COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for St. Paul’s Childhood Center
This COVID-19 Child Care Preparedness & Prevention Plan (The Plan) details SPCC’s policies and procedures for employees, families and children, to be followed during the COVID-19 pandemic. All information provided is to be followed until notice of its end is shared via email and posting in common areas of the program. These policies and procedures are created by SPCC and follow the required guidance and regulations of DHS Licensing, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control, and addresses:
prompt identification and isolation of sick persons
handwashing and respiratory etiquette
engineering and administrative controls for social distancing
housekeeping, including cleaning, disinfection and decontamination
customer (family) controls and protections for drop-off and pick-up
communications and training that will be provided to employees
management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan
** PLEASE NOTE: Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, will follow all MDH guidelines regarding
quarantines, testing, travel and social distancing specific to fully vaccinated people.
Contents
Click on a bulleted header below to read more about our new policies relating to that topic.
Handwashing
Handwashing routines, especially upon arrival, after having been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing will be reinforced. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Dispensers are located in the main entry, Great Hall and Outdoor Classroom. Bottles are located in each classroom. Ensure children are supervised when using hand sanitizer and that it is inaccessible to them when not in use. CDC guidance on handwashing can be found at:
SPCC Policy:
● All adults entering the facility must wash hands before leaving their home or workplace on their way to the program and are required to use hand sanitizer immediately upon entering the facility before using the sign in/out kiosk. Use on the way out is also recommended.
● Children will be directed to wash hands at drop off upon entry to their classroom.
● Employees are required to use hand sanitizer upon arrival and departure in the entry, as well as hand washing when entering or leaving a classroom.
● Employees are also required to wash their hands before mealtime and meal service, before and after diaper changes or using the bathroom themselves, after close contact with families at drop off or pick up and periodically throughout the day.
● Handwashing procedures are posted at all handwashing sinks.
Cleaning & Disinfecting
Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, hallways, the break room, the Great Hall, and drop-off and pick-up locations. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, door handles, railings, copy machines, etc. MDH and CDC guidance for frequent cleaning and disinfecting can be found at:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/clean.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
SPCC Policy:
● A contracted professional cleaning service comes daily after hours to clean and sanitize as well as follow a regular cleaning schedule.
● There are regularly scheduled times for employees to disinfect common areas and frequently touched surfaces daily using a QUAT ammonium solution.
● Classrooms use a QUAT ammonium solution on high touch surfaces when leaving spaces and will continue to use the three-step (soap-rinse-bleach) process for regular cleaning and sanitizing in the classroom.
● Shared materials that are not easy to clean and disinfect are moved to a “used” basket once handled and set away for a minimum of 48 hours.
● Classroom materials are limited and changed out regularly.
● Children are encouraged to "wave your hands in the air!" or keep hands on hips, when coming out of bathrooms and walking in hallways to avoid touching surfaces.
● Hand sanitizer is available in all rooms, and dispensers available in common areas.
● If a family member feels there has been contamination of any space or piece of equipment they must report this to an employee immediately for appropriate disinfecting.
● Should an employee or child that has been present in the facility be diagnosed with COVID-19, the entire area where they have worked/attended will be cleaned, sanitized and left to air out before others are allowed back in the space. All common spaces will be cleaned and disinfected as quickly as possible within the working day.
Arrival & Departure
Daily health screenings are completed each day to assess the health status of employees, children and families. Employees use various screening measures in their assessment at drop off and will continue to observe and assess throughout the day. Family presence will be limited and distanced throughout the program.
SPCC Policy:
● Teachers ask about symptoms on the COVID-19 Exclusion Decision Tree during their initial health assessment at drop off and will monitor for these symptoms throughout the day.
● Temperatures are taken upon arrival in the classroom and periodically throughout the day.
● Only one adult per family is allowed in the building for drop off and pick up, and families should attempt to keep this the same person.
● Families must use hand sanitizer upon arrival and departure.
● Families must drop off and pick up from the classroom door and may not enter the classroom. If there is an adult at the classroom door already, other adults must maintain a distance of 6 feet whenever possible.
● Any in-person communication must be extremely brief.
● When dropping off or picking up outside:
○ Families of infants and toddlers may walk to the gate of their outdoor classroom space for drop off or pick up.
○ Families of preschool and school age children must drop off or pick up at the main outdoor classroom door.
○ Masks must be worn and distance maintained from other families moving through the space or waiting for their children.
● Employees facilitate handwashing with children inside the classroom at drop off.
● Conversations with teachers or other adults must be brief, all other communication can be via email or phone call.
● Breakfast time is extended to spread out drop off time, now being served between 8:00am-8:30am. Please arrive not later than 8:30am to be served breakfast.
Plans For Sick Children and Employees
Employees and families have been informed of, and are self-monitoring for, signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Employees and families are asked to pay close attention to their own health as well as that of their children and household members. Daily health checks assess the status of employees and children prior to entering the program and throughout the day. Strict procedures and exclusions will be followed. Exclusion guidance for when employees, children and families should stay home when sick can be found at:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/exguide.pdf
Testing locations can be found here:
https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/index.jsp
CDC guidelines for quarantine can be found at: COVID-19 Quarantine Timeframe Guidelines
SPCC Policy
● Information describing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 have been shared with employees and families digitally via email, and fliers have been posted in common spaces around the building.
● Daily health screenings are required for each employee and child checking for symptoms listed in the COVID-19 Exclusion Decision Tree.
● Employees and families must report a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, or a direct exposure to someone with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, to SPCC administrators via phone or email. Administrators will follow guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health per each individual case, including to whom the positive case should be communicated. Contact information for all employees and families is kept on file.
● Employees must text message and/or call administrators’ cell phones if they are sick or experiencing symptoms while at home or during the work day.
● If an employee cannot leave work immediately when presenting excludable symptoms they will be isolated in the staff lounge until they are able to go. Hallways will be cleared of others during their departure. All applicable spaces will be cleaned and sanitized after they have left the building.
● An employee who presents excludable symptoms is required to get tested within 24 hours of presenting symptoms. If an employee has a direct exposure they must get tested 5-7 days after the exposure. Employees must use a community testing site, or a site of their choice that is known to complete results within 24-48 hours. If an alternate choice of clinic or testing site is used, Employee is responsible for cost as long as community sites are free.
● If a child is presenting excludable COVID-19 symptoms (see COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance) while at SPCC, an employee will call the family immediately to come pick them up. The child will be isolated with an employee in the staff lounge or admin office until a family member arrives. When picking up a sick child, families are asked to call SPCC or text an employee to walk their child out to them in the parking lot. All applicable spaces will be cleaned and sanitized after they have left the building.
● Employees and children with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis/test result must stay home/quarantine for as long as recommended by their physician or the Minnesota Department of Health, whichever is longer.
● Employees and children who are exhibiting excludable symptoms must stay home/quarantine for as long as recommended by their physician or the Minnesota Department of Health, whichever is longer OR they may receive a negative test result or a physician’s note diagnosing symptoms as something other than COVID-19 and clearing them for a return to work/school. They may only return if there has been no other direct contact/exposure.
● If there is a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in the home of an employee or SPCC family, all household members must stay home/quarantine for as long as recommended by their physician or the Minnesota Department of Health, whichever is longer.
● If families or employees have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days and have close contact with someone with COVID-19, quarantine is not required if ALL of the following are true:
○ Their illness was confirmed with a positive lab test in the past 90 days.
○ They have fully recovered.
○ They do not currently have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Even someone who has recovered should still continue to stay 6 feet from others, wear a mask, wash their hands often, and follow other precautions. Find more information here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/close.html
● All other regular illness exclusions still apply.
● No personal or identifying information about an employee or family, in regards to their health status and health information, will be shared outside of administrative communication by the program unless required by the Minnesota Department of Health.
● For those who receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we will follow all MDH guidelines regarding quarantine and testing of fully vaccinated people.
