Respiratory Outbreak Infection Control - Child Care Facility Checklist

• Start line listing and send every workday by 10 a.m.
• Reinforce handwashing.
• Review basic hygiene principles, including respiratory etiquette.
• Inform parents of outbreak status, including new registrants.
• Ensure appropriate signage at all entrances and in strategic locations within the daycare.
• Encourage staff and children to remain in designated areas, when feasible.
• Limit staff movement between daycare sites/sections.
• Isolate symptomatic children until parents can pick them up.
• Exclude ill children and staff until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
• Follow the COVID screening recommendations regarding masking.
• Increase routine cleaning and disinfecting, with special attention to commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails, sinks, and toilets.
• Respect the steps of cleaning and disinfecting:
  • Step 1: Clean with soap and water.
  • Step 2: Rinse with clear water.
  • Step 3: Disinfect respecting the contact time of your product and rinsing recommendation.
• Clean toys daily.
• Remove toys that cannot be cleaned and disinfected (such as paper books, stuffed toys, cardboard blocks, etc.).
• Close common sensory bins.
• Cancel culinary activities with the children.
• Cancel outings and inform guests of outbreak status.

During confirmed influenza outbreaks:

• Encourage influenza immunization for staff, children, and their families.
• Consider permitting only immunized guests.
• Provide the Eastern Ontario Health Unit with:
  • Number of immunized staff/total number of staff
  • Number of immunized children/total number of children

NOTE: Additional control measures may be recommended depending on the cause of the outbreak.