COVID-19 FAQ for Child Care Providers

Below are some frequently asked questions from providers who are operating throughout the pandemic. We’ve compiled answers using best practices from other providers as well as CDC guidance. If you have questions or feedback, you can discuss with other providers on Winnie or email us at support@winnie.com. Claim the free listings of your preschools or daycares on Winnie and add information there to let parents know about your COVID health and safety measures.

What do I do if a staff member or child in my program gets COVID-19?

The infected staff member or child has to stay home until they meet the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health department. Notify all employees of the exposure and have the ones that came in close contact with the infected individual stay home for 14 days. Notify all families of the exposure and have the families of exposed children (i.e. kids in the same classroom) keep their kids home for 14 days. Contact the Department of Public Health to report the cases.

If possible, you should wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting any spaces the infected individual was in to reduce exposure to respiratory droplets. Open doors and windows to allow air to circulate in those areas. 

What do I do if the parent of one of my children is exposed to COVID-19?

If a parent is exposed to COVID-19, ask them to keep their kids home for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19 to see if they have the virus. If the parent has tested positive for COVID-19, they should keep their kids home until the parent has met the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health department. If the parent tests negative and experiences no symptom, it is safe for their child to return to child care 14 days after the potential exposure.

What do I do if a staff member is exposed to COVID-19?

If a staff member is exposed to COVID-19, they should get tested for COVID-19 and return to work 14 days after the exposure if they experience no symptoms. If they experience COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, they must stay home until they meet the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health department.

What kind of information can I provide to families and employees when someone has COVID-19?

You can share information on which staff members or children may have been exposed, but you can’t say specifically which children or staff are sick when giving these notices.

What are best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in my daycare?

• Hand washing - Make hand washing breaks a regular part of your day. You should have sufficient supplies of hand soap and paper towels. Always wash hands after toileting or changing a diaper.
• Meals and snacks - Children should be separated at least 6 feet away from each other while eating and should not share food. Meals and snacks should be pre-portioned, not served family style.
• Sanitization - Routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. Sanitize bathrooms and diapering stations throughout the day. Common areas should be sanitized between groups.
• Supplies - Toys should be classroom specific. Where possible, children should get their own individual supplies to use (e.g. crayons, craft materials)
• Bedding - bedding and supplies for napping should not be shared between children and should be washed regularly.
• Ratios - Maintain small, consistent groups of children with the same staff members. Each group of children and staff member should be separate from other groups of children and staff members.
• Pickup and Dropoff - Stagger dropoff and pickup or do it curbside so that parents don’t enter the building. Parents and teachers wear masks upon pick up and drop.
• Masks - When adult staff members interact with each other or with parents, they should wear masks. Children need not wear masks and children under 2 should never wear masks as it’s a suffocation risk.
• Temperatures - Take the temperature of children and staff every morning. Anyone with a temperature of >100.4 should return home.