COVID Health and Safety

• The policies in this handbook were created to align with CDC guidelines and recommendations, as well as regulations and recommendations of the OEC and the State of Connecticut and policies set at Yale University. They are intended to protect the health and wellbeing of our children, families, and staff.
• The policies in this handbook are subject to change based on these same guidelines and regulations. All families and staff will be notified in the event of any additions or changes to these policies.
• Exposure is considered either 15 minutes or more of direct contact within a 48-hour window of anyone with symptoms or a positive test result, or travel by plane or train.

• Effective September 1st, we will institute a “Mask Optional” policy in classrooms with children over the age of 6 months. This means that teachers may wear a mask only if they want to, and children may wear a mask only if their parents want them to. In classrooms where there are children 6 months and under, teachers will still be required to wear masks.
• These changes are of course dependent on seeing that our children are indeed being vaccinated. Please provide us with proof of your child’s vaccination as soon as it is complete. Please note that being fully vaccinated means that two weeks have lapsed since the final dose in the series received.
• Anyone who is vaccinated and has been exposed to COVID (at Bodel or outside of Bodel) will be asked to mask, if feasible, for 5 days until the results of a PCR test are received. Anyone who tests positive, whether or not they are vaccinated, will be required to quarantine for 10 days. Everyone will continue to be informed of any exposures.
• Please note that if there is a significant increase in pediatric hospitalizations due to COVID or if we find that we are experiencing a spike in COVID infections at Bodel, we will re-examine this and potentially reinstitute a mask requirement. It is important that we are responsive to any variations in strains and infection rates so that we continue to maintain everyone’s safety.

• Children may be dropped off at their classroom doors. No one but teachers and children may enter the classroom. Adults dropping off children must remain at the door.
• A staff member will be there to greet families, take temperatures of children, and conduct a daily health check.
• Staff members will also have their temperatures taken on arrival.
• Results of the check-in will be logged.
• If the child presents with a temperature over 100.4, cough, shortness of breath and/or sore throat, the child will not be allowed to attend that day. The adult will be instructed to take the child home and contact their health care provider. The child must either receive a PCR test or the doctor must present us with a note stating that a COVID test is not indicated. Regardless of what the health provider says, the child must stay home and be fever free without fever reducer for 24 hours.
• If a Staff Member presents with a fever over 100.4, cough, shortness of breath and/or sore throat, they will be instructed to go home and contact their health care provider. They must receive either a PCR test or a note from the health care provider indicating a PCR test is not necessary. Regardless of what the health provider says, the staff member must stay home and be fever free without fever reducer for 24 hours.
• If the check-in goes well, with no fevers or questionable symptoms, the adult will sign the child in.
• At pick up, the adult picking up the child will stay at the doorway to wait for the child.

• Temperatures must be below 100.5 F.
• If a child’s or staff member’s temperature at check in is nearing 100.4F, the temperature will be checked every two hours.
• If a child’s temperature during the day is over 100.4F, the parent will be called and will have to arrive at the center within an hour.
• If a temperature is above 100.4, the child or staff member must stay home and be fever free without fever reducer for 24 hours.

• Infants should have extra burp cloths and blankets, clearly labelled
• Blankets, sheets, pillow cases, etc. will be sent home for cleaning weekly unless they are soiled with mucus or other bodily fluids, in which case they will be sent home that day

• Infants:
  • If all infants are napping at once, cribs and cots need to be spread out as follows:
    • 4 in crib room
    • 3 or 4 on carpet play area
    • South - 1 cot on tiled area outside nap room
• Toddlers and Preschool:
  • Cots will be placed as far apart as possible, and children will lie head to foot.
• Cots and cribs should not be placed under air vents. Be aware of this as you are placing the cots. Teachers should check the direction that air vents push the air, since it may not be straight down.

• Children should be seated as far apart as possible. Tables can be separated and moved apart.
• Teachers can take quick drinks of water during the day by pulling the face mask down or to the side and then putting it back in place immediately. They must then wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before doing anything else.

• Nursing will not be allowed in the classrooms
  • o At South: The mother will come to the door of the child’s classroom where the teacher will hand the child to her. The Mother’s Room will be used for breast feeding.
  • At North: The mother will come to the door of the child’s classroom where the teacher will hand the child to her. There is a lactation room in Café Med.
  • Lactation Rooms must be sanitized after each use.

• All toys remaining in classrooms must be able to be cleaned and sanitized easily
  • No soft toys
• If the teacher wants the children to use play dough, it must be individualized, so that each child has his or her own container. Otherwise sensory materials (sand, water, etc.) and art materials can be shared.
• Toys such as Legos and other plastic toys should be sprayed with bleach solution at the end of each day.
• Naptime can be a useful time to clean any toys and other materials that the children have been using during the day.

• Teachers and children can take their masks off while outside.

• If a parent has symptoms of COVID and requires testing, the child will not be able to attend the center until the test results are received.
• If a household member has tested positive for COVID-19, the child will not be able to attend the child care center for 5 days after their last exposure. The child must test 5 days after the household members’ symptoms appeared. If the positive family member has appropriately isolated, the child care return with negative test results.
• Teachers will be reminded of use of gloves
  • Wiping noses
  • When cleaning injuries and putting on bandaids
  • Diapering or helping in the bathroom
  • Preparing food
• Touchpoints in all bathrooms (children’s and adults’) will be sanitized after each use
• Spray bleach only after children have left the classroom for the day, not while they are present.
• Classroom windows should be left open when weather permits to allow fresh air to flow through the room.
• Fans will not be used in classrooms due to safety concerns as well as the forceful way in which they push air.
• ALL children will be closely supervised when washing hands to ensure the correct methods are used.

We will be consulting with the Health Department if anyone is exposed to COVID or is diagnosed with COVID.

• Teachers must maintain 6 feet of distance in any staff room while eating.