Pandemic Child Care COVID-19 Checklist

COVID-19 Information and Checklist on Pandemic Child Care

Responding to COVID-19

Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, MPH, is ordering all child care services closed as of 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020, unless they have a Temporary Pandemic Child Care License issued by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Exempt are facilities that stay open to operate a U.S. Department of Agriculture food service program but do not continue to provide child care services.  

Availability at operating centers will be limited and children of people in certain essential fields will be given priority.

For child care providers

Additional requirements:

• There should be no more than six children in a class/room.
• Ratios must be kept at one teacher to no more than six children.
• Children whose parents who have the same employer should be kept together whenever possible.
• The same teachers and children in each room should be maintained whenever possible.
• There should be limited use of shared space or mixing of groups.
• If shared space is used, a rigorous cleaning schedule must be in place.
• Parent interaction should be limited at drop off and pick up

Centers are required to submit an application for a temporary pandemic child care center license to ODJFS and meet licensing requirements For an application and additional information, please visit http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/CoronavirusAndChildcare or call 1-877-302-2347 option 4.

For parents

Now through Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the following professionals without alternate care may enroll:

• Hospital and clinic staff
   
• Dentists
   
• Pharmacy staff
   
• Nursing home, elder care, and home health care workers
   
• Psychologists
   
• Psychiatrists
   
• Mental health counselors
   
• Developmental disability aides
   
• First responders (police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians)
   
• Direct service workers (child care, children services, public assistance, and adult protective services workers)

After Tuesday March 24, 2020:

Enrollment will be open to all other essential staff. For more information on who is essential please refer to the stay-home order.

Parents will be required to fill out an enrollment form and an addendum, describing the nature of their employment. A list of approved providers and enrollment forms can be found at http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/CoronavirusAndChildcareForFamilies.

Parents who find safe and healthy alternative child care options during the pandemic should do so as soon as possible to keep children out of group settings. Parents should not leave children with an elderly person, because this population is at higher risk of serve complications from COVID-19.

Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, strongly recommends that all operating child care programs take the following actions: 

• Conduct training for staff on handwashing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, and cough etiquette. Clean all surfaces multiple times daily.
   
• Implement handwashing routines among all children and staff upon arrival, before and after eating, before and after any outdoor play time, and at the end of the day.
   
• Separate children and staff who have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) from others and send them home as soon as possible.
   
• Prepare to cancel care if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your program (child or staff). Plan for environmental deep-cleaning with EPA-approved products.
   
• If care is suspended, work with your local health department to make sure there are continuity plans for any meal, medical, or social programs provided through the program.

For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)

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Protect yourself and others from COVID-19 by taking these precautions.

• Stay home 
• Practice Social Distancing
• Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals
• Wash hands often with water and soap (20 seconds or longer)
• Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry your hands
• Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
• Clean and disinfect "High-Touch" surfaces often
• Call before visiting your doctor
• Practice good hygiene habits 

If you have questions regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 please call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)

CLEAN ALL "HIGH-TOUCH" SURFACES EVERY DAY

High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

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