COVID POLICY | Ganchabad

Gan Chabad Preschool

COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include muscle aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, runny nose, and loss of smell and taste. The virus typically spreads by droplet through coughing and sneezing, personal contact with an infected person, or touching an infected surface and then the face ‐ mouth, nose, or eyes.

The Ministry of Education and the local Health Unit provided all child care operators with strict enhanced policies and procedures for the safe re-opening of child care centres. In addition to the added responsibilities of our management team and our front line educators, our families will need to follow the new protocols in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Operators will be notified by the appropriate authorities when these protocols can safely be lessened and/or lifted and this information will then be shared with our families.

Gan Chabad Preschool has developed policies and procedures to comply with the Ministry of Education requirements. This document has been designed for use in conjunction with the Child Care Licensing Manual, the CCEYA and its regulations and the existing Gan Chabad Policy and Procedures Handbook. While the focus of this guidance document is on the new health, safety and operational measures that are required in order to safely re-open child care, please note that every effort will be made to uphold the welcoming and caring environment that child care provides for children and families.

Protocols for the Safe Re-opening of Gan Chabad

Licensing Requirements

Licences will be required to be amended, if necessary, to ensure director approvals and conditions on the licence align with new restrictions. Gan Chabad would like to have 1 DECE teachers, and 2 RECE teachers approved at the Overbrook location.

Inspections

Ministry staff will conduct in-person monitoring and licensing inspections of child care centres where necessary.

Ministry staff must:

be screened prior to entering the premises following the protocol
wear personal protective equipment
Ministry staff will use technology (e.g., telephone, video conferencing) to complete virtual monitoring and licensing inspections where appropriate.

Group sizes for Re-opening

Children will be grouped together in “cohorts.” A cohort is defined as a group of children and staff members assigned to them, who stay together throughout the duration of the program for a minimum of 7 days.
Cohorts will not mingle with any other cohorts throughout the program in order to prevent cross contamination
Cohorts will be separated during outside play times but using the playground at scheduled times.
Cohorts will not be able to join together in the mornings or the evening –Overbrook location has reduced hours of 8:00AM- 5:30PM for full day children as we do not have staffing available for early opening and have left time at the end of the day for enhanced cleaning.
Other educators are now allowed to mix cohorts to cover a lunch break. In the event that another educator may be requested to cover in a cohort, (sudden staff illness, etc.) that educator will maintain social distancing and wear a face mask and PPE.

Staffing

Overbrook location

Toddler class

ECE: 8:30AM- 12:30PM
Assistant: 8:00am-1:10pm
Assistant 8:45AM-5:30 lunch @ 12:40-1:10
ECE: 12:30-5:30pm

Nursery class

ECE: 8:30AM-2:30PM
ECE: 8:30AM-5:30PM lunch @ 2:00-2:30pm
Assistant/Afternoon: 2:30-5:30pm

As much as possible, supply staff will be assigned to a specific cohort.

Working with the Local Public Health

While the Ministry of Education is providing guidance on how to operate child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, child care centres must follow the advice of local public health officials when establishing health and safety protocols, including how to implement the provincial direction.

Health and Safety Protocols

Gan Chabad has developed policies and procedures outlining our health and safety protocols which include directions set out by the local public health, and how the child care setting will operate during and throughout the recovery phase following the pandemic. Gan Chabad will submit an attestation to the Ministry that confirms new policies and procedures have been developed and reviewed with employees and providers.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting policies and procedures

Gan Chabad will utilize an enhanced daily cleaning practice to ensure a sanitary environment for children, families and staff. Enhanced cleaning measures will include daily toy/resource disinfection procedures.

We will be required to adhere to the following cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Definitions

Cleaning: refers to the physical removal of foreign material (i.e. dust, soil) and organic material (i.e. blood, secretions, microorganisms). Cleaning removes, rather than kill microorganisms. Warm water, soap and mechanical action (i.e. wiping) is required to clean surfaces. Rinsing with clean water is required to complete the cleaning process to ensure the soap film is removed.

Disinfecting: describes a process completed after cleaning in which a chemical solution, is used to kill most disease-causing microorganisms. In order to be effective disinfectants must be left on a surface for a period of time (contact time). Contact times are generally prescribed by the product manufacturer. Any items children may come into contact with, requires a final rinse after the required contact time is observed.

