COVID-19 Guidance

Center Procedures to Reduce the Spread

It is the center’s policy to adhere to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as guidance and requirements from the State of Maryland and Montgomery County during a public health emergency. Please check your child’s temperature daily prior to leaving home to ensure there is no fever. Children must be symptom-free, without the use of fever-reducing medication, before they can attend our program. If you or any household members fall ill, please call 301.975.2152.

We also ask all families and staff to maintain the travel, local social distancing, and face covering guidance as much as feasible. As a community, we can help to reduce the spread. Any outbreaks at the center may require the center to be shutdown for 14 days or more.

The current center hours are 6:45 am to 6 pm for all classroom except the infant and toddler rooms which are 8 am to 5:30 pm

Face Coverings: Masks will be required for all persons (staff, children, and parents), 2 years and older. Regardless of vaccination status. Exceptions include, for example, if it interferes with effective communications when interacting with a child, eating or drinking, outdoors with social distancing greater than 6 ft.

Cloth face coverings should not be worn by children under age 2 years old and anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance.

Drop Off: Please remember to social distance yourself while at the school. ONE family member may walk your child(ren) to their classroom(s) unless you prefer a staff member to do so. A mask is required regardless of vaccination status and please drop off quickly at the classroom door.

Parents must sign in their child and answer the questions on the screening form in the front entry lobby. If you answer yes to any of the questions your child will not be permitted to enter the building. Temperatures must be taken and documented. A Staff member must verify the temperature. If a parent enters the building to drop off, they must also fill out the screening form for themselves and have their temperature verified.

If a child or teacher has a fever, they will not be permitted to enter the school. They will be referred to their physician for evaluation. They will be required to have a note from their physician stating that the illness is not due to COVID-19 or a negative PRC COVID-19 test result. Without either of these they will be required to quarantine for 14 days (or what is recommended at that time from either the Health Department or NIST)

There will be hand sanitizer on the table for your use. If you would like your child to sanitize their hands you must assist them with using it properly (their hands will be washed immediately when entering the classroom).

Covid-19 Screening Questions

1. Has your child had a temperature of 100.4 or greater since last in the child care center?

2. Does your child have any of the following symptoms - sore throat, nasal congestion, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, fatigue/malaise, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell or taste - since yesterday or in the past 14 days if returning from absence?

3. Has your child been in close, prolonged contact with anyone known to have Covid-19 or who has symptoms of Covid-19?

Classrooms: Classrooms will remain separated with the exception of morning and afternoon to enable the center to open to regular hours (2’s will combine, 3’s will combine, and the 4’s will combine). PE will take place outside. There will be frequent cleaning and sanitizing of toys, books, and surfaces. Children will have their own set of crayons, markers and playdough in classrooms where it is appropriate.

Nap: Cots will be placed at least 6 ft apart, head-to-toe. Cots will be sanitized after each use and air dried prior to storage. Children’s naptime items are kept in a blue NIST CCC bag that has been provided for them and are washed every two days at the center. Temperature checks will also be conducted after nap time.

Handwashing: Increased frequency and supervision by staff. (1) Upon classroom arrival (2) Prior to each food service (breakfast, snack, and lunch) (3) After playground / outdoor time (4) After each bathroom use (5) Before leaving for home.

Meals: No family style dining. Each child's food will be served on a separate plate. Children will sit at most 4 or 5 to a table. Dishes will be washed and sanitized in the dishwasher.

Playground: Masks are not required on the playgrounds. Playground equipment including bikes, will be sanitized in the morning and after each use. Each child must have their own helmet when riding the bikes. The sandbox will not be used until further notice. Staggered playground schedule to maintain group separation.

Pick-Up: Please call the center at least 10 minutes before picking up your child. A staff member will bring your child and their belongings up front, so they are ready to go when you arrive. If someone is in the check in area, please wait outside until they leave that area.

Facilities: No outside visitors or tours. Only outdoor field trips are allowed. No outside enrichment programs. No congregating in common spaces (break room included)

Child becomes symptomatic at the center: Will be escorted to a separate room away from other children. Parents will be contacted for pick-up within 1 hour.

Staff becomes symptomatic at the center: Will be sent home immediately.

For all suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases, child or staff, the center will contact the local health department. The center, using the child's group assignment and LifeCubby, will inform of potential exposure to other children and staff for contact tracing. Anyone who falls ill will be asked to stay at home for 14 days.

Parents are also asked to inform the center if their child or household has a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case.

The health and safety of the children and staff are paramount to the CCC. The CCC continues to monitor the global developments of the novel Coronavirus.

For the well-being of the children, our customers, and staff:

• We will be more vigilant with hand washing.

• The teachers are helping children learn how to sneeze into their elbow to help stop the spread of germs.

• We have stepped up our cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and surfaces to reduce the spread of germs.

• When we are notified of a staff or child that is sick, we are asking for specific diagnosis (flu is also a concern) and we are requiring them to stay home until symptoms are no longer present.

Parents can support us by engaging in the following practices:

• Adhere to public health guidance. Maintain state and local health department guidance on mask wearing and social distancing as much as possible. Any outbreaks in the center can potentially close the center for 14 days.

• Keep sick children home. No matter what the illness is, bringing sick children into school only perpetuates the problem. Children must be 24-hour symptom-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) before they can attend our program. Fever-reducing medication only masks symptoms and does not stop the spread of illnesses.

• If your child is sick, please notify us immediately. We post exposure notices outside the classrooms and send out emails with this information. Posting this information allows us to inform you of the situation as best we can. We have to maintain HIPAA laws and cannot give specific information.

• Be vigilant with hand washing at home and school. Please take your child to wash their hands as soon as they enter the classroom in the morning. Regardless of how they feel about it, this must happen for the health and wellbeing of everyone in our building. The recommendation for handwashing is to do it for 20 seconds. Have them sing the alphabet song to help them keep time. It is good practice to wash hands as soon as you arrive home from school, work, or other activities, as well. We would also encourage washing hand prior to and after eating. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/hand/handwashing.html

• Teach children good cough and sneeze techniques. Encourage your child to use a tissue or their elbow not their hands. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html

• If you (or other family members) have traveled out of the country, please contact us by phone at 301.975.2152 prior to bringing your child back to school. We will give you guidance on whether the child can return to the center immediately or whether the child should remain at home for a period of time to ensure symptoms do not arise.

• For any domestic travel please refer to the NIST Daily Health and Screening Form Travel Restriction section (at the bottom of the form) for guidance on quarantine requirements upon return.

For overall health and to prevent the spread of germs:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

• Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick. The CDC recommends that individuals remain home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (i.e., chills, feeling warm, flushed appearance). Drink lots of fluids!

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately discard the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The NIST Child Care Center is monitoring guidance from:

• Centers for Disease Control

• Centers for Disease Control Travel Guidance

• Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

• Maryland Health Department

• Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

• Montgomery County Public Schools

• NIST

• World Health Organization