Our health and wellness policy continues to apply during a pandemic or communicable disease outbreak, however, additional restrictions may apply, based on government / licensing officer directives. This may include, but is not limited to, extending our required at-home “symptom free” time period following any symptoms or requiring children with symptoms – even if they are feeling well and have plenty of energy – to remain at home. Just Peachy Child Care will be extremely hesitant to allow children to attend care if they are showing any symptoms of the COVID-19. Any temporary changes to our health and wellness policy during a pandemic / outbreak will be communicated in writing, and will inform you as to the authorized source of information that our temporary change is based on.
Health Canada has strongly recommended everyone to take every precaution available to help slow down this virus and keep our most vulnerable safe. All families are expected to complete a daily health screen before leaving home to come to care. Thrive BC has a helpful digital self assessment tool found at https://bc.thrive.health/, you can also call 811 or your family Doctor if needed. Please also discuss with me any symptoms your child is showing, prior to them attending care, and we can decide together what steps to take.
In the event that the Ministry of Health provides another regional or provincial quarantine recommendation for individuals – be it due to international, provincial or regional travel linked to potential exposures, or linked to individual symptoms, Just Peachy Child Care will require all families and children to comply with this recommendation. In the event this occurs, the Ministry of Health will provide our child care program with written information; this recommendation will be shared directly with families. These exclusions will apply equally to all children, families and employees.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold. COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe. Sometimes people with COVID-19 have mild illness, but their symptoms may suddenly worsen in a few days. Research shows that some symptoms are more likely related to COVID-19 than others.
Key symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Loss of sense of smell or taste
Difficulty breathing
Other symptoms may include:
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Runny nose
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness
- Body aches
- Diarrhea
COVID-19 Symptoms In Children
Children may show COVID-19 symptoms differently than adults. For example, fatigue may show in children as poor feeding, decreased activity, or changes in behaviour.
Take your child to your nearest emergency department or call 911 if they:
– are having difficulty breathing
– have blue lips or skin, or appears very pale
– Have red and/or swollen lips or tongue
– are coughing excessively, particularly with a fever
– are vomiting excessively, especially if there is blood in the vomit
– have diarrhea and vomiting, is not producing tears, and has not urinated for several hours
– Have a high fever, appears very sleepy, and have not improved with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
– are under three months of age and has a fever of 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F) or greater
– have pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
– there is new confusion
– are unable to wake or stay awake
– have severe abdominal pain
– have a spreading rash
Parents and guardians should be aware that with the current age group of the daycare it will be extremely difficult to ensure 6ft distance is being maintained at all times, however despite best efforts children will be in close contact with others.
Extra precautions being taken during the Covid-19 Pandemic:
– Parents please only enter into the cubby room during drop off and pickup. If you MUST come into the centre for any reason, please leave your shoes at the door. Pickup and drop-off of your children must be staggered with other families to maintain social distancing. For the Infant and Toddler Centre; please do not enter the cubby room if there is another family inside already. For the 3 – 5 centre; please only two families in the cubby area at a time while maintaining social distancing.
* for the I/T program: between the times of 8:00 – 8:30 and 4:00 – 4:30 when only one staff member is here, we ask that you drop your child off at the gate in the hall so we are able to supervise the children in the playroom properly.
- All adults are required to wear a mask while indoors.
- Adults must sanitize their hands upon entering the facility. There is sanitizer located inside the door (at both centres). Please make sure your child uses it prior to heading into the playroom.
- Keep your child home if they are unwell or if anyone in household is displaying signs of COVID-19.
- If anyone in your home must be quarantined, your child will not be permitted to attend care until the quarantined person(s) have been cleared via Public Health
- In the event that the child or someone in your home does test positive for COVID-19, your child must remain home from care until all symptoms are gone and a negative COVID -19 test as been completed.
- If you or your child has been in contact with anyone requiring quarantine, your child will not be permitted to return to care for two weeks after the contact was made.
- If you are planning on travelling outside of Canada, your child will not be permitted back at Just Peachy until 14 days after their arrival home.
- Sunscreen must be applied prior to drop off. Subsequent applications will happen when needed. Gloves will be worn to apply sunscreen and will be changed between each child.
Just Peachy Child Care will continue to stay diligent with cleaning and sanitizing of toys and surfaces, water bottles, bedding, etc. but will increase cleaning measures when necessary using a Ministry of Health approved sanitizing solution, while in operation.
This includes but not limited to:
– Wiping down all high traffic/touched surfaces and door handles two times a day or when necessary.
– Sanitizing toys regularly and immediately if put in mouth.
– Spending extra time after hours Cleaning and Sanitizing
– Increasing hand washing and sanitizing and using direct teacher instruction with children to continually promote healthy hand washing habits.
– Encouraging children to sneeze or cough into a Kleenex or their bent elbow and not into their hands
* these can also be encouraged at home! Please talk to your children about germs and the importance of handwashing.
Families need to be aware that the we are dependent on the health of our staff and children to stay open. We can only stay open if we have the proper staff to child Ratio. 1:4 in the toddler centre and 1:8 in the 3-5 centre. It is extremely difficult to retain a substitute these days.
Thank you for your understanding while we all navigate this together.
Just Peachy Childcare 