Procedures

All cleaning products must be out of reach of children, labelled, and must have Safety Data Sheet. (SDS) Educators will need to wear nitrile gloves.

Cleaning;

Use soap and warm water to clean visibly soiled surfaces
Rinse the surface with clean water (warm to tepid temperature preferred) to ensure soap is removed

Disinfecting:

For general environmental disinfection of high touch surfaces, large toys and equipment that cannot be immersed in a bleach disinfectant solution use Oxivir Tb Ready to Use Spray or Wipe. Contact time for Oxivir Tb Ready to Use spray or wipe is 1 minute. (Oxivir Tb is a hydrogen peroxide product – please read SDS before use)

Rinse after contact time is complete – spray with a clean water bottle

For all other toy cleaning & disinfecting, immerse fully in a bleach solution. Contact time for bleach is 10 minutes. Rinse after contact time is complete – either immerse in clean water or spray with a clean water bottle
Let the surface air dry
Spray bottles will be identified by colour bands in order to reduce the number of times a spray bottle is touched

Red band – Diluted bleach and water
Yellow band – soap and water
Blue band – water for rinsing

Cleaning and Disinfection Frequency Requirements

Clean and disinfect upon ENTRY to child care (for staff items):

Any hard surfaces such as water bottles, travel mugs, cell phones, lunch containers, purses, handbags

Clean and disinfect upon children's ENTRY to child care (for child’s items):

Any hard surfaces such as water bottles, containers etc.

Clean and disinfect frequencies for other surfaces and items:

Cleaning and disinfecting routines must be increased for the following, as the risk of environmental contamination is higher:

Tables and countertops: used for food preparation and food service must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use
Highchairs: must be cleaned and disinfected before and after serving food
Spills must be cleaned and disinfected immediately
Washrooms: staff and children washroom areas must be cleaned and disinfected after every use: toilets, sink and toilet handles
Floors: cleaning and disinfecting must be performed as required, i.e., when spills occur, and throughout the day when rooms are available, i.e., during outdoor play and on a daily basis
Outdoor play equipment: must be disinfected before use, and as required (e.g., visibly dirty). Any outdoor play equipment that is used must be easy to clean and disinfect

High‐touch surfaces: any surfaces that have frequent contact with hands(e.g., light switches, shelving, containers, hand rails, door knobs, sinks toilets etc.,) should be cleaned at least two times per day and as often as necessary (e.g., when visibly dirty or contaminated with body fluids) The “runner” will clean these areas.

Other shared items: (e.g., phones, IPADs, attendance binders etc.) must be disinfected between users.

Clean and disinfect daily:

Low‐touch surfaces (any surfaces that have minimal contact with hands), must be cleaned and disinfected daily (e.g. Window ledges, doors, sides of furnishings table legs, chairs, etc.)
Floors to be vacuumed and cleaned daily and/or when the rooms are available. Cleaners will deep clean the centers 3 times a week.

Clean and disinfect as required:

Blood/Bodily Fluid Spills: Using the steps outlined below, the surface must be cleaned first then disinfected: (Blood/Bodily Fluid Spills Kits have been prepared)

1. Isolate the area around the spill so that no other objects/humans can be contaminated

2. Gather all supplies, perform hand hygiene, and then put on single-use nitrile gloves

3. Scoop up the fluid with disposable paper towels (check the surrounding area for splash/splatter) and dispose of in separate garbage bag

4. Clean the spill area with detergent (soap), warm water and single-use towels

5. Rinse to remove detergent residue with clean water and single-use towel

6. Discard used paper towels and gloves immediately in a tied plastic bag

7. Spray the bleach spray bottle solution in and around the spill area and allow for the appropriate disinfecting contact time

8. A final rinse is required if children come into contact with the area

9. Remove gloves as directed and discard them immediately

10. Perform hand hygiene as directed

If the spill includes broken glass, ensure a brush and dustpan is used to pick it up and discard. Disinfect the brush and dustpan after use. NEVER use your hands to clean up the glass

Cot cleaning and disinfecting:

Cots must be labelled and assigned/designated to a single child per use
Cots must be cleaned and disinfected before after use.
High touch surfaces on cots, must be disinfected at least twice per day and as often as necessary. (cots in playroom must remain covered)

