In consultation with Public Health, the Department of Education advises that all regulated child care operations can return to normal operations effective Wednesday, September 8.

The COVID-19 Child Care Operations Policy, which has guided regulated child care services amidst the pandemic, will no longer be in effect on that date, and all regulated early learning and child care services can return to normal operations as required by the Child Care Act, Regulations and Child Care Policy and Standards.

With the suspension of the Child Care Operations Policy, parents/guardians and operators may see the following changes:

• Restrictions on the number of parents that can enter the child care service at one time to drop off or pick up their children can be removed at the discretion of the individual child care service.
• During drop-off and pick-up, current general public health measures apply, including self-screening and not entering if unwell. The self-assessment tool used for child care centres and family child care homes should continue to be consulted.
• Regular handwashing and/or the use of hand sanitizer is required.
• Staff restrictions on moving between homerooms or child care services are removed.
• Field trips are now permitted and cohorts are no longer required to remain separate indoors or outdoors.
• Beginning and end of day mixing of groups or rooms can revert to allowable mixing under the child care policy.
• Public Health officials will follow-up directly with any confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases. Any unusual absenteeism or other concern should be reported to the local public health nurse.
• While masks are no longer required, they are still recommended. The department will continue to supply masks to child care services who request them.

This move coincides with the return of K-12 classes. Like the K-12 return to school plan, in the event that public health determines a region, community or specific child care service is moving to a high-risk scenario for COVID-19 transmission, some or all of the COVID-19 measures may resume for impacted services until the risk of transmission returns to low.

Operators and staff are encouraged to maintain any and all supplies including masks and face shields procured for COVID-19 safety in the event of a shift to high-risk, and to ensure continued access to hand sanitizer and other cleaning products for all children and staff.

All regulated child care services should continue to follow the most up-to-date public health and infection control guidelines related to COVID-19.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19. For general inquiries related to available government services, please email covid19info@gov.nl.ca.

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Media contact
Tina Coffey
Education
709-687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca