Temporary Policies for Re-Opening in Response to COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Using guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Imagination Circle has developed new temporary policies for children, families and staff.

This temporary guidance has been developed for licensed childcare centers in California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes guidance required by California’s Community Care Licensing Division, San Diego County Department of Public Health and national, state, and local executive order recommendations for best practices during this health emergency.

Our program collaborates with the California Department of Social Services for health planning, re-opening, and operating procedures. COVID-19 information and guidance is fluid and changes almost daily and therefore this document may change frequently. This is uncharted territory for us so we will begin procedures and will most likely need to adapt and be flexible as we go.

Imagination Circle will be following the recommended Pre-Opening Procedures

Ensure program collaborates with California’s Community Care Licensing Division to determine re-opening procedure
Review cleaning/disinfecting procedures with staff and janitors
Ensure we have approved disinfectant on site
Training as needed to include information on special health care needs, medications, infectious disease, and review of COVID-19 signs and symptoms.
Communication plan for parents and staff including new procedures such as drop off/pick up, health checks, guidelines for if/when a child becomes ill.

REFERENCES

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools-h.pdf

NEW PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED DURING COVID-19

GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES

Only staff and children may enter the classrooms and play yards
Parents will drop-off and pick-up children curbside
- Families must remain at the entrance.
- Parents will be requested to wear facemasks at drop-off and pick-up.

Staff will use face covering at all times when working with children indoors. When outdoors if sufficient distancing is possible face covering can be removed.
Children are not required to wear face covering. If you wish for your child to use one please let us know.
- Cloth face covering will be sent home each day to be laundered.
ALL children will receive a health screening before entering the premises.
- Temperature should be less than 99.4.
- Non-contact thermometers disinfected with alcohol (after each use) will be used for temperature checks during arrival and departure each day.
- Parents will be required to answer following questions at sign-in, which will be logged on Child/Employee Health Screening Form.
  - Has the child had any fever (temperature >99.4) in the last 24hrs.
  - Has the child taken any medication in the last 24 hrs.
  - Has the child come in contact with anyone who had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 24 hrs
- If a child is ill (Temperature > 99.4 or showing any visible symptoms), it will be logged on the screening form and they will not be accepted that day.
For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic we have implemented a zero-tolerance illness policy. If your child is sick or has been exposed to anyone who has been sick regardless of the illness, they will be asked to stay home until they are deemed not contagious and safe to return with a doctor’s note; or they have been fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medication.
- We may ask you to pick up your child in case your child is showing any symptoms of illness.
- We may also ask you to pick up your child if we feel there is risk of exposure due to another child or staff member being sick.
- If we call you to pick up your child, you need to arrive within 30 minutes
- If a child is absent, we ask that you call and give a reason; if they are ill it will be logged
- If your child or anyone in the household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 please inform us ASAP.
- If a child has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 please inform us ASAP.
- There will be a designated space for isolating sick children who are waiting for a parent to pick up.
  - Isolation criteria:
    - Cough
    - Sore throat
    - Shortness of Breath
    - Fever (temp of 100.2 or higher)
If you are travelling out of state, please let us know. Based on guidance at that time and our assessment, we may ask you to keep the child at home for 10 days before returning to care.

GROUP/CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

Children shall have room to be 6 feet apart with minimal staff (when possible).
Children will play outside whenever possible and weather appropriate.
Hard to clean toys and materials will not be used.
- Each item that is used will be cleaned and disinfected each day.
- Toys from home are not allowed.
All supplies like pencils, markers, crayons etc will be provided to each child separately at the beginning of the program.
- These supplies will stay in the premises throughout the program.
- Children can bring in their supplies from home but sharing of any supplies will not be allowed.
6-feet distance between children in the classroom and play area / playground will be maintained as much as possible (the younger the children the more difficult it will be).
- Staff and children will wash hands after using a common play area/playground
- We will clean and disinfect common areas throughout the day.
- Plan activities that do not require close physical contact between multiple children.
6-feet distance between children will be maintained as much as possible during rest time
- 6 feet between mats.
- Children will be arranged in a head-to-foot configuration.
- We will provide each child with mats, they will bring their own blanket from home.
- Blankets will not be shared. The blankets will arrive Monday and will be sent home for washing on Friday. Please send small blankets only, pillows and stuffed animals will not be allowed.
Meals, snack and water
- Children will eat outside 6 feet apart weather permitting.
- There will be no sharing of food.
- At this time we will no longer be warming food or storing food in refrigerator for the children
- Children will bring their own water bottle, we will refill them if needed.