COVID-19: CLASS HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS & PROCEDURES

As of July 2021

 

In accordance to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance for Day Camps

 

Day camps are required to follow all existing worker health and safety requirements as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and its regulations, public health requirements as directed by the local medical officer of health, and other relevant requirements as outlined in policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries. Plans must also be in place to respond should any staff, participant, and/or parents/guardians be exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH & SAFETY:

1. Ensure all current infection prevention and control practices are adhered to. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Ensuring all toys and equipment used are made of material that can be cleaned and disinfected, or are single use and are disposed of at the end of the day;
  • Minimizing the sharing and frequency of touching objects, toys, equipment and surfaces, and other personal items;
  • Increasing the frequency (minimum twice a day) of cleaning and disinfecting objects, toys, equipment and frequently touched items;
  • Cleaning and disinfecting, at least twice daily, frequently touched surfaces. These surfaces include doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, electronic devices, and tabletops;
  • Only using cleaning and disinfectant products that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Low-level hospital grade disinfectants may be used;
  • Checking expiry dates of cleaning and disinfectant products used and always following the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensuring that the product used is compatible with the item to be cleaned and disinfected;
  • Performing and promoting frequent, proper hand hygiene (including supervising or assisting participants with hand hygiene). Hand washing using soap and water is recommended over alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) for children.

2. Encourage physical distancing of at least 2 metres between participants, parents/guardians and staff by:

  • Spreading participants out into different areas;
  • Spreading furniture, equipment, and activity stations out into different areas;
  • Using visual cues (signs, posters, floor markings, etc.)
  • Incorporating more individual activities or activities that encourage more space between participants;

3. Operate programs in consistent cohorts of no more than 20 individuals including both staff and participants who stay together throughout the duration of the program, with the following considerations:

  • While close contact may be unavoidable between members of a cohort, physical distancing and general infection prevention and control practices will still be encouraged, where possible;
  • Face coverings (non-medical masks) should be used if physical distancing of at least 2-metres cannot be maintained between cohorts;
  • Face coverings may not be tolerated by everyone based on underlying health, behaviour issues or beliefs. Consideration will be given to mitigating any possible physical and psychological injuries that may inadvertently be caused by wearing a face covering (e.g. interfering with the ability to see or speak clearly, or becoming accidentally lodged in equipment the wearer is operating);
  • Face coverings should be changed if visibly soiled, damp or damaged.
  • Education will be provided about the safe use, limitations and proper care (e.g. cleaning) of face coverings;
  • Cohorts cannot mix with other cohorts;
  • Programs that utilize a room/space that is shared by cohorts or has other user groups must ensure that the room/space is cleaned and disinfected before and after using the space. A cleaning log will be posted and used to track cleaning;
  • Each cohort will either have designated equipment or we will clean and disinfect equipment between cohort uses;
  • Personal belongings brought to the program should be minimized. If brought, personal items (e.g. backpacks, clothing, water bottles, food, devices that support alternate communication methods, etc.) should be labelled and kept in an area designated for the individual’s cohort, and should not be handled by individuals from other cohorts;

4. We will avoid getting close to faces of participants, where possible.

5. We will avoid singing activities indoors.

6. We will not use water or sensory tables for activities.

7. We will not plan field trips and/or activities requiring group transportation.

8. We will not plan activities with exposures to animals or pets that involve frequent touching by different participants.

9. We will not plan activities that involve participants in preparing or serving of food.

10. If meals or snacks are brought by the camp participant:

  • We will ensure participants and staff perform proper hand washing before and after eating;
  • You must ensure any drink bottles brought from home are labelled. We will ensure it is kept with the participant throughout the day, and not shared;
  • We will ensure each participant that has brought a snack is not sharing common food items (such as condiments, salt/pepper shakers).
  • There will be no open access dishware available for use;
  • The agency’s multi-use utensils are not to be used;
  • Reinforcement of “no food sharing” policies;
  • Physical distancing will be maintained while eating.

11. Pick-up and drop-off of participants should happen outside the program setting unless it is determined that there is a need for the parent/guardian to enter the setting.

12. Pick-up and drop-off procedures should support physical distancing and coherting using strategies such as, but not limited to: avoiding group transportation, having one designated parent/guardian pick-up and drop-off each camp participant, staggering entry, or limiting the numbers of people in entry areas.

 

SCREENING:

13. All individuals, including camp participants, parents/guardians, staff and visitors must be screened either at home prior to arrival. Entry will be denied to any individual who has any of the symptoms outlined below, or who has come in close contact with a person with symptoms of or confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Program participants, in particular, will be monitored for atypical symptoms and signs of COVID-19.

If you or your child are experiencing any of the following symptoms of COVID-19, you will be denied entry:

  • Fever (temperature of 37.8°C or greater)
  • New or worsening cough
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • New olfactory or taste disorder(s)
  • Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
  • Runny nose, or nasal congestion - in absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip, etc.
  • Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia

Atypical symptoms/clinical pictures of COVID-19 should be considered, particularly in children, older persons, and people living with a developmental disability can include:

  • Unexplained fatigue/malaise/myalgias
  • Delirium (acutely altered mental status and inattention)
  • Unexplained or increased number of falls
  • Acute functional decline
  • Exacerbation of chronic conditions
  • Chills
  • Headaches
  • Croup
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children (Presentation of this may include persistent fever, abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) and rash)
  • Unexplained tachycardia, including age specific tachycardia for children
  • Decrease in blood pressure
  • Unexplained hypoxia (even if mild)
  • Lethargy, difficulty feeding in infants (if no other diagnosis)

14. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol content will be placed and available upon entry. Dispensers will not be placed in locations that can be accessed by young children.

