PANDEMIC RULES & REGULATIONS

Queen’s Royal Treasures EDU-FIT Childcare and Learning Center will remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have addressed these additional considerations to keep everyone safe:

• Implemented social distancing strategies

• Intensified cleaning and disinfection efforts

• Modified drop off and pick up procedures

• Implemented screening procedures upon arrival

• Maintained an adequate ratio of staff to children to ensure safety.

  • Planned and recruited those with childcare experience to ensure we have a roster of substitute caregivers who can fill in if our staff members are sick or stay home to care for sick family members.

• When feasible, staff members and children 3 years of age or older are required to wear face coverings within the facility. They can wear mask or face shields or a combination of the two. Face coverings will NEVER be put on babies and children under the age of two because of the danger of suffocation.

We are supporting our communities by providing temporary or emergency child care services for the children of essential service providers such as first responders, healthcare workers, transit or food retail workers, and persons who do not have paid leave, cannot work from home, or do not have a family caregiver at home.

• Staff and students must follow CDC guidance for administrators of child care programs and K-12 schools.

• We must follow state and local child care licensing policies and regulations. We will continue to adhere to the state and local licensing policies unless otherwise notified by our local health department.

• Guidance is also provided by the department of education, St. Louis County health department and the City of Dellwood in Missouri.

Social Distancing Strategies

We are working with our local health officials to determine a set of strategies appropriate for our community’s situation. We continue to use preparedness strategies and utilize the following social distancing strategies:

• Our childcare classes include the same group each day and the same childcare providers remain with the same group each day. Children of healthcare workers and other first responders are kept separate as much as possible.

• All special events have been postponed until further notice.

• We have altered or halted daily group activities that may promote transmission.

  • Each group is kept small and in a separate area/room.

  • We limit the mixing of children, such as staggering playground times and keeping groups separate for special activities such as art, music, and exercising.

  • At nap time, we ensure that children’s naptime cots (or cribs) are spaced out as much as possible, ideally 6 feet apart. We place children head to toe in order to further reduce the potential for viral spread.

• We have staggered arrival and drop off times. Our plan for curb side drop off and pick up have limited direct contact between parents and staff members and adhere to social distancing recommendations.

Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up

• Sanitizer has been placed at the entrance of the facility, so that children can clean their hands before they enter. We keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach and supervise use. We clean sign-in stations between each use.

• We have staggered arrival and drop off times and plan to limit direct contact with parents as much as possible.

  • We greet children at the door as they arrive.

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• Ideally, we have requested that the same parent or designated person drop off and pick up the child every day. We have asked older people such as grandparents or those with serious underlying medical conditions not pick up children, because they are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Screen Children Upon Arrival

Persons who have a fever of 100.40 (38.00C) or above or other signs of illness are not admitted to the facility. We encourage parents to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home when they are sick. We screen everyone, parents and students upon arrival.

We use a temperature gun to protect our workers while conducting temperature screenings while maintaining a distance of 6 feet to eliminate or minimize exposures due to close contact to a child who has symptoms during screening.

Alternative Screening Methods

Reliance on Social Distancing

• We ask parents/guardians to take their child’s temperature either before coming to the facility. Upon their arrival, we stand at least 6 feet away from the parent/guardian and child when conducting the screening.

• We ask the parent/guardian to confirm that the child/children, parent or anyone in the household are completely healthy and does not have a fever, shortness of breath or cough or any symptoms listed on the CDC website for COVID-19, as well as, have not been in contact with anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19. We screen at pickup and drop off daily.

• We make visual inspections of the child/children as well as the parent for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.

We wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when we can’t maintain a distance of 6 feet.

Reliance on Barrier/Partition Controls

• We stand inside of our entrance glass door waiting on screening to protect our staff member’s face and mucous membranes from respiratory droplets that may be produced if the child being screened sneezes, coughs, or talks.

• We make a visual inspection of every individual that enters the center for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.

• We conduct temperature screening (following steps below)

  • Perform proper hand hygiene

  • Wash our hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, we use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Wear disposable gloves.

• Check the child’s temperature, reaching through the entrance door while it’s ajar.

• Making sure our face always stays behind the barrier during the screening.

• If we perform a temperature check on multiple individuals, we use a clean pair of gloves for each child and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check.

• We clean with an alcohol wipe (or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab) between each client.

Reliance on Personal Protective Equipment

When social distancing cannot be implemented during screening, personal protective equipment (PPE) will be used when within 6 feet of a child.

