2021-2022 ITC COVID Guidance and Protocols - Infant Toddler ...

2021-2022 ITC COVID
                                     Guidance and Protocols
  *amendments marked in red print- travel protocol 11/11/21
The COVID-19 virus still presents a risk to children and adults as we enter the 2021 school year.
Our first priority is the safety of the ITC community- the children, teachers and families. While
we will be reinstating some of the COVID practices at the beginning of the year, we know that
our protocols must remain fluid as the risks could fluctuate throughout our year. ITC follows
the guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH), Acton Board of Health, our licensing
agency (EEC) and the CDC. We have learned from this past year what practices work best to
mitigate COVID in our setting. Best practices like handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting along
with creating classroom cohorts all played a big role in keeping illness down. We found wearing
masks offered a layer of protection for children and teachers. Vigilant daily screening
prevented illness from coming into our community, keeping our center healthy and safe.
Families, administration, teachers and children will all have different roles in combating COVID
in our center.
All parents are asked to read the following COVID guidance and protocols and sign and return

              Only if we work together, can we mitigate COVID in our community.

the attached COVID-19 Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability.

To help mitigate COVID we will be implementing the following protocols
for the upcoming school year.
Expectations of Parents
Daily Health Screenings
   ● Parents are required to complete a daily health screening at home before arriving to
     ensure their child is well to attend group care. This shall include checking for symptoms
     including fever, cough, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms, new loss of
     taste/smell, muscle aches, or any other symptoms that feel like a cold. Anyone with a

fever of 100.0°F or above or any other signs of illness will not be permitted to enter the
       program.
   ●   Parents will be required to complete a daily online or written attestation regarding any
       household contacts with COVID-19, any symptoms (e.g., fever, sore throat, cough,
       shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, body aches or diarrhea/vomiting) in their
       child(ren), or if they have given children medicine to lower a fever.
       Your child will not be able to attend if they have any of the below symptoms that are
       listed on the COVID screening:

                      • Fever (temperature of 100.0F or above), felt feverish,
                      or had chills
                      • Cough
                      • Sore throat
                      • Difficulty breathing
                      • Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
                      • New loss of smell/taste
                      • New muscle aches

       The following symptoms, if observed in combination with the symptoms above, are
       cause for immediate isolation and exclusion from childcare:

              • Fatigue
              • Headache
              • Runny nose or congestion
              • Any other signs of illness

If your child has any of the above signs of illness we will require that you contact your child's
   pediatrician & a note or a negative PCR COVID test will be required to return to care. If a
 child becomes sick while at ITC, we continue to follow the protocols of isolation and asking
                           parents to pick up their child immediately.

                 CHILDREN MUST STAY HOME IF THEY ARE SICK.

Returning to School if Sick
Your child will be able to return to school once the following occurs:

1. A child that has a symptom of COVID will need either a Negative PCR
              COVID test or a Dr. note stating they are well enough to attend group care or
              return to school and their symptoms are not related to COVID. AND
           2. Follow our typical illness policy- Parents may not send their child to the Center
              when he/she is sick or has signs of possible contagious diseases (new cold, sore
              throat, fever, rash, and diarrhea). In addition, if a child is not well enough to
              participate in all the activities of the group, including outdoor play, he/she

  Any individual requesting access into our building will be required to wear a mask while
    inside ITC. Non-essential visitors will not be permitted entrance into the building.

              should not be at the center.
           3. The child should be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
 Please be advised we are unable to accept any antigen test results for COVID testing. The
 BOH states if an antigen test result comes back negative we would require a second PCR or
                         Molecular test to confirm negative results.