Before naps
After naps

Cots must be stored in a manner which there is no contact with the sleeping surface of another cot (store without sheets or blankets)
Bedding must be laundered daily, (sheets and blankets), they will be sent home to be laundered and brought back daily.
Additional Infection Prevention and Control Practices For Hygiene Items

Bottles and Pacifiers must be individually labelled and stored separately (not touching each other), they must not be shared among children.
Mouthed toys should be cleaned and disinfected immediately after a child uses it.
Label individual hygiene items and store them separately.
For creams and lotions during diapering, never put hands directly into lotion or cream bottles, use a tissue or single-use gloves. Upon arrival to the centre, wipe the cream/lotion container with a disinfecting wipe
Cots should be arranged with as much distance between them as possible.
It is even more important now to ensure that children are placed head to toe on their cots.
Consider using a receiving blanket as a barrier between you and the children when it is not possible to social distance. (i.e. comfort, reassurance) Receiving blankets can only be used for each interaction. When the contact is over, discard the blanket in a separate bin for laundering. Receiving blankets will be provided for each classroom.
Educators should continue to supervise and hold bottles for infants not yet able to hold their own bottle to reduce the risk of choking and should use a receiving blanket as a barrier for these circumstances.
Ensure that proper protective gear, chemical apron and goggles is used for mixing bleach.
Consider assigning one educator to use the tablet each day. Otherwise, the tablet will need to be sanitized between users.
Pens need to be sanitized between each user.
You will be required to clean and disinfect the children’s toilets after every use using disposable paper towels. You will need to sanitize all toilet handles and sink faucets after every bathroom routine. Please use Oxivir Tb Ready to Use spray for bathroom sanitization. Rinse with clean water after contact item.
We are requesting that all educators clean and sanitize the staff bathrooms after every use – spray toilets and disinfect toilet and sink handles before you leave. . Please use Oxivir Tb Ready to Use Spray for staff bathroom sanitization. Rinse with clean water after contact item.
Climbers are closed until further notice. Each cohort of children and staff will be provided with a “bin” of toys to use in the playground. All items (i.e. shovels, pails etc.) need to be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Glove Use

Gloves should be worn when it is anticipated that hands will come in contact with mucous membranes, broken skin, blood, bodily fluids, secretions, and excretions. Gloves do not replace the need for proper hand hygiene.

Nitrile gloves (blue gloves) should be used for:

Changing diapers or assisting with bathroom routines (each child is 1 use and then gloves changed – proper hand hygiene needs to be exercised with glove use)
Clearing and disinfecting toys

Latex gloves (clear gloves) should be used for:

Applying sunscreen – hand hygiene and new gloves are required between each child
Clean and disinfect the sunscreen container before and after each member of the cohort has received sunscreen.

Gloves and Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene shall be practised before applying and after removing gloves. Gloves shall be removed and discarded after each use.

Gloves are single use only, and must be task specific such as nitrile gloves for diaper changes

Note: remove gloves from wrist and peel inside out prior to disposal in a safe and secure location which cannot be accessed by children.

Gloves when Cleaning/Disinfecting

Gan Chabad will provide staff with the necessary gloves/protective equipment when required to mix bleach for the purpose of cleaning or disinfecting – nitrile gloves, goggles and protective aprons. Also, employees must wear nitrile gloves when immersing toys in diluted disinfectant when toy washing

Guidance on the Use of Masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Masks are not recommended for children, particularly those under the age of two.

Gan Chabad follows the local public health guidelines regarding the use of masks and uses masks:

In the screening area and when an educator not of their cohort accompanies the children from and to the screening area.
When changing diapers or assisting with toileting and any other time where there is a prolonged contact of over 15 minutes in which social distancing cannot be maintained
WDCC has created a spill kit, which includes masks, gloves, gowns, goggles and a disposable bag for use when cleaning and disinfecting blood or bodily fluid spills if there is a risk of splashing.
When caring for a sick child or a child showing symptoms of illness. Isolation kits, which includes masks, gloves, gowns and goggles have also been prepared for the isolation rooms for caring for sick children
When wearing a mask, you should wash your hands before donning the mask and before and after removing the mask.

Masks will be provided for every educator who wishes to wear masks during the course of the day. There is evidence that supports the effective use of masks when social distancing cannot be maintained and Gan Chabad Day Care supports the use of masks for daily interaction with the children.

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