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COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency childcare centres

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In order to support health care and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain childcare centres are exempt from the order to close all licensed childcare centres, pursuant to the emergency declared in Ontario on March 17, 2020.
Author: 
Format: 
government document
Publication Date: 
8 May 2020

EXCERPTS

** UPDATED**

Ministry of Health

COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Childcare Centres

Version 2, May 8, 2020

Highlights of Changes:

  • Revised Screening requirements (15, 16, 20 added)
  • Revised Management of Children section (bullet to work with the local public health unit and bullets moved to testing section, where appropriate)
  • New Testing requirements added

This guidance provides basic information only. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or legal advice.

In the event of any conflict between this guidance document and any orders or directives issued by the Minister of Health or the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), the order or directive prevails.

  • Please check the Ministry of Health (MOH) COVID-19 website regularly for updates to this document, Reference Document for Symptoms, mental health resources, and other information.
  • Please check the Directives, Memorandums and Other Resources page regularly for the most up to date directives.

In order to support health care and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain child care centres are exempt from the order to close all licensed child care centres, pursuant to the emergency declared in Ontario on March 17, 2020.

These child care centres are required to follow all existing health and safety requirements as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, as directed by the local medical officer of health, and as outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and other policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education. Plans must also be in place to respond should any staff, children, or parents/guardians be exposed to COVID-19.

For full guidelines and policies see 'Version 2 PDF attached'

----

VERSION ONE

Ministry of Health

COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Childcare Centres

Version 1, March 29, 2020

In order to support health care and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain childcare centres are exempt from the order to close all licensed childcare centres, pursuant to the emergency declared in Ontario on March 17, 2020.

These childcare centres are required to follow all existing health and safety requirements as directed by the local medical officer of health and as outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and other policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education. Plans must also be in place to respond should any staff, children, or parents/guardians be exposed to COVID-19.

Requirements for health and safety

1. Ensure all current infection prevention and control practices are adhered to, this
includes but is not limited to:

  • Ensuring all toys used at the centre are made of material that can be cleaned and disinfected (e.g. avoid plush toys);
  • Increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting objects, toys and frequently touched surfaces;
  • Frequently touched surfaces are most likely to become contaminated,
  • including doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, and tabletops, and must
  • be disinfected at least twice a day;
  • Only using disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Low-level hospital-grade disinfectants may be used;

Read more here

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