Infectious Disease Prevention Policy

Jul 3

Sprouts Learning Center strives to maintain a clean and sanitary environment to decrease the spread of illnesses. Our center will be cleaned daily and kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Sprouts Learning Center will use a non-toxic, hospital-grade cleaning product registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a sanitizer for all of our equipment. Sprouts Learning Center will adhere to the cleaning and sanitizing schedule provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The following policies will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

Preventative Measures

Temperature/ Illness Screening

The center shall immediately send home any child or administrator, childcare staff member or employee who has a temperature of one hundred degrees or higher.
The individual shall not return to the center until he or she has been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least twenty-four hours.
Any child or administrator, childcare staff member or employee who shows signs of illness will not be permitted to attend Sprouts Learning Center until the symptoms subside and illness is no longer present.
If an individual has had known contact with someone confirmed or probable to have COVID-19, prior to returning to the center he or she must complete isolation or quarantine procedures for COVID-19 in coordination with the local health department.

Hand Washing

Licensed childcare staff members, employees, and children (24 months or older) shall wash their hands (for no less than 20 seconds) at the following times when applicable:

Upon arrival for the day.
After breaks and upon returning from outside.
After using the restroom or assisting a child in the restroom.
After each diaper or pull-up change.
After contact with bodily fluids, spills, or objects contaminated with bodily fluids.
Prior to eating, before serving or preparing food or bottles.
Before feeding a child.
Before and after completing a medical procedure or administering medication.

Children who are unable to stand by themselves will be assisted by a childcare staff member and will be given a wet paper towel and soap to wash and rinse their hands.

Sanitization & Routine Cleaning

Click here to view the ODJFS schedule for cleaning and sanitizing items https://emanuals.jfs.ohio.gov/pdf/pdf-forms/2-12-13APXA.pdf

Click here to view the National Health and Safety Performance Standards schedule for cleaning and sanitizing items

https://nrckids.org/files/appendix/AppendixK.pdf

Frequently Touched Surfaces

Cleaning with soap and water reduces the number of germs, dirt, and impurities on the surface. Surfaces will be cleaned using soap and water.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces. Surfaces will be disinfected after the use of soap and water.
High touch surfaces, such as chairs, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, faucets, sinks, play equipment, etc. will be frequently cleaned and disinfected. Countertops, highchair trays, keypads, tablets, touch screens, toilets, tables, and changing surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Toys

Toys that can be put in the mouth or toys that have been visibly soiled will be cleansed and sanitized after each use.
Toys will be sprayed down with an appropriate disinfectant solution after each use and again at the end of the day.

Soft Surfaces

Soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes will be cleaned with cleansers appropriate for use on these surfaces.
Soft items will be laundered (if possible) weekly or when soiled, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Laundry

Clothing, towels, linens, and other items will be laundered weekly when soiled and before the use of another child.

Outdoor Areas

Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning but do not require disinfection.
High touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings will be cleaned routinely.

Reporting and Responding

In the event that a Childcare Staff Member or Child has Tested Positive for COVID-19

If an administrator, employee, or childcare staff member employed by the center or a child enrolled in the center tests positive for COVID-19, the program shall:

1) Notify ODJFS and the local health department where further action concerning the operation of the facility, including if and how long the facility should be closed for a public health assessment, cleaning, and disinfecting, can be determined.

2) Notify parents immediately.

3) Continue to act upon the sanitization and disinfection procedures set forth by the CDC and ODJFS.

4) Ensure that the person completes isolation or quarantine procedures for COVID-19 in coordination with the local health department prior to being permitted to return to the program.

Watch for symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: