Owners/operators of child care centres can consult the Child Care Centre Guidance Document for information that supports – but does not replace – the advice, guidelines, recommendations, directives or other direction of provincial Ministries. For more details information and operational guidance during COVID-19, read the Ministry of Education’s Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak Child Care Reopening.
Owners/operators of summer camps can consult the Summer Camp Guidance Document for information that supports – but does not replace – the advice, guidelines, recommendations, directives or other direction of provincial Ministries. For more details information and operational guidance during COVID-19, read the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance: Summer Day Camps.
Child care centres should continue to monitor for new guidance from the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health related to child care centres.
Schools
This September, all elementary students (JK - Grade 8) will return to school for in-person instruction five days a week. Secondary students (Grade 9 - Grade 12) in Waterloo Region will return to school in an adapted model with at least 50% in-person instructional time. For more information on re-opening schools, visit the Province of Ontario website.
Please check the school board websites for additional details on schools re-opening:
Child care centres and early years’ settings
Licensed child care centres, extended day programs and other early years’ settings will be permitted to reopen at full capacity starting September 1, 2020, while operating under enhanced health and safety requirements. For more information on re-opening in 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.
Resources for parents
Education resources
Staying healthy during COVID-19
Additional Resources
Child care centre re-opening FAQs
Screening
| Can parents fill out an online screening form before arriving at the centre? |
| Yes, where possible, daily online screening should be done electronically prior to arrival; however, this would have to be reviewed before the child enters the facility. Where operationally feasible, include temperature checks as part of screening. |
| Do parents also have to be screened even though they are not entering the facility? |
| Yes, all individuals including children attending child care, staff and child care providers, parents/guardians, and visitors must be screened each day upon arrival, including daily temperature checks. |
| Do children have to be screened mid-day for symptoms? |
| Mid-day screening is optional. |
| Do we need to duplicate the screening report and send it anywhere or do we just keep one copy? |
| Region of Waterloo Public Health does not require a copy of the screening report. Keep a copy for your records in accordance with your own policy around record retention. |
| If we share space in a church, do we have to screen everyone coming? |
| If the space is separate, and the staff at the church are not part of the program and do not have contact with child care staff or children, screening is not necessary. |
| Do no-touch thermometers still require disposable coverings? |
| Follow manufacturer’s directions. Disposable covers may be used if recommended by the manufacturer. If there is no disposable cover required, thermometers should be disinfected between uses. |
Testing
| Are child care staff required to be tested for COVID-19? |
| At this time surveillance testing is not required. Testing should be conducted if someone is in contact with a confirmed case or when symptomatic. View Provincial Testing Guidance. |
| Who refers the client/staff to get testing? Is that the child care centre or Public Health? |
| Both. The child care centre should advise the client/staff as to where they can access testing (i.e., the assigned site) and notify Public Health. Once notified, Public Health will make contact with the client/staff to provide further assessment and answer any questions. |
| What if a parent refuses to get their symptomatic child tested? Does the child need to be excluded from the centre for 14 days? |
| Yes. The child would need to remain excluded from the centre for 14 days from symptom onset or be tested and re-assessed by Public Health. |
| Do we need a copy of the negative test result before the child or staff can come back? |
| A copy of the negative test is not required. Currently, Public Health monitors for the negative lab result of these situations and staff and parents of children are able to access results online. |
Symptoms
| If an individual shows symptoms related to virus, do they need to isolate for 14 days, even if the symptoms are no longer apparent? |
- In a patient with no known exposures, a single negative result is sufficient to exclude COVID-19 at that point in time. Depending on the clinical scenario (e.g., persistent, new or worsening symptoms), repeat testing can be considered.
- In a symptomatic patient that is currently within their 14-day self-isolation as a result of a known exposure, a single negative result is sufficient to exclude COVID-19 at that point in time. However, the individual should remain in self-isolation for the remainder of their 14-day period, and if symptoms change or worsen, repeat testing.
- A symptomatic person with no known exposure who tests negative could return to the daycare 24h after symptoms resolve.
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| What would you recommend if a parent drops a child off with a runny nose with a history of seasonal allergies or transient fever when the parent reports teething? Can the child enter the centre or should we deny them entry? What if a child has one loose stool while at the centre but is otherwise well? |
| Consult Public Health for further assessment and advice on the particular case. |
| If we have a declared outbreak, does the center remain open or do we have to closed for 14 days? |
| When an outbreak occurs, Public Health will provide direction as to whether parts of a facility can remain open or whether the whole facility should close. If the centre was able to cohort where other groups of children and staff did not have contact with a case, such as no-shared-lunch area, shared facilities or play areas, other areas may remain open if supported by a Public Health risk assessment. |
| If there is a symptomatic child during the day, do all students in that cohort have to be sent home immediately? |
| Other children, including siblings of the sick child, and child care staff/providers in the program who were present while the child or staff member/provider became ill should be identified as a close contact and be further cohorted (i.e., grouped together) until they can be picked up by parents/guardians to self-isolate at home. The local public health unit will provide any further direction on testing and isolation of these close contacts. |
Washrooms
| Do toilets and sinks in a washroom require 2 metres (6 feet) distance between them? |
| Only every second toilet or sink should be used, and where possible, a barrier should be used to separate every other toilet and sink. |
| Are shared washrooms between two classrooms permitted? |
| Only one cohort should access the washroom at a time and it is recommended that the facilities be cleaned in between each use, particularly if different cohorts will be using the same washroom. |
PPE
| Can you use cloth face coverings and gowns for staff if you have enough of a supply to launder after use? |
| Surgical masks are recommended by the Ministry of Education guidance for child care centres. Gowns laundered after each use are acceptable. |
| When should masks/face coverings/PPE be worn? |
- In the screening area and when accompanying children into the program from the screening area.
