News
Updated Guidelines for Private Daycares
2020-03-25
In alignment with the revised directives issued by the Government of Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is advising private daycares with 5 children or less that they can resume operations, provided they take the required infection control measures.
“The new directives issued by the provincial government state that private daycares with 5 children or less can remain open as they are classified as an essential service,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. “These daycares, provided they follow our infection control directions, are therefore exempt from the Order of closure I issued on March 22nd which called for the immediate closure of all daycares and other childcare centres and services.”
Please consult the list below for a summary of infection control guidelines that exempted private daycares must adhere to:
- Perform daily health assessments and exclude ill children
- Perform daily health self-assessments and close daycare if operator becomes ill (in this case, both the operator and parents of children in care must contact the EOHU for guidance)
- Put in place enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection practices
- Implement social distancing measures (staggered pick-up and drop-off times, as well as staggered activity times)
For the complete list of infection control measures that must be implemented, daycare operators can consult the infection control guidance documents on the EOHU’s website at www.eohu.ca/en/my-community/2019-novel-coronavirus-information-for-schools.
The situation regarding the closure of establishments is rapidly evolving as the province balances the provision of essential services for the public with the need to isolate individuals as much as possible to contain the spread of COVID-19.