15. Participants who are ill are not permitted to attend the program. Signage will be posted to remind staff, parents/guardians, and other visitors.

16. Upon receiving our registration form, parents/guardians must provide us with at least two available emergency point of contacts so that we are able to notify parents/guardians in their child begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while in class. Immediate pick-up will be required, and the student will be isolated until pick-up.

17. Daily record will be kept of anyone entering the agency. This includes their name, contact information, time of arrival/departure, screening completion and date). This is required to be kept up-to-date to facilitate contact tracing in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case or outbreak.

 

MANAGEMENT OF PARTICIPANTS WITH SUSPECTED COVID-19:

18. If a participant begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 while attending a program:

  • Symptomatic participants will be immediately separated from others in a supervised area until they can go home. In addition, where possible, anyone who is providing care to the participant should maintain a distance of at least 2 metres.
  • If a 2 metre distance cannot be maintained from the ill participant, advice from the local public health unit will be necessary to prevent/limit virus transmission to those providing care.
  • We will be contacting the local public health unit to notify them of a potential case and seek advice regarding the information that should be shared with other parents/guardians of participants in the program.
  • While contacting public health, at minimum the camp participant and staff member will be required to wear a surgical/procedure mask (if tolerated), and the staff member will also be required to wear eye protection (goggles or face shield).
  • Participants will be reminded of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette while waiting to be picked up.
  • Tissues will be provided to the participant to support proper respiratory etiquette, along with proper disposal of tissues.
  • Environmental cleaning/disinfection of the space and items used by the program should be conducted once the participant has been picked up. Items that cannot be disinfected will be removed from the program and stored in a sealed container for a minimum of 7 days.
  • Participants with symptoms should be tested (see “Testing for COVID-19 section below for details).
  • Other participants and staff who were present while a participant or staff member became ill will be identified as a close contact and further cohorted (i.e., grouped together). Public health will provide any further direction on testing and isolation of these close contacts.
  • Participants or staff who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded from the program setting for 14 days.

 

TESTING FOR COVID-19:

19. Symptomatic staff and participants should be referred for testing. Testing of symptomatic persons should only be performed as directed by the local public health unit as part of case/contact and outbreak management.

  • Those who test negative for COVID-19 must be excluded from the program until 24 hours after symptom resolution.
  • Those who test positive for COVID-19 must be excluded from the program for 14 days after the onset of symptoms and clearance has been received from public health.

20. Day camps and programs must consider a single, symptomatic, laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff member or participant as a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak in consultation with public health. Outbreaks should be declared in collaboration between the agency and public health to ensure an outbreak number is provided.

21. Participants or staff who have been in contact with a suspected COVID-19 case will be monitored for symptoms and further grouped together until laboratory tests, if any, have been completed or until directed by public health.

22. Staff members and participants awaiting test results who are symptomatic or have been advised to self-isolate by public health will be excluded from camp. Other staff and participants awaiting results may not need to be excluded.

 

REPORTING OF PROBABLE OR CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19:

23. We will contact public health to report a participant probable to have COVID-19. Public health will provide specific advice on what control measures should be implemented to prevent the potential spread, and how to monitor for other possible infected staff members and participants.

 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY:

24. Written measures and procedures for staff safety, including for infection prevention and control, are provided to staff.

25. The staff member is required to wear a medical grade face mask during camp hours.

26. If a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, the staff member must remain off work for 14 days following symptom onset, and has received clearance from public health.

27. If a staff member is a close contact of an individual diagnosed with COVID-19, the staff member must remain off work for 14 days from last exposure.

28. Public health will advise the staff member as to when they can return to work. Staff members should also report to their point of contact at the agency prior to their return to work.

29. If the staff member’s illness is determined to be work-related, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, the employer must provide a written notice within four days of being advised that a staff member has an occupational illness, including an occupationally-acquired infection, or if a claim has been made to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) by or on behalf of the staff member with respect to an occupational illness, including an occupational infection, to the:

  • Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
  • Joint health and safety committee (or health and safety representative); and
  • Trade union, if any.

30. Any instances of occupationally acquired infection shall be reported to WSIB within 72 hours of receiving notification of said illness.

 

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT & AGENCY-ISSUED RESOURCES ABOUT COVID-19:

The Ontario Ministry of Health is providing consistent updates on the provincial government’s response to the outbreak, including:

  • Status of cases in Ontario
  • Current affected areas
  • Symptoms and treatments
  • How to protect yourself and self-isolate
  • Updated Ontario news on the virus

Public Health Ontario is providing up-to-date resources on COVID-19, including:

  • Links to evolving public health guidelines, position statements, and situational updates
  • Synopsis of key articles updating on the latest findings related to the virus
  • Recommendations for use of personal protective equipment
  • Information on infection prevention and control
  • Testing information
  • Other public resources

 

OTHER COVID-19 RESOURCES:

Health Canada outlines the actions being taken by the Government of Canada to limit the spread of the virus, as well as what is happening in provinces and communities across the country. It also maintains a live update of the number of cases by province.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is updating the latest guidance and information related to the global outbreak and spread beyond Canadian borders.

It also provides the most up-to-date information on:

  • Current research and development around the virus
  • A COVID-19 situation “dashboard”
  • Emergency preparedness measures
  • Live media updates on the spread of the virus