Covid response

2021 Whee Care Childcare

COVID-19 Preparedness Plan 

As a daycare provider I am required to have a Covid preparedness plan in place.  Each family needs to read the plan and acknowledge that they understand it.  In blue are my plans.  In black are the guidelines we must try to follow.

Frequent Handwashing 

  • Reinforce hand washing routines, especially upon arrival, after having been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Ensure children are supervised when using hand sanitizer and that it is inaccessible to them when not in use. 
  • CDC guidance on handwashing can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html#Hand Hygiene 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR HANDWASHING: 

Upon entering the home kids use hand sanitizer that is kept on my porch. Shoes are left on the porch and absolutely no toys are allowed in my home from their home. Kids wash hands before eating, after coming in from outside, after using the bathroom, after putting their hands in their mouth or nose, after sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose. Each child has their own towel that is washed daily and kept on a hook designated for them. I have single use towels in a dispenser near the bathroom door for use to open the door. I have always had hand washing signs near the sink the kiddos use. I also have cover your cough signs posted. I have tissue dispensers mounted onto the walls in two locations and boxes of tissue in two other locations. Toothbrushes are kept in individual drawers for each child. They also have a drinking glass in their drawer for when they want to get themselves a drink. Toys that have been mouthed get thrown in the sink or a bin and washed at the end of the day. 

1. Cleaning and disinfecting 

  • Protocols related to cleaning and disinfection of programs should be detailed so that staff know what is expected of them. Follow MDH and CDC guidance for frequent cleaning and disinfecting of your program: 

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/clean.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html

  • Ensure high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, stair rails, counters, tables and chairs, shared toys, program equipment and other items are regularly cleaned and disinfected. 
  • Minimize the use of shared supplies (e.g. arts and crafts, office supplies) that cannot be sanitized and consider using designated bins for clean and used items.   
  • Establish procedures for cleaning and disinfection after persons suspected or confirmed to have COVID 19 have been in the program. 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING: 

My floors get mopped daily with bleach water. All chairs, tables etc are sprayed with bleach water daily. Tables we eat off of are sprayed with bleach water after each meal. Door knobs, handrails, cabinet knobs are all wiped down a couple of times during the day. I use a baby wipe and bleach spray. All items that cannot be sprayed with bleach water are sprayed nightly with Lysol disinfecting spray. This includes all pencils, markers, scissors, etc. All toys in the block area, dramatic play area etc are all sprayed nightly with disinfecting spray. Sleep mats are specified for each child so they will not use one that someone else has used. They are washed weekly. Crib sheets are washed weekly unless they get soiled then they are washed immediately. 

2. Arrival and Departure 

  • Whenever possible, pick-up and drop-off should occur outside and/or limit the extent to which parents enter the program and interact with each other. . 
  • Consider use of multiple entrances and exits when these can be used safely by the staff, volunteers and visitors.  
  • Before children enter the space, screen them to ensure those with symptoms are not attending. 

Screening process for children: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 

ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html#ScreenChildren 

WHEECARE POLICIES FOR ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: 

None of my parents are allowed into my home any longer. They drop their kiddos off on my porch. The kids all use hand sanitizer before coming downstairs. They text me when they are here with little ones that I may have to go up and get. When it is time to go home if we are not outside already, they text me and I either send their kids up to them or I bring their child up to them. No toys are welcomed into my home from their homes any longer to minimize exposure to germs. When each child arrives, I hug them and feel their forehead to see if I need to take their temperature. I have a pretty good read on temperatures just from touching their face or body and if they feel warm, I will take their temperature and if it is out of the norm, I will send them home.

2. Plans for sick children, staff and volunteers

  • Conduct daily health checks. This includes screening for children, staff, volunteers, and household members for family child care programs to ensure those who exhibit any symptoms of illness are not present. 
  • Follow exclusion guidance and ensure children, staff, and volunteers stay home when sick: http://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/exguide.pdf 
  • Use CDC guidance to develop a plan for what you will do if someone becomes sick with COVID-like symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for childcare.html#General 
  • If a child, staff member, or volunteer is diagnosed with COVID-19 or if you have questions about a child, staff member, or volunteer who is exhibiting symptoms, reach out to MDH at health.schools.covid19@state.mn.us and follow their direction. 
  • Using the MDH and CDC resources above, create a communication plan for how and when you will notify parents, staff, and volunteers if a child, staff member, volunteer or household member for family child care programs has been exposed, is exhibiting symptoms, or has tested positive.
  • Contact MDH if you have questions (at the email address above)
  • Ensure the parent or guardian contact information in each child’s record is up-to-date. 