Drop offs and pickups

   ● Due to limited access to the infant and YT playground this fall, we will have some drop
     offs and pickups happen inside while others will continue to happen at the playground
     classroom doors.
         o Infants, Young Toddlers (YT), Mixed Toddlers and Preschool I (A&B) will all
            enter ITC through the lobby and will drop off and pick up at their child’s
            classroom doors in the hallway.
         o 2/3s and Preschool II (C&D) will continue to drop off and pick up at their child’s

For the upcoming 2021-2022 school year we will continue to ask parents to provide all food
 for their child (morning snack, lunch & afternoon snack). We will have backup snacks
          (crackers, cereal) for those times when snack may have been forgotten.

            playground doors.
   ● Teachers will be responsible for signing children in and out of the classroom each day.
   ● Parents are still required to apply sunscreen and bug spray before arriving at ITC.
   ● Hallway doors and windows will be open for ventilation during drop offs and pick up
     times.

FOOD

● Water bottles are highly encouraged and should be stored with your child’s lunchbox.
     Teachers will not keep water bottles stored together to limit cross contamination.

   ● We will continue to pause our milk program for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. If
     you wish for your child to have milk during the day, please provide that in a thermos.
     ITC has classroom fridges that can store milk thermoses but no other food items due to
     lack of storage space. The only room that stores food in fridges is the infant
     program. Thermoses that contain milk must be labeled with your child’s first and
     last name and be taken home daily.

COVID Sick Protocols
If A Child or Staff Test Positive For COVID:
ITC works with the Acton Board of Health and Department of Public Health for all COVID related
incidents. If an individual tests positive for COVID they must contact their local board of health
and follow health guidelines for Quarantining. At this time our protocol follows DPH guidance
as follows:
   ● Duration: Self-isolation for COVID-19 positive cases is a minimum of 10 days after
     symptom onset or after positive PCR test, if asymptomatic.
   ● Return to school: After 10 days and once they have:
        o Been without fever for 24 hours (and without taking fever-reducing
            medications); and
        o Experienced improvement in other symptoms; and
        o Received clearance from public health authority contact tracers (the local board
            of health or Community Tracing Collaborative).

Close Contact Protocols
A Close Contact is defined as anyone who has been within 6 feet of the infected person for at
least 15 minutes (cumulative). Quarantine begins on Day “1”. Day “0” is the last day of
contact.
UNVACCINATED: CLOSE CONTACT GUIDELINES:
   ● If a child or staff has been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of whether the individual
     has symptoms or not, the child or staff must not be permitted to enter the program
     space or must be sent home.
   ● May return after 10-DAY QUARANTINE IF:
          o Remain symptom-free AND

o Continue monitoring symptoms for 14 days.
   ● May return after 7-DAY QUARANTINE IF:
       o You provide evidence of a negative PCR/molecular test 5-7 days after last
           exposure to Close Contact AND
       o Remain symptom-free AND
       o Continue monitoring symptoms for 14 days.
VACCINATED: CLOSE CONTACT GUIDELINES:
   ● Monitor Symptoms starting on Day 1 and continue through Day 14. If symptoms occur,
     even mild, individual must contact their primary physician and follow guidance on
     testing and possible quarantining if advised by BOH or physician.
   ● Testing is not required for vaccinated individuals at this time.

     Reminder- Children and staff may not return to care while waiting for PCR test results.

Other Quarantining information:
   ● Release from isolation is under the jurisdiction of the local board of health where the
     individual resides.
   ● If a child’s household member or staff’s household member tests positive for COVID-19,
     the child or staff must quarantine starting the last time they could have been exposed.
   ● Any individual with an outstanding COVID test must follow testing guidelines and
     quarantine until test results are received. Any child that either has an outstanding test
     or has a family member with an outstanding test must not return to ITC until confirmed
     test results are known. This does not include family members who are required to
     complete routine testing for employment or schooling.

Reporting and Tracing
Karen Paskiewicz and Ulrika Shepardson are the contact persons for all COVID-19 related
concerns.

   ● If your child will be out sick, you are required to call ITC to inform them of any
     symptoms. Please remember to call with any absenteeism whether a fun home day or
     sick.
   ● All daily screenings will be kept on file at ITC and used to monitor any possible exposure
     or higher numbers of illness in our community.

