Health Guidance for Childcare Programs, Summer Programs and Afterschool Programs
The Department of Health has released guidance for programs providing child care services effective June 1st. For child care, summer and afterschool programs that are open during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to minimize the risks of spreading the coronavirus. The guidance is designed to maintain health and safety standards requirements and physical distancing directives while providing much-needed services.
This guidance includes group size information for child care centers and summer day programs effective June 1, and includes a maximum classroom/care area size of 25 individuals. We anticipate that, if the data holds, that size limit will align at that time with the size limits that will be put in place for public gatherings, and regardless we believe the 25 person size limit will be appropriate in this setting in light of the many health and hygiene requirements that we have put in place.
Child care programs currently operating for children of essential persons will continue to follow the Health Guidance for Childcare and Schools Providing Childcare for Essential Persons (Revised April 5, 2020) through May 31st, 2020.
Availability of Non Contact Thermometers
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has prioritized several groups as receiving a non contact infrared thermometers, child care programs are a group that are prioritized. The thermometers are coming in slowly and are being distributed by child care licensing staff as soon as they are available. Programs without a non contact infrared thermometer will be prioritized to receive one. We will reach out to you as thermometers become available.