WHEECARE PLANS FOR SICK CHILDREN, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

If myself or my helper show signs of Covid-19 I will close immediately and not reopen unless I have a negative Covid test. My daycare families have all kept their children home even if symptoms are that of a cold. Sometimes they will have a Covid test and sometimes they just watch their child to see if their symptoms persist. They are not allowed back in the daycare until they are symptom free or they have a negative Covid test. I will not do temperature screen at the door but I’m very hands on with the kiddos so I can tell with the feel of my hand if a child feels they should have their temperature taken. If I feel they are warm, I will take their temperature and send home if necessary. I will have no back up staffing, if Tammy or I get Covid, I will have to close until we are well. 

4. SOCIAL DISTANCING THROUGHOUT THE DAY

  • Limit group sizes as much as possible and create consistent groups of children and providers, staff, or volunteers who stay together throughout the day.
  • Add visual cues or barriers to direct traffic flow and distancing. For example, you may want to tape “XS” on the floor to let children know where they should sit to promote social distancing. 
  • At nap time, ensure that children’s naptime mats (or cribs) are spaced out as much as possible. Consider placing children head to toe in order to further reduce the potential for viral spread.

WHEECARE PLAN FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING THROUGHOUT THE DAY

I have a consistent sized group.  I do have some kids alternating in and out of care weekly depending on their school hybrid schedule.  All of my families have been conscientious about the fact that my husband is at high risk and I believe they are taking necessary precautions with their families.  I am not allowing drop in care right now in daycare. The kids range in age from 9 years – 13 months. There are only two adults that care for the children. Myself and my helper. My infants and toddlers have always had a room to themselves for nap time. Each has their own portable crib with their own sheet on it. My older kids nap on mats in my main daycare setting. Most of them are separated by book cases. There are two who are not separated by a book case and I have always napped them head to toe. The nap mats and sheets get washed weekly unless they are soiled in which case they are washed immediately. There is not enough space to keep the kids 6 feet apart while we are inside. I do try to have the windows opened and a fan in front of the window bringing in fresh air at all times, rain or shine.  We do stay outside as much as we can depending on the weather. If no other children are playing at the park we play there.  If other children show up at the park we move to my back yard. I want to maintain the children that are coming and going to the same group of children.  We do circle time and curriculum as we did before.  There is just more cleaning time in between transitions.  Children are excused from the table one at a time. Only two children are allowed to be brushing their teeth at the same time so they can be distanced.

5. SOURCE CONTROL AND CLOTH FACE COVERINGS

  • Cloth face coverings are an important piece for mitigating the spread of the virus but are most effective if it can stay in place without being pulled on or touched by the person wearing it or others. Within this context, the provider, staff members, and volunteers are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings during the work day as much as possible, recognizing the development needs of the children in their care.
  • Children should not wear cloth face coverings unless they can reliably wear, remove, and handle the cloth face covering throughout the day. Cloth face coverings should NOT be put on infants or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. 
  • Face covering guidance is available here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/masks.html#child https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR SOURCE CONTROL AND CLOTH FACE COVERINGS: 

The state of Minnesota has some new requirements for home daycare settings during the Covid-10 pandemic. Face coverings for children. I am following the optional exemption plan highlighted below. If you have questions or concerns about the plan at Whee Care, please contact me and we can chat about it. If you want your child to wear a mask, please provide five as below and I will do my best to have that child keep it on. 

Here are the MDH guidelines regarding daycare centers and family based childcare: 

Children 5 years of age and under are not required to wear a face shield or face covering in a childcare setting. 

