Parents should screen their children for symptoms daily, including screening for fever, symptoms, and exposure. Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) Child care See afull list of COVID-19 symptoms. Check the full list of symptoms from the CDC. on PAs Department of Human Services (DHS) website, on PAs Department of Education (PDE) website, Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC), Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), Pennsyvlania Head Start Association (PHSA), Promoting Inclusion & Reducing Expulsion and Suspension. Visit designated Resource Hubs for masks, tests, and information: Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates to your phone. Next Steps Child care providers must: Read this Announcement and share with appropriate staff. The CDC's The Acting Secretary of Healths Order will be effective Sept. 7, 2021. Anyone with symptoms who has not yet received their test result yet should also stay at home. All COVID-19 cases (student or staff) must be reported to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. To assist child care providers with continued compliance with these requirements, OCDEL has may return to school after exposure if they are under 2 with masking of those who surround the students (staff and others who are over 2) for 10 days. There are many opportunities forvaccination in Philadelphia. The Department will consult with you on management issues for your facility. A. (Day 0 is when symptoms began or if no symptoms, when a positive test result was received.). ECEs should expect a response from the Pediatric Partnerships team for completed surveys in the case of missing or incomplete information, need for further investigation, or to facilitate and intervention in the form of testing. equipment or execute a task as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace Facilities who do not have access to the COVID Data Anyone with symptoms who has not yet received their test result yet should also stay at home. Sunset: July 1, 2021, Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP), Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service (OMHSAS). For medical advice, call your healthcare provider. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. The staff member waiting with the student should wear a N95, KN95, or KF94 mask or should double mask. when transmission levels are medium or high in the community and masks are recommended. Sign up for one or more newsletters available from OCDEL and/or Pennsylvanias Promise for Children. If the Health Department determines that masking is necessary for schools, masking is strongly recommended for indoors throughout the school and on school busses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated information for COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs, as of Jan. 28, 2022, which include updated guidance to reflect new quarantine and isolation guidance and recommendations, specifying the circumstances when isolation and quarantine periods can be shortened, and As the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia evolves, there may be additional changes to the guidance, so please connect to the COVID-19 texts (text COVIDPHL to 888-777) to have the most up-to-date information. Schools should designate an isolation room or area for anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals who have been exposed and are able to mask no longer need to quarantine but are required to mask for 10 days following the exposure. Longer closures may be recommended for an entire school or specific cohort (e.g., an entire grade) when the large numbers of cases or close contacts present logistical and safety concerns. pertinent laws and regulations and general health and safety.. While the risk of monkeypox to children and adolescents is low, schools and ECEs should take the same precautions that are utilized to stop the spread of other infectious diseases. staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Persons who meet the following criteria do NOT need to quarantine: How long does a close contact need to quarantine? of in-person interaction. When necessary to confirm the individuals identity. Reach out to us for more information: (215) 685-5488 OR email covid.schools@phila.gov. Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K-12 Schools is an additional helpful tool that may be used to determine close contacts in schools. must mask to stay in school, ideally with rapid or molecular testing* within 48 hours and again on or after day 5. Face masks help to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Certification reps will continue to cite programs for failure to report cases of COVID-19. OCDEL Releases Updated Child Care Guidelines During COVID-19 | June 28, 2021 these are now located in the PD Registry. drinking, playing an instrument that would be obstructed by the face covering; or, Participating in high intensity aerobic or anerobic activities, including during a physical We strongly recommend flexibility and accommodations for staff who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as those 65 years and older and those with weakened immune systems. Health as specified in Chapter 27, or to a While the risk of monkeypox to children and adolescents is low, schools and ECEs should take the same precautions that are utilized to stop the spread of other infectious diseases. For medical advice, call your healthcare provider. To find early childhood education (ECE) job opportunities, visit the Job Search page. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The staff member waiting with the student should wear a N95, KN95, or KF94 mask or should double mask. Isolation: Separates an individual who is sick with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. Guide for Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case in Schools, Responding to a COVID-19 Outbreak in Schools, Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K-12 Schools. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. facility include the Department of DOH Webinar: Plans and Processes for K-12 Schools During COVID-19, 2021-22 Academic Year, Back to School Toolkit from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and CDC, CDC: Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases. PA-HAN 619 for additional information on quarantine periods. To get the most from their education, children need to connect with peers and their surroundings in-person. ECE facilities should follow the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) protocols where applicable, including reporting requirements. enrolled children when there is a Rapid antigen tests are preferable to PCR when used to detect current infection for those with recent history of COVID-19 infection. Recommendations for 1 to 2-day closures may be provided when schools need additional time to identify, notify, and exclude close contacts. Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure CONTINUE PRECAUTIONS 10 Full Days You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed Take Precautions Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public 1 Keystone STARS Re-Visioning What the CDC's latest COVID-19 quarantine recommendations - ABC News The definition of school entity in the Order Please enable scripts and reload this page. (reps) conducting inspections or complaint investigations will cite child care facilities operating out of As much as possible, hold performances, practices, and lessons outdoors. If an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should not enter the facility. This guidance gives some flexibility for schools to look at the transmission rate in their area and the unique variables of their community to make decisions about which strategies to use to stop transmission. Built on a solid foundation of trust and respect, the Pennsylvania Key strives to provide reflective and responsible services across the Commonwealth. Promoting Inclusion & Reducing Expulsion and Suspension staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Should a high number (~10% or more of school population) test positive, the Health Department recommends universal masking for the entire population. Masking should be maintained for 10 days after exposure. Ensure facility has updated contact information (including date of birth, phone number, home address, grade level, and cohort) for all staff and families to facilitate contact tracing and rapid communication. OCDEL developed this guidance based on recommendations from the CDC and DOH and it is Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Human Services | Office of Child Development and Early Learning 333 Market Street | 6th Floor | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17126 | 717.346.9320 | Guide for Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case in Schools | For Healthcare Professionals: Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 When to Isolate well-fitting mask around others at home where possible. Sunset: Sept. 30, 2021, Announcement 20-15:Changes to Policy Regarding Parents/Caretakers Caring for Their Own Children in a Child Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic In order to continue supporting child care providers through the closures and reopenings resulting from COVID-19, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that all policies and procedures identified in ELRC Announcement 20-17 will continue. MAIN PHONE: 1-844-569-7253 (toll free) Installing filters with minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) of 13, or the highest compatible with the filter rack. In-person instruction and learning for all ages coupled with physical, behavioral, and mental health services offered in schools and ECEs not only benefits students, but also parents, families, and communities. For those who wear a single mask, a surgical mask is preferred instead of a cloth mask alone. be used to flag new information for providers. Schools may use other criteria to determine if a suspension of in-person learning is necessary for their local school community. Early Learning. Individuals may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others. Anyone at high risk for severe illnessshould consider wearing a mask indoors in public and takingadditional precautions. If a school is experiencing an outbreak or a rise in cases, the school can contact DOH or their local CMHD if additional guidance on outbreak response is needed. Services. When working alone and isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation Maintain a cleaning schedule of cleaning surfaces within the school and on school busses regularly to reduce the risk of germs being spread by touching surfaces. Make sure you have all the vaccines you are eligible for atCDCs vaccines schedule at-a-glance (PDF). Sign up for one or more newsletters available from OCDEL and/or Pennsylvanias Promise for Children. Strongly encouraging universal and correct use of face masks when indoors for all staff and students 2 years of age and older: when staff and students return from 5-day isolation and masking is strictly required on days 6-10. for 10 days when staff and students are exposed. Anyone at high risk for severe illness should consider wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions.