On this page
- Child care centres and early years' settings guidance
- Reporting for symptomatic staff/children
- COVID-19 testing scenarios and next steps
- Child care daily close contact log
- Helpful resources for child care settings
- Additional resources
Child care centres and early years’ settings guidance
As we move into the fall season with the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, Region of Waterloo Public health is making the enhanced recommendations in addition to the COVID-19 Operational Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19 Outbreak. These recommendations will be distributed to all the child care settings in the Region of Waterloo. It does not replace the advice, guidelines, recommendations, directives or other direction of provincial Ministries. Childcares should continue to monitor for new guidance from the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health related to childcare settings. Our COVID-19 Child Care Guidance document developed in August 2020 is now retired and will not be updated going forward.
Child care setting operators are advised to continue monitoring Ontario Ministry of Education, Ontario Ministry of Health and Region of Waterloo Public Health websites for the most up-to-date guidance and to access other helpful resources.
Licensed child care centres, extended day programs and other early years’ settings will be permitted to open at full capacity while operating under enhanced health and safety requirements. For more information on this sector visit the Province of Ontario website.
Ontario's child welfare agencies continue to operate. Visit Family and Children's Services of the Waterloo Region for information on how you can help during the pandemic.
For the most up to date information please review the following documents from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health:
- Operational guidance during COVID-19 outbreak: child care
- Operational guidance during COVID-19 outbreak: EarlyON
- Before and after school programs kindergarten to Grade 6: policies and guidelines for school boards for the 2020-2021 school year
- COVID-19 school and child care screening (Ministry of Health)
- COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for: Day Camps - Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for: Overnight Camps - Ministry of Health
- Guidance for the Health Sector - Ministry of Health
Reporting for symptomatic staff/children
Child care setting operators are required to complete and submit the Region of Waterloo Reporting Form for Symptomatic Staff / Children to continue reporting a child or staff person who became sick while attending the child care setting.
Please note: Child care setting operators are only required to report symptomatic staff/children to Public Health if any of the following apply:
- Close contact with a COVID-19 case
- Travel outside of Canada within 14 days prior to symptom onset
- Told by a doctor, health care provider, or public health unit to self-isolate
COVID-19 testing scenarios and next steps
Please refer to the COVID-19 Tested! Now What? fact sheet.
Child care daily close contact log
Please use child care daily close contact log during the course of staff shift or at end of staff shift to log the people who you have been in close contact with.
Helpful resources for child care settings
Screening Tool:
COVID-19 school and child care screening tool - Ontario Ministry of Health
Covid-19 Workplace Safety Plan
Please see the guide on developing a COVID-19 workplace safety plan for your facility.
Cleaning Child Care Settings
Operational Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19 Outbreak - Ontario Ministry of Education
Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers for COVID-19 - Health Canada
Cleaning and disinfection for public settings COVID-19 - Public Health Ontario
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
How to wash your hands and Respiratory etiquette infographic - Public Health Ontario
How to wash your hands and How to use hand sanitizer - Region of Waterloo
Proper use of Masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Putting on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Public Health Ontario
Putting on Mask and Eye Protection - Public Health Ontario Video
Non-medical Masks and Face Coverings - Government of Canada
How to wear a face covering (mask) - Region of Waterloo
Additional resources
- Ministry of Health
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Region of Waterloo Public Health
- Safe Voluntary Isolation Site
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