Wages and tuition during exclusion
St. Paul’s Childhood Center has implemented leave policies that promote employees staying at home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider or the Minnesota Department of Health to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household.
SPCC Policy:
● Employers are no longer required to provide paid leave through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights, however SPCC will allow employees to carry over any existing balance from 2020 to be used in 2021 for qualifying circumstances.
● Should an employee choose to travel or participate in activities that are not recommended by MDH or CDC they may not use FFCRA paid leave for any time missed from work due to the subsequent required quarantine.
● Information about paid leave can be found here:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
● Families that must keep their child home due to COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis or recovery will continue to be charged their regular tuition.
Special accomodations for employees
Accommodations for employees with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions have been implemented.
SPCC Policy:
● Employees with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions may request special accommodations to stay home and. Accommodations are not guaranteed. Requests will be reviewed by administration and determined on a case by case basis.
Social Distancing
Social distancing is required of adults and encouraged of children. Employees and families are prohibited from gathering in groups while indoors, including hallways, and from sharing personal protective equipment. Scheduling and use of program space is adjusted to distance as much as possible. Information about social distancing can be found at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html
SPCC Policy:
● Employees maintain distance from those outside of their classroom group.
● Classrooms are practicing safety drills separately with no gathering in common areas or groups passing in the hallways at the same time.
● Transition times will be communicated between classrooms to avoid passing through the hallways at the same time.
● Outside visitors will be allowed inside on a case by case basis, only when they are fully vaccinated; all masking and distancing guidelines will be followed.
● Enrichment classes are in-person now that music instructor is fully vaccinated; masking and distancing guidelines are followed.
● Children are encouraged to give air fives and air hugs, as well as walking with hands in the air or on their own bodies when walking in the halls.
● Limit the number of employees in the staff lounge or resource room at a time, keeping a minimum of 6 feet between seating. Doors and windows are kept open when weather permits.
● Employees are utilizing all spaces of the school to spread out classrooms into smaller group sizes throughout the day.
● Employees stay out of the kitchen as much as possible, but if they must pass through they will keep distance between themselves and other employees, especially the cook, and limit interactions to a quick hello in passing.
● The cook follows all required health and safety measures in the kitchen, delivers meals to the classroom doors and maintains distance at all times.
● Cots and table seating are spaced out as much as possible and spreading out is encouraged during active times.
● Unvaccinated employees should isolate as much as possible outside of the program and limit contact with others and are advised to avoid public spaces while on their break but should wear a mask if they must enter a public space.
● Families are asked to isolate as much as possible outside of the program and limit contact with others.
● Families and employees must quarantine for 14 days after attending any gathering of more than 10 people who are from outside of their household. Employees may not use FFCRA paid leave hours for this quarantine. (See policy above regarding wages.)
● Families who nurse at school must follow specific protocol (provided upon request) and enter only through the crib room door with notice to employees.
Minnesota guidelines can be found here:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html
Source Control & Cloth Face Coverings
Masks and cloth face coverings are an essential piece for mitigating the spread of the virus butare most effective if it can stay in place without being pulled on or touched by the person wearing it or others. Within this context adults are required to wear masks/cloth face coverings while in the program as much as possible, recognizing the development needs of the children in their care. Children should not wear cloth face coverings unless they can reliably wear, remove, and handle the cloth face covering throughout the day. Cloth face coverings should NOT be put on infants or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. Face covering guidance is available here:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/masks.html#child
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
SPCC Policy:
● Face masks and cloth face coverings are provided for employees upon request to Administration. Families may also make a request to any SPCC employee if they are not able to provide their own.
● Employees may remove their masks/cloth face coverings when sitting down eating meals, or during story times when a clear face shield is being used. Every effort is made to maintain distance during this time and cover coughs or sneezes appropriately. Proper mask doffing and donning protocol is followed. (Do's and Don'ts of Wearing Masks and Gloves)
● Masks should have multiple layers and must fit snugly against the face without gaps. If an employee is wearing a thin cloth mask or a mask that fits improperly, they will be asked to “double mask” (wear disposable mask under cloth mask). SPCC will also provide KF94 masks, which can be used in place of double masking.
