Pandemic Policy

​  Public Health Measures: We will follow all measures and guidelines put forth by the British Columbia Ministry of Health as well as Interior Health.
 
Personal Measures:  Actions taken to protect oneself and others
  1. If a member of any household has been out of province and is isolating the child will also need to stay home. If a member of any household is ill the child will also need to remain home. 
  2. Illness policies will be strictly adhered to. If a child or staff is displaying symptoms related to the illness they will be asked to remain at home until they have been assessed by a doctor and are cleared to return to the centre and their symptoms have subsided.
  3. Caregivers will ask parents at drop off about their child’s health to ensure they do not have a common cold, influenza, COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.
  4. If a child or staff becomes ill at the centre they will be removed from the group and required to wear a mask (unless under 2 years of age) until they can leave the center.
  5. Parents or caregivers must pick up within 1 hour if their child is ill.
  6. Children and staff will be required to wash hands (with plain soap and water) upon entering the center, after using the washroom, returning from outdoor play, before and after meals and any other time deemed necessary. Soap and water will be used as the primary method of washing hands. There will also be hand sanitizer at the centre when needed for staff usage as well as to bring on field trips if the children do not have access to a sink.
  7. Children will be encouraged to play individually or in small groups to limit direct physical contact as much as possible.
  8. Group sizes will be limited when possible (meal times staggered, children split between indoor and outdoor play).
  9. Help children learn about physical distancing by encouraging to ‘keep hands to themselves’, ‘give space’, ‘cough and sneeze in their sleeves’. Older children can play games that help encourage this as well.
  10. Parents will be required to provide all food to limit meal preparations at the centre. There will be no heat ups done during this time.
 
Environmental Measures: Physical changes in the centre to reduce the risk of exposure
  1. All toys that are unable to be washed or sanitized will be removed from the floor.
  2. All Toys (indoor and outdoor) will be cleaned thoroughly each day. Larger toys such as bikes can be cleaned between each use.
  3. High touch surfaces (door knobs, light switches, faucets, chairs and tables, sinks and toilets etc.) will be cleaned at least twice a day and more frequently when time allows or when needed.
  4. A bleach and water solution will be used for all disinfecting of surfaces and toys.
    1. Bleach solution is 20ml to 990ml of water for toilets, change areas and cleaning up bodily fluids
    2. Bleach solution is 10ml to 980ml of water for disinfecting surfaces
  5. Barriers will be erected between beds when children are sleeping in close contact.
  6. All bedding and sleep stuffies will remain at the centre and be washed by staff each week or more often as needed.
  7. Children will be provided with ample time outdoors (weather permitting) to limit the risk of exposure.
 
Administrative Measures: Implementation of policies, procedures, training and education.
  1. Parents will be informed of all policies and procedures surrounding the pandemic.
  2. Implement physical distancing strategies amongst children and staff
    3.   Drop off and pick-ups will take place outside to limit the amount of people within the centre. Families will be         encouraged to designate one parent for drop off and pick-ups.