Upon arrival, staff and students wash hands and put on a face mask, eye protection (goggles or disposable face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face), and a single pair of disposable gloves. A gown will be used if extensive contact with a child is anticipated.

• We make a visual inspection upon arrival and throughout the day of each child for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness, and confirm that the child is not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.

• Take the child’s temperature.

  • When performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, we ensure you we use a clean pair of gloves for each child and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check.

• After each screening, we wash or sanitize our hands.

• We use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol or wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water will be used before using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Clean and Disinfect

Intensify cleaning and disinfection efforts:

• We routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. This includes cleaning objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, classroom sink handles, countertops, cots, toilet training potties, desks, chairs, cubbies, and playground structures.

• All cleaning materials are kept secure and out of reach of children.

• Cleaning products are not used near children, and staff ensures that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children from inhaling toxic fumes.

Clean and Sanitize Toys

• Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized are not used.

• Toys that children can place in their mouths have been removed until further notice.

• Machine washable cloth toys have been removed until further notice.

• Children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered a high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures.

Clean and Disinfect Bedding

• Parents must provide bedding (sheets, pillows, blankets, sleeping bags) that can be washed. Parents must wash all beddings weekly.

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Caring for Infants and Toddlers

Diapering

We follow safe diaper changing procedures. Procedures are posted in all diaper changing areas. Steps include:

• Prepare (includes putting on gloves)

• Clean the child

• Remove trash (soiled diaper and wipes)

• Replace diaper

• Wash child’s hands

• Clean up diapering station

• Wash hands

After diapering, we wash hands (even if wearing gloves) and disinfect the diapering area with a fragrance-free bleach that is EPA-registered as a sanitizing or disinfecting solution. When the surface is dirty, it is cleaned with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

QRT Policy if a Student Becomes Sick at School or Reports a New COVID-19 Diagnosis/Exposed Flowchart

• Student(s) displays signs of infectious illness consistent with COVID-19.

• Teacher or staff excuses student(s) from classroom, cohort/pod or area within the school and notifies COVID-19 designated POC.

• COVID-19 POC takes student(s) to designated isolation room/area until transportation can be arranged to send student(s) home or to seek emergency medical attention.
  AND
  Note: If multiple ill students must be placed in the same isolation room/area, ensure mask use and that they maintain at least 6 feet of distance between them.

• COVID-19 POC notify parent(s), guardians, or caregiver(s) of ill student(s).

• Parent(s), guardians, or caregiver(s) pick up student(s). The student(s) should consult with their healthcare provider for evaluation and determination if testing is recommended.

Student negative COVID-19 test result.**

• Student(s) return to school following existing school illness management policies.

Student positive (including exposed) COVID-19 test result.

• A student(s) is newly identified as having COVID-19.

• COVID-19 POC initiates list of close contacts*** of the ill student and communicates the possible exposure to teacher(s), staff, and parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) of student(s) in the school.

• Exposed area(s) (e.g., classroom) closed off for up to 24 hours. Cleaning and disinfection of area performed by appropriate staff.

• Administrators work with local health officials to assess transmission levels and support contact tracing efforts.

• Close contacts*** are notified, advised to stay home (quarantine for 14 days), and to consult with their healthcare provider for evaluation and determination if testing is recommended. The best way to protect yourself and others is to stay home for 14 days if you think you’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. With guidance from our local health department’s website for information about options in our area to possibly shorten this quarantine period.

• Administrators or COVID-19 POC communicate with teacher(s), staff, and parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) the importance of COVID-19 mitigation strategies (e.g., staying home when sick, washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing).

• Members of the student(s)’ household are requested to quarantine for 14 days.

• Student(s) can return to school after meeting criteria for ending home isolation with a doctor statement clearing child of COVID-19 and is safe to return to childcare/school. A negative COVID-19 test within 3 days of returning date and is cleared from quarantine.****

Note: COVID-19 POC is the designated point of contact (Director or staff person that is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns)

** With no known close contact

*** Close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more within 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of whether the contact was wearing a mask.

**** Student can end home isolation after meeting all of the following three criteria: at least 10-14 days since symptoms appeared, at least 24 hours with no fever-reducing medication, and symptoms have improved.

Staff will be required to test if they came in close contact with anyone who tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19. Staff and possibly the entire Center will be quarantined until cleared by St. Louis County if the majority has been exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive.