COVID – 19 Recovery Phase: Guidance to Early Learning and Childcare Facilities Department of Education and Early Childhood Development May 2020
Meeting Guidelines • Keep microphones on mute if possible to avoid interference. • Use earphones is possible and ensure the microphone is away from your mouth. • Because of the high number of people participating and the time constraint of the session, it might only be possible to take a few general questions. • Licensing staff will be your support in further understanding and implementing these guidelines. 2
Meeting Agenda • Overview of the guidance document provided to us by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – Capacity and grouping of children – Role of parents, staff, visitors – Operational Plan – COVID-19 awareness, records and screening – Cleaning and disinfection – Personal Hygiene – Additional measures – Outdoor play – Outbreak Management Plan 3
Legal context • Directives come from The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. • As a condition of opening, operators are required to follow the directives laid out in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase: Guidance to Early Learning and Childcare Facilities and Day Camps document. • NOT business as usual. • These measures are in place for now and could be lifted, changed, or stricter measures imposed based on the spread of the virus. • Licensing staff are committed to working with you to help you successfully implement these measures. 4
Capacity and Grouping of Children • Operators are permitted to open and operate at full capacity for their licence, using a grouping method. • Children shall be placed in self-contained groups, maximum of 15 children per group. • Educators are not included in this number. Sample group: 15 three year-olds, plus 2 educators and 1 support worker 5
Ratios permitted under the Groupings under the new health and safety ECS Act – Child-to-Staff protocols Ratios (Maximum 15 children per group – Maximum of 2 groups per room) Infants: Three or fewer 2 groups of 3 infants 2 groups of five children (Age 2) 2 year old s : Five or fewer 2 m 2 groups of 8 children (Age 3) – Need a 2 met re sep a ration between the groups 3 year old s : Eight or fewer 2 m 2 groups of 10 children (Age 4 or older not yet attending school) - Need a 2 met re separation between the groups 4 year old s or older not yet attending school: Ten or fewer 2 m 2 groups of school-age children - Need a 2 met re sep a ration between the groups School-Age: 15 or fewer
Grouping Method (continued) • Groups may be kept in separate areas or kept in the same general area if a 2 metre separation between groups can be maintained. – E.g. A room that normally can accommodate 20 four year-olds can be divided in half using furnishings so that 2 groups of 10 can be created. – E.g. A large room normally used for 30 school-aged children can be zoned to indicate that each group of 15 can only use ‘their’ space. Older children may only need tape on the floor as a reminder to be able to accomplish this. * Each facility will be unique in how they can meet this requirement based on their layout, measured space, etc. 7
Grouping Method (continued) • Groups and physical distancing : – Within each group, physical distancing is not required. – The intent of the grouping method is that the children in a group and their educator stay together throughout the day which helps minimize social contacts and will aid in contact tracing should an outbreak occur. • Children are not to be moved from group to group throughout the day with the exception of early morning and late day when this may need to happen for staffing purposes. All movement must be documented (see Group Log) – Children within a defined group are permitted to intermingle with one another although educators should encourage children not to touch each other and to practice good personal hygiene. 8
Group Log (Appendix C) • This document must be created for each defined group. • If a new group is established, a new log must be created. • Logs must be available at all times to EECD or Public Health staff. 9
Role of Parents, Educators, Visitors • COVID-19 can be transmitted by those who may have few or no symptoms. • As such, parents, educators, and others who may need to enter a facility play a critical role in preventing spread of the virus. • Measures being put in place are designed to mitigate the risk of transmission but adults must also continue to be hypervigilant about monitoring for symptoms and hygiene practices as well as continue to minimize non- essential movement outside their home. 10
Operational Plan • Prior to opening, operators must develop an Operational Plan that: – Outlines how daily operations will be managed to meet measures put forth in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase document – Explains procedures for implementing groups restrictions – Explains disease prevention controls (personal hygiene, cleaning, management of illness procedures) • You must confirm that your Operational Plan is completed with your assigned Licencing Staff. 11
Operational Plan (Continued) • Your Operational Plan must be on site and available for Public Health to view at any time. • * Covid-19 Operational Plan Guide : Keeping New Brunswickers Safer Together – This basic ‘how - to’ guide will help you to get started developing an operational plan for your New Brunswick business/service. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/ec o-bce/Promo/covid-19/covid-op-plan-guide.pdf 12
COVID-19 Awareness • Operators must: – Provide parents with information on additional COVID-19 related measures during the recovery phase – Post signage* such as hand washing and personal hygiene etiquette throughout the facility. *Many resources are available on the New Brunswick Coronavirus webpage 13
Records, Screening, and Drop- off/Pick-up • Operators are required to obtain up to date records of all household members for each child attending the facility including contacts (names and contact numbers). • Drop-off/Pick-up: – Encourage only one adult per family be the designate – Consider staggered times if necessary – Facilitate outdoor pick-up and drop-off to limit the number of people in the building 14
Records, Screening, and Drop- off/Pick-up (Continued) • Operators must ensure that all persons entering the facility are screened for COVID -19 using the Screening Questionnaire for COVID-19 (appendix A). 15
Cleaning and Disinfection • Increase frequency of cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. • Cleaning and disinfection schedules must be in place with clear accountability assigned to specific staff. • Detailed list of authorized disinfectants is available through Health Canada website. • Bleach and water must be used at the 1000ppm concentration using precautions listed in the document. 16
Personal Hygiene • Hand washing remains the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. • Supervise children to ensure proper hand washing. • Approved hand sanitizer may be used when educators or children do not have access to soap and water. • Encourage children to avoid touching their face and others, to sneeze, or cough in to their elbow etc. 17
Additional Measures • Additional measures are outlined in the document regarding: – Supplies – Washrooms – Handwashing stations – Food – Laundry – Napping and Sleeping areas – Outdoor play areas 18
Outdoor Play Areas • May need to stagger times so groups of 15 can meet the physical distance of 2 metres. • Be vigilant encouraging children not to touch their face and in washing hands upon going inside. • Water tables and sand boxes prohibited at this time. • Play sets such as slide, swings, monkey bars, etc. are not to be used until a directive is given that municipal playgrounds (schools and parks) can be opened 19
Outdoor Play Areas (Continued) • No field trips or special events permitted. • Neighborhood walks are permitted, assuming no stops are made along the way. • Shared toys must be sanitized between users (and groups). 20
Outbreak Management Plan • Outbreak = one confirmed case of COVID-19 OR two or more suspected cases of COVID- 19 • You must advise Public Health of a confirmed case or if there are two suspected cases. • Public Health will investigate what you report and declare an outbreak if appropriate. • If an outbreak is declared, the facility must close. 21
Outbreak Management Plan (Continued) • All facilities must amend their current outbreak management plan in their parent handbook with COVID-19-specific information as detailed in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase document. 22
Outbreak Management Plan (Continued) • Some of the new control measures include : – If a child or staff become ill while at the facility, the use of a community mask for the child (if over 2 years old) and educator caring for the child is required if the 2 metre physical distance cannot be maintained. – Require temperature checks for staff and children upon arrival daily (part of the screening) and throughout the day if needed. 23
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