● ITC, in partnership with the Acton Board of Health and our Health Care consultant, will
     evaluate procedures and protocols to reflect the most recent guidelines from the EEC,
     DPH and the CDC.
   ● If a Child or Staff Contracts COVID-19: ITC will require information from the parent or
     staff member to:
          o Determine the date of symptom onset for the child/staff.
          o Determine if the child/staff attended/worked at the program while symptomatic
              or during the two days before symptoms began.
          o Identify what days the child/staff attended/worked during that time.
          o Determine who had close contact with the child/staff at the program during
              those days (staff and other children).

We partner with our local board of health and our Health Care Professional on any questions
we have around COVID and the protocols we must implement.

Communication
   ● Confirmed positive cases: ITC will email the whole center (staff, teachers, families, and
     the ITC Board) of any confirmed positive cases of COVID while maintaining
     confidentiality and will contact the local board of health to start the contact tracing as
     well as our licensing agency.

   ● Potential/possible exposure: Individual classrooms will be informed of a
     potential/possible exposure along with the neighboring classroom if they share
     playground spaces or staff.

Travel Guidance
Travel guidance is subject to change to reflect the current condition of COVID cases and
recommendations of the DPH and CDC.
   ● Traveling by plane domestically- A negative PCR COVID test result taken after returning
     to Massachusetts will be required before returning to school.
   ● International travel will require waiting 5 days then testing for all vaccinated and
     unvaccinated individuals.
   ● Traveling by car- be sure all precautions are followed and no testing is required to
     return. As always, if you have any questions you can contact Ulrika or myself.

*UPDATED TRAVEL PROTOCOL (As of November 11, 2021)
   ●   DOMESTIC PLANE TRAVEL- With the anticipation of increased travel this holiday
       season ITC will ask any unvaccinated individuals to wait 3 days upon returning to
       Massachusetts (day of return equals day zero) to get a PCR test before returning to
       school. All vaccinated individuals can get a PCR test upon returning to

Massachusetts. ITC will only ask for test results of children/staff who are traveling to
      present a negative COVID PCR test result before returning.
  ●   INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL continues to require waiting 5 days for all travelers,
      including vaccinated individuals, to get a PCR test prior to returning to ITC. ITC will
      ask for all travelers within the family to present a negative COVID PCR test result
      before their child returns to ITC.
  ●   We do ask all travelers to follow CDC’s guidelines for safe travel and continue
      monitoring for symptoms for the full 14 days after return.
      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

What To Expect In Classroom:
  ● At this time, we are not mandating staff to be vaccinated. We take all precautions for
    vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals as young children are unable to be vaccinated.
    The recent findings with the Delta variant makes our decision to mask any individual
    who enters our building, one that supports children and staff.
  ● Classrooms will continue to stay in cohorts for at least the start of the school year.
    Limiting co-mingling among groups helps mitigate illness throughout the center. Co-
    mingling may occur in the near future outside on playgrounds if we see a decrease in
    COVID cases statewide. As of now, the DPH does not consider a close contact to be
    anyone, including unmasked individuals, outdoors within 3 feet.
  ● To support possible coverage needs for teachers’ absences and to support mitigating
    exposure throughout the center we have decided that the 2/3s, PSI & PSII classrooms
    will be considered a community between the 2 classrooms (2/3A & 2/3B, PSA & PSB,
    PSC & PSD). A teacher from the adjacent room may support breaks or coverage when
    needed. If coverage is needed for breaks, teachers will take every effort to protect
    themselves and others and are required to mask and support rooms with minimal close
    contact with children and other teachers as best they can. Community coverage is used
    in communities that possibly may share playgrounds together, which will be reviewed
    later in the school year with respect to COVID cases locally and statewide along with any
    changes from DPH and BOH. Infants, Young toddlers and Mixed Toddlers will continue
    to keep separate spaces indoors and out.
  ● For the beginning of the school year, playgrounds will be divided to mitigate co-mingling
    of classrooms while offering an outdoor space for all classrooms throughout the day and
    allowing children to adjust to their new spaces and daily routines.
  ● Masks will continue to be worn indoors for children 3 and up and all staff. Children 2-3
    will be required to wear masks when transitioning in hallways and will have
    opportunities to practice mask wearing while indoors. Teachers may remove masks
    outdoors but will keep a mask on hand to wear when socially distancing cannot be
    followed. Children will not be required to wear masks even when unable to socially