● Families must keep their masks/cloth face coverings on at all times within the program, including the outdoor classroom.
● Preschool and School Age children are required to wear masks/cloth face coverings while attending the program. Details for masking procedures will be shared with children and families in those age groups.
*SPCC will make strong efforts to implement child masking policies but does have the option to choose the exemption for child care settings for children to not wear masks/cloth face coverings within the program. Should masking in these age groups cause more of a burden, or risk, than benefit the policy will be rewritten. Find more information about this exemption here:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/masks.html
● Posters with prevention techniques will be posted throughout the building.
● Gloves are also available in every classroom for health checks and hands on contact and are required for all usual times such as meal service, diapering and handling bodily fluids.Face masks are to be worn by all adult family members when in the building.
Vaccines and Testing
COVID-19 vaccines are being offered to child care workers by the state of Minnesota.
SPCC Policy:
● Employees who choose to get the vaccine will be paid for their time in transit and at the vaccine site, and also up to two days sick time if they experience strong symptoms caused by the vaccine.
● Employees who choose not to get the vaccine will be required to get a weekly COVID test and provide negative results before starting work each week.
Ventilation & Air Purification
To promote ventilation the amount of fresh air being brought in is being maximized as much as possible. Windows and doors will be kept open where/when possible, ceiling fans will be kept on and outdoor time will be encouraged. Air purifiers will be purchased for all classrooms.
SPCC Policy:
● Doors are left open in classrooms when possible and windows are opened for fresh air circulation regularly throughout the day.
● Doors are left open in the employee lounge and resource room, and windows when weather permits.
● Air purifiers will be purchased at a staggered rate until all classrooms have a set of two for maximum efficiency.
Playground Use
Outdoor classroom experiences will continue to be encouraged. Public playground use has been suspended for the time being, except for school age children. Visits will be communicated ahead of time and all health and safety precautions will be strictly followed. More information about playground use can be found at:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/playground.pdf
SPCC Policy:
● Handwashing or hand sanitizing procedures are followed before and after touching frequently used equipment outside.
● Materials that need disinfecting are limited, used under close supervision, and cleaned after use.
● Transition times are communicated between classrooms to avoid passing through the hallways at the same time.
● Each outdoor classroom space is used by only one class at a time and close interactions between groups is avoided.
Meals & Snacks
Regular mealtime procedures will continue in each group’s separate classroom and school age in the Great Hall.
SPCC Policy:
● Meal time will be set up with as much distance between children as possible.
● There is no “family style” service at this time.
● Employees are advised not to share food.
● No child water bottles or cups from home are allowed, except in the School Age program as appropriate for ages that can distinguish their own bottle and be responsible for its use.
Field Trips & Events
SPCC Policy:
● Neighborhood walks and off-grounds field trips have been suspended, except for School Age who limit trips and follow strict safety procedures.
● All family events have been cancelled until further notice.
Communications & Trainings
This Plan must be available to the Commissioner, offered to families, and must be posted in a prominent place and readily accessible to all employees who need to review it. Employees with concerns about their employer’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan or questions about their rights should contact MNOSHA Compliance at osha.compliance@state.mn.us, 651-284-5050 or 877-470-6742.
SPCC Policy:
● Training links and any updates to The Plan will be shared via email and posted in the employee lounge and front entry of the building. Updated information and training will be provided to new employees at the time of orientation and on a regular basis as information specific to the pandemic changes. All employees will sign off that they have read and understand the outlined policies and procedures each time they are updated.
● Instructions are communicated to families via email about how drop-off and pick up will be conducted to ensure social distancing between the families and employees, and other families. The Plan is also posted in the front entry way for easy access.
● Regular observations and checklists are completed to ensure everyone is following this plan.
● Updates will be shared via email and posted in common spaces.
● Employees are to monitor how effective The Plan has been implemented by checking in weekly to collect feedback to share with administration. Administration will adjust policies and procedures as needed.