- When cleaning and disinfecting blood or body fluid spills if there is a risk of splashing.
- When caring for a sick child or a child showing symptoms of illness.
- If a child care staff must cover off for a colleague in a different cohort/room (e.g., during breaks) they must do so in a manner that maintains physical distancing as best as possible, and they should use a non-medical face mask or face covering.
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Toys and surfaces
| Can wood toys be used in the classroom? |
| It is recommended that books, puzzles, cardboards, wood toys, etc. that are absorbent and cannot be easily cleaned and disinfected are limited or removed. Staff should ensure that all toys, equipment are in good repair, clean and sanitary. |
| Can an outdoor sandbox be used? |
| Sensory materials commonly shared such as sand, water, playdough are discouraged. These materials may be used if designated for each child and will not to be shared with others. |
| Can outdoor wood play structures be used by different cohorts? |
| Play structures, including those located outdoors, can only be used by one cohort at a time and should be cleaned and disinfected at a minimum between cohorts. If a surface cannot be cleaned and disinfected between cohorts (such as a wood structure) it must be designated to a cohort or not used. |
Cohorts/groupings
| Can a child go to more than one centre? |
| We strongly recommend that children only attend one child care centre |
| Can a large classroom be separated to accommodate two cohorts? |
| There must be a floor to ceiling barrier if a room is to be separated. |
| If we can’t move staff around from room to room, how will we handle staff off sick or vacation days? |
Supply/replacement staff should be assigned to specific cohorts and these staff should not mix between cohorts. Child care staff should avoid covering off for colleagues assigned to different cohorts or working in different rooms/areas during lunches or breaks as best as possible.
- If a child care staff must cover off for a colleague in a different cohort/room (e.g., during breaks) they must do so in a manner that maintains physical distancing as best as possible, and they should use a non-medical face mask or face covering.
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| Our staff washroom and kitchen are only accessible by going into a classroom. How do we handle this? |
| Designate a walking space in area that is 2 or more metres from the cohort. Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible. |
| For half day programs, can centres run two programs a day in the same space with two different groups of children (one group in the morning, one group in the afternoon)? |
| No, a cohort is defined as a group of children, and the staff members assigned to them, who stay together throughout the duration of the program for minimum 7 days. Maximum cohort size is defined by the Ministry and must be abided by. |
| When there are part-time children, can there be more than the allowable maximum of children in a classroom over the course of a week? |
| No, there cannot be more than the allowable maximum of children. A cohort is defined as a group of children and the staff members assigned to them, who stay together throughout the duration of the program for minimum 7 days. |
| We normally have half day programs. Can we change the look and operate with one group at a time for 7 or 14 days and then operate with another group of children for 7 or 14 days and rotate through so each class gets a week at a time? |
| Yes, as long as the cohort is a group of children and the staff members assigned to them, who stay together throughout the duration of the program for minimum 7 days and the allowable cohort maximum is not exceeded. At the end of the week the classroom must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. |
Sunscreen
| Do we have to take any special precautions if we use centre sunscreens, as opposed to individual? |
| If sunscreen provided by the centre is to be used, there should be one designated per cohort. If that is not possible, the sunscreen container must be disinfected between cohorts and hands must be washed after applying to each child. |
Meals
| For food service at meal time, is the staff able to have the food at a counter and put on plates to take to the children? |
| Yes, as long as there is no self-serve or sharing of food and utensils (e.g., serving spoons, water jugs) at meal times and meals are individually portioned for each child (i.e., no family-style service) |
| If meals are to be portioned in the kitchen, how would a cook know how much the children want to eat? |
| Best practice is to portion meals in the kitchen. If this can’t be done, meals can be portioned in the classroom on a designated surface by the classroom teacher. Leftover food should be disposed of. |
| Can a cook, who is not a program staff and has no contacts with cohorts, work at different sites? |
| No, staff should only work at one location. |
Contacting Public Health
| Who do we contact when we have questions about policy, process or risk factors related to COVID-19? |
| Please call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400. |
| When are we required to report symptoms to Public Health and how? |
| Please report to Public Health when a child/staff is denied entry based on screening, shows up symptomatic or develops symptoms during the program. The supervisor or designate should notify Public Health through the Region of Waterloo Reporting Form for Symptomatic Staff / Children. |
Resources
| Will Public Health be able to provide signage (e.g., distancing, hand washing)? |
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We have the following resources available for download:
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| Where are the most up-to-date versions of the guidance documents available? |
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The most up-to-date versions of the guidance documents are also available at the top of this webpage.
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