily. Hands are sanitized with at least 60% hand sanitizer or washed between screenings. All data collected is recorded.

Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Hand sanitizer stations are set up in the main entrance, where children will be dropped off and picked up so that they can all clean their hands upon entry. Whoever is dropping off should supervise the children’s use.  Pens are wiped off with alcohol between uses. One adult and one child (unless there are siblings) allowed to enter at a time to be greeted by a staff member who conducts a screening of the child.

  • It is recommended that persons with underlying health conditions refrain from drop-off and pick-up.

Toys

Toys from home are not allowed in the Learning Center. Any toy brought in will be sent back with the person dropping off.

Screening of Children

All children are screened upon arrival, which includes a temperature check (must be less than 100.4° F), and observed for other signs of illness such as cough, trouble breathing, flushed face, or looking ill. The results are recorded. Any child with signs of illness will not be admitted to the facility. We encourage parents to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home when they are sick. Children must have a temperature below 100.4° F and be symptom-free for 24 hours without medication.

Screening Method

The staff member conducting the screening uses personal protective equipment:  face mask, apron, safety glasses, and vinyl gloves. The child’s temperature is taken and recorded and then be visually inspected and the results recorded. After screening, the staff sanitizes the thermometer, removes rubber gloves, and sanitizes hands. If possible, the child is immediately taken to their classroom or they will be seated behind the staff member on the floor to wait. The staff member puts on clean gloves and repeats the procedure. When complete both children are taken to their rooms. If there is another child at the entrance, the staff member doing the screening will ask them to wait while they take the children to their classroom expediently.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

We have intensified cleaning and disinfection efforts:

  • Sanitizing and disinfecting sprays are made daily for every classroom.
  • We routinely clean, sanitize and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. This also includes objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, sink handles, countertops, desks, chairs, etc.
  • The bleach sanitizing and disinfecting sprays stay on surfaces at least 2 minutes to be effective.
  • All cleaning products are kept secure and out of the reach of children
  • Cleaning products are not used near children, and staff ensures that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children from inhaling toxic fumes.

Toys

  • Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be used.
  • Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions are set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a person wearing gloves. Process: Clean with water and detergent, rinse, sanitize with bleach spray (sitting for 2 minutes), rinse again, and air dry.
  • Machine washable toys and clothes are not currently being used at all.
  • Unless toys are washed and sanitized, they will not be moved from one group to another.
  • Toys that need to be cleaned are set aside by placing in a separate container for soiled toys. We have enough toys available so that the toys can be rotated through cleanings. All toys used must be cleaned daily.
  • Children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection-per CDC guidelines.

Bedding

Only send bedding that can be washed (sheets, pillows, blankets, sleeping bags). We keep each child’s bedding separate and store in individually labeled bins, cubbies, or bags. Cots will be labeled for each child. As always, bedding that touches a child’s skin will be washed weekly or before use by another child.

Caring for Toddlers

Diapering

When diapering a child, staff will wash their hands and the child’s hands BEFORE they begin, and then don gloves. We follow safe diaper changing procedures. Procedures will be posted in all diaper changing areas. Steps include:

  • Prepare (collect all items needed)
  • Clean the child
  • Remove trash (soiled diaper and wipes)
  • Replace diaper
  • Wash your hands and child’s hands
  • Clean up diapering station-disinfect

Washing, Feeding, or Holding a Child

It is important that we comfort crying, sad or anxious toddlers or other children in our care, and toddlers often need to be held. To the extent possible, child care providers will protect themselves by wearing a long-sleeved shirt and by wearing hair up off the collar.

  • Child care providers will wash their hands, neck, and anywhere touched by a child’s secretions.
  • Child care providers will change the child’s clothes if secretions are on the child’s clothes. Providers will change their shirt if secretions are on it and wash their hands again.
  • Contaminated clothes will be placed in a plastic bag.
  • All children and their providers must have multiple changes of clothes on hand at the center.

Healthy Hand Hygiene Behavior

  • All staff, volunteers, and children will engage in hand hygiene at the following times:
    • Arrival to the center and after breaks
    • Before and after preparing food and drinks
    • Before and after eating and handling food, or feeding children
    • Before and after administering medication or medical ointment
    • Before and after diapering
    • After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom
    • After coming in contact with bodily fluid
    • After playing outdoors or in sand
    • After handling garbage
  • Procedure: Wet hands, pump soap, wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinse. If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not readily available.
  • Assist children with handwashing.
    • After assisting children with handwashing, staff should also wash their hands.
  • Place handwashing steps near sinks.
  • Supervise children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion.

Food Preparation

  • Providers wash their hands before preparing food and after helping children eat.
  • Providers will ensure children wash hands prior to and immediately after eating.

Masks

  • Adults and children over 2 years should wear a cloth face covering that covers the nose and mouth until we are in the green phase.
  • Children may not be able to reliably wear, remove, and handle masks. If there is excessive touching of the mask or an inability to reliably wear it, it is advisable, per CDC, that the child leave it off. This will be determined on a case by case basis.
  • Children do not wear masks when napping.
  • Children do not wear masks when outside or engaging in physical activity.
  • A clean mask is required to be worn each day.

Vulnerable/High-Risk Groups

To protect those at higher risk, it’s important that everyone practice healthy hygiene behaviors.

  • Wash hands before you leave the center and use hand sanitizer when you get in your car.
  • Take a shower when you get home and put worn clothes aside to be washed.
  • For children with underlying health conditions, we will talk to their parents about their risk. We will follow children’s care plans for underlying health conditions such as an asthma action plan.
  • For children with disabilities, we will talk to their parents about how their children can continue to receive the support they need.

Reporting Covid-19

If the Learning Center comes down with a positive case of Covid-19, it must and will be reported to the Department of Health (1-877-724-3258) and the Department of Human Services (Matthew Spencer 570-780-2837 or 1-800-222-2108).