distance from others outside. This is subject to change depending on CDC, DPH and EEC
       guidance on outdoor mask wearing.
   ●   Classrooms will be set up to offer children opportunities for mask breaks while indoors
       by creating spaces near open windows and socially distant from others.
   ●   While socially distancing will be encouraged indoors, children in group care can not
       socially distance all the time. Our main proactive approach will be outdoors where more
       space is available to children.
   ●   Handwashing is our biggest defense against COVID-19 and other illnesses. Teachers will
       be supporting all children in their hand washing to ensure proper handwashing is
       implemented. How to appropriately wash hands will be posted at every sink.
   ●   Cleaning protocols are in place for cleaning and sanitizing/disinfecting common touch
       surfaces throughout the day-after transitions and at the end of days.
       Cleaning/disinfecting charts with frequency that follow the CDC and EEC guidelines are
       followed in all classrooms.
   ●   Snacks. Parents need to provide a morning and afternoon (if staying past 3) snack for
       their child. Snacks should come packed in an insulated, labeled lunch bag with a cold
       pack. Parents may choose to label what foods are for snack or lunch or provide a variety
       of choices. Teachers will support children in their choices of snacks available to them
       and in the younger age groups teachers will offer a variety of choices from your child’s
       lunch box.
   ●   Due to the new construction that will be happening in the farmhouse common spaces,
       Elaine’s room and The Big room will not be used this year. The library has been moved
       to part of the school age room while Elaine’s room is now temporary storage for toys,
       art and office supplies along with spaces for teachers to take breaks and work.
   ●   Windows will continue to remain open to support the flow of fresh air throughout the
       building.

Resources For Parents:
ITC follows the guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH), Acton Board of Health,
our licensing agency (EEC) and the CDC.
   Quarantine information from CDC
   https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-quarantine-information#learn-
   about-isolating-
   How to protect your unvaccinated family members from CDC
   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19/caring-for-
   children/families.html
   CDC safe travel guidance

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

    Infant Toddler Children’s Center COVID-19 Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World
Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from
person-to-person contact. In accordance with mandates and guidance from local, state and
federal authorities, the Infant Toddler Children’s Center (ITC) has put in place measures to
prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, ITC cannot guarantee that you or
anyone else will not become infected with COVID-19. Participation in an ITC program could
increase the risk of contracting COVID-19.

By signing this Release, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, voluntarily assume the risk that I or my child(ren) may be exposed
to or infected by COVID-19 by attending an ITC program and that such exposure or infection
may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, I expressly and voluntarily assume full responsibility for any injury, including
personal injury, disability and death, illness, damage, loss, claim, liability or expense that I or my
child(ren) may experience in connection with attending ITC. I understand that these risks may
be caused by ITC, its employees, parents, children, or other third persons at ITC. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, on my behalf of me and my child(ren), I hereby waive liability,
release, promise never to sue, forever discharge and relinquish any and all rights, claims,
demands, suits, actions, losses, damages, costs and expenses arising from or related to any
injuries or illness related to COVID-19. I understand and agree this release includes claims based
on the actions, omissions or negligence of ITC, its employees, agents, and representatives,
whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after attendance in an ITC program.

____________________________________
Name of Child Enrolled at ITC

____________________________________                  ___________
Parent/Guardian Signature                             Date

____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name