Children who are under the age of 2 years, or children who are sleeping, unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering or face shield without assistance; or who cannot tolerate a shield or covering due to a developmental, medical, or behavioral health condition must not wear a face covering or face shield.

Children age 2 through 5 years who can reliably wear a face covering or face shield in compliance with CDC guidance on How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings may do so. This means they can wear it without frequently touching or removing it. 

Optional exemption: If a child care provider cares for children who are 5 and under, but also cares for children older than 5, the business can exempt children older than 5 from face covering and face shield requirements only if the exemption is clearly communicated in writing with all enrolled families and included in the COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. This is intended to ensure that in cases where a few children attend a program after-school, a provider can determine what is most age-appropriate and 

6. Workplace ventilation 

Recognizing this may be difficult in center or school buildings, where possible work to maximize the amount of fresh air being brought in, limit air recirculation and make sure ventilation systems are being properly used and maintained. Take steps to minimize air flow blowing across people. It could mean keeping windows open where possible, removing or repositioning fans, and encouraging outdoor time. 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR VENTILATION AND AIR FLOW, IF POSSIBLE: 

I do daycare in my basement. My basement is a look out with full sized windows across the whole west and north sides of it. While we are inside I am keeping a fan in one of the windows constantly blowing fresh air into the house.  (weather permitting) On weekends, I open windows and move air through even if it is cold outside.

7. Playground use 

  • Stagger playground use rather than allowing big groups to play together. 
  • Wash hands before and after touching play structures. If possible, consider cleaning high touch areas of the play structure between groups. 
  • If you choose to bring children in your care to a public playground, be careful to ensure children wash hands after touching play structures and maintain six feet of space from other children as much as possible. https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/playground.pdf 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR MITIGATING COVID-19 IN PLAYGROUND USE: 

I have a playground across the street. We go out only when there are no other children out there. If other children come to the park while we are there, we leave and will often times then play in my backyard. We wash hands immediately after coming back inside. 

8. Meals and snacks 

  • If meals are typically served family-style, plate each meal and serve it so that multiple children are not using the same serving utensils. 
  • To the extent possible, serve meals in individual classrooms. If using a cafeteria, the meal should be served to one small group of children at a time, with cleaning and sanitizing occurring in between groupings. 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR MITIGATING COVID-19 DURING MEALS AND SNACK TIMES: 

I no longer serve meals family style. The tables where the children eat are cleaned with bleach water after meals, after group time, anytime after the tables are used by the children. All of the children are fed at the same time so I do not need to disinfect for more children. 

9. Field trips and events

  • Do not plan large group activities, such as field trips and family events. Consider changing field trips and events to a virtual format where appropriate. 
  • If you have an in-house field trip, screen the presenter. It would be best if in-house field trips are held outside in small group settings. Remember that social distance needs to be maintained, groups should not be mixed, and whenever possible, cleaning and sanitizing should occur between groups. 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR MITIGATING COVID-19 DURING FIELD TRIPS AND EVENTS: 

I used to have a music teacher come in once a week. She has not come since the start of Covid. I no longer have people come into my daycare any more. We do go on field trips but they are only to outside parks and we sanitize before going on the equipment and after coming off of the equipment. If the park is too busy, we come off of the equipment. 

10. Communications and training 

  • The plan must be available to the Commissioner and offered to families. Be sure to communicate to families, using plain language, the expectations for parents and children in implementing this plan (e.g. outdoor pick-up/drop-off protocols). 
  • The plan must be posted in a prominent place and readily accessible to all of your employees, adult caregivers, substitutes, and volunteers who need to review it. Provide training to ensure everyone is following your plan. Keep these individuals updated on any changes to the plan. 
  • Staff with concerns about their employer’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan or questions about their rights should contact MNOSHA Compliance at osha.compliance@state.mn.us, 651-284-5050 or 877-470-6742. 

WHEECARE PLAN FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAINING: 

I will give a copy of this plan to each of my families. I will ask them for a signature of compliance. My families are very considerate during this time and are doing everything in their power to limit exposure. My husband suffers from COPD and they are all aware of the fact that this virus could be fatal for him. I will share this plan with my social worker and I will post one in my daycare space.