Coronavirus Safety for Children: Choosing a Summer Camp or Daycare – Part 1
As many states either flatten the curve or determine that their economies cannot survive continued closures, many parents are faced with the difficult task of having to find either summer camps or childcare as they return to the office or other workplace. While the first recommendation, whenever possible, is to keep children home until the pandemic is over and it is absolutely safe to gather without masks and social distancing, some people do not have this option. For those who must return to the physical workplace or for other reasons need or insist for their children to enroll in camp or daycare, the following list should be a helpful starting point for determining the practices and procedures to look for when selecting a summer camp or childcare facility during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Covid-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze, and is likely also spread when hands are contaminated from surfaces that contain the Covid-19 and the virus is ingested by touching the face, nose, or mouth.
Monitoring Procedures. First and foremost, the summer camp or childcare facility should have well defined and implemented procedures for detecting infection or illness and tracing those who came into contact with the infected person. Make sure that procedures are in place to educate and constantly remind staff, campers, and families about when to stay home or keep their child home due to illness. Policies should be such that staff can stay home and families can keep children home without fear of reprisal or losing their money. Policies and tracking should be in place such that those who are ill are not allowed to return until it is safe to do so.
Cohorting. According to the CDC, the more people a person comes into contact with and the longer the interaction, the higher the chance of being infected with Covid-19. Therefore, camps and childcare facilities should have policies in place to keep the children in small groups and at least 6 feet apart. Each group should have dedicated staff members who remain with the group throughout the day. Whenever possible, campers should not be allowed to mix between groups or share objects.
As much as possible, children should be required to bring their own supplies and activity equipment to avoid cross contamination. Each child’s belongings should be regularly cleaned and kept in separate cubbies or boxes to avoid contamination. Any shared items should be cleaned and disinfected after each use, and the summer camp of childcare facility should have procedures in place to make sure this is done and to track who is responsible for doing it.
While this is not an ideal situation for children, it lessens the chance of infection and it isolates any infection that might occur to lessen the number of children and staff who come into contact with an infected person.
Maximizing Outdoor Time. The lowest risk of infection with Covid-19 occurs when people are outdoors and remaining at least 6 feet apart. So, in choosing a summer camp or childcare facility, it should be imperative that the building and other physical facilities are such that the children can safely spend a good part of the day outdoors and keep 6 feet distancing as much as possible. Likewise, schedules should be mostly centered around activities that take place outdoors.
Enforcement of Face Coverings and Proper Hygiene. The CDC recommends cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Cloth face coverings are not highly effective for preventing oneself from being infected with Covid-19, but they are effective (especially when combined with physical distancing) to prevent an infected person from transmitting Covid-19. Therefore, parents should be sure that the summer program they select has a policy that requires adults to wear face coverings as much as possible (whenever legal) and that the policy is strictly enforced. This is especially so when physical distancing is not possible.
Face coverings should not be placed on children under the age of 2 or on anyone who is incapacitated or has breathing trouble, but all other children should where face coverings
Hand washing is highly effective to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from surfaces. Therefore, the camp should have signs for staffers and teach or refresh proper handwashing techniques as part of the children’s activities. Staff and children should also be constantly reminded of the proper way to put on and remove face coverings. It is important to avoid touching the front of the covering during these processes. The face coverings should always be placed on and removed using either the ear loops or the string behind the head.
The summer camp facility should be well stocked with soap and water, and children and staff should have scheduled handwashing when feasible. If soap and water are not available, CDC guidelines recommend using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol for staff and older children that can safely use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer stations should be placed throughout the facilities, both indoors and outdoors.
Staff and children should be reminded to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and to move away from other persons whenever possible before coughing or sneezing. After coughing or sneezing into a tissue or hand, the tissue should be thrown away immediately and the hands washed or sanitized.
Ventilation, Modified Layouts, and Proper Cleaning. According to the CDC, circulation of outdoor air as much as possible is desired. Therefore, a facility that can (and will) safely open windows is desired over one that cannot bring in fresh air from outdoors.
Since physical distancing is one of the safest ways to prevent spread of Covid-19, both indoor and outdoor camp facilities should be set up such that staff and campers can sit at least 6 feet apart.
Last but not least, camp should have frequent, scheduled cleanings of frequently touched surfaces, play equipment, napping mats, and vehicles. Cleaning products should be EPA approved for cleaning surfaces infected with the coronavirus and used in a manner that does not harm those present.
While there is no way to 100% avoid infection with Covid-19 when staying home is not an option, we can all work toward lowering the chances of infection. Hopefully, the tips listed above are helpful in making sure your child stays as safe as possible when going to summer camp or a childcare facility.
Stay tuned for Part 2.