COVID Childcare Safety Protocols

Illness and COVID-19 Policies (last update, 6/1/22)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for ill or mildly ill children (regardless of what symptoms they are presenting with) is not allowed as part of the Smart Sitting Always On Babysitting & Back-Up care Program at this time.

Suspension of a care session is sometimes necessary to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If during a care session, a caregiver or anyone else present in the household becomes ill, you must relieve the caregiver and make alternate arrangements for supervision of your children within 1 hour of becoming aware of or notification of illness. 

DAILY HEALTH CHECK:

All caregivers, families, children and their household members must conduct a health check (including a temperature check) before any session. Should you or any household member have any of the following COVID-19-like symptoms during the preceding 10 days, you should not use the Always On Program and should notify us.

  • Cough

  • Sore Throat

  • Muscle Aches

  • Difficulty Breathing

  • New Loss of Taste or Smell

  • Fever at or above the threshold temperature of 100.4° F (or would have, but for the use of fever-reducers). 

Any household that has a household member who is symptomatic (including any immune individuals) must not use the Always On Program unless cleared to return by our COVID team.

Note: If the exclusionary symptom has already been cleared by the COVID team, then a “yes” to the continued presence of a cleared symptom will not result in exclusion.

Households must screen specifically for COVID-19 symptoms and households where those symptoms are present will be excluded from using Smart Sitting Always On for at least ten days unless the household provides an acceptable clearance for an earlier return.

Disclosure: 

If you have had a positive case of COVID in the home within the last 10 days, you must disclose that at the time of scheduling any activity that would lead to having one of our SmartSitters in your home. Failure to notify Smart Sitting and the scheduled SmartSitter will result in cancellation of your bookings and termination of your account without refund. Notify us immediately if you become aware of any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your household occurring within 14 days prior to or 48 hours after any session.

Exposure:

If, within the last 10 days, any member of your household has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, or any member of your household who is not immune (as defined below) has been in Close Contact with anyone who has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, then your household may not use the Smart Sitting Always On Program. For example, if a member of your household has been excluded from school due to a possible exposure, your household must not use Smart Sitting Always On until cleared for return.

HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: means anyone living or present in the household on a regular basis (e.g. houseguests, nannies, caregivers, home health workers, contractors, etc.)

INDIVIDUALS CONSIDERED IMMUNE: 

  • For vaccinated individuals: Two weeks after completing the full course of vaccination.

  • For previously positive individuals (with lab-confirmed case): for the ninety (90) day period commencing ten (10) days after the onset of symptoms, or, in the case of an asymptomatic individual, ten (10) days after the date tested.

CLOSE CONTACT: Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, 2 days prior to test date).

Factors to consider in determining Close Contact include proximity, duration of exposure, whether the infected individual was symptomatic and/or generating respiratory aerosols (e.g., was coughing, singing, shouting), and other environmental factors (crowding, adequacy of ventilation, whether exposure was indoors or outdoors). Masks are not a substitute for social distancing. Consequently, when determining Close Contact for members of the general public, the determination should be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE or fabric face coverings.

FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: The determination of Close Contact for the potentially exposed individual will consider the use of recommended personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g., gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified disposable N95 respirator, eye protection).

Returning after Exclusion or due to Symptoms:

All symptomatic individuals (including any immune individuals) who have been excluded under the Health Check and their household must not use the Smart Sitting Always On Program until cleared for return.

Positive Case: A positive individual may return when:

  • At least five (5) days have passed, however, because children cannot reliably mask, a child who has been positive may not return until at least ten (10) days have passed

  • Fever free at least 24 hours (without fever reducers)

  • Symptoms are improving

Exposure: An exposed individual may return provided:

  • Five (5) days have passed

  • Everyone in the household continues to be symptom-free

  • A child must provide certification of a negative test (antigen or PCR) taken on day 5 or later because children cannot reliably mask.

  • For anyone who chooses not to provide a test, they can return after ten (10) days have passed

  • If a child is exposed to a positive within the child’s household (regardless of testing) the child may not return until at least ten (10) days have passed

Symptoms: A symptomatic individual is excluded for ten (10) days, but may return sooner by providing one of the following:

  • Negative PCR (or other molecular) Test Result - for the symptomatic individual(s)

  • Early Return Certification of Negative Antigen Test Results taken day two (2) or after – for the symptomatic individual(s). Onset of symptoms is considered day “zero” and the symptomatic household is excluded from day zero until cleared

  • Medical Clearance: A medical provider assesses the symptomatic individual and provides acceptable clearance to return. Medical Clearance cannot be provided by a family member 

ALL CLEARANCES FOR EARLY RETURN (SYMPTOMS AND EXPOSURES) MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM. 

Early return requirements may change, from time to time, based on current conditions. 

Once all COVID-19 concerns have been cleared, all returns must still comply with standard (non-COVID) return requirements per applicable illness policies:

Standard Illness Policy: Mildly ill care is defined as temporary and non-progressive in nature. For example, the care recipient feels too ill to engage in normal everyday activities; however, does not feel so ill that he or she needs to stay in bed, and may need short rest periods until feeling better. The family member may have a low grade fever controlled by Tylenol or Ibuprofen* and is able to tolerate food and fluids. Care cannot be provided if a child:

  • has vomited in the past 24 hours

  • has a fever over 100.4

  • is experiencing extreme pain

  • has a highly contagious illness or ailment such as, but not limited to: covid-19, strep throat, hand foot mouth disease, pink eye, the flu, lice, etc.

Children who have seen or consulted with their pediatrician and have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours are no longer considered contagious and may be cared for by a SmartSitter.

If a SmartSitter determines that the extent of the illness is definitively greater than "mildly ill", they must be relieved within 1 hour.  

REPORTING SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED CASE IN HOUSEHOLD:

Notify us immediately if you become aware of any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your household occurring within 14 days prior to or 48 hours after any back-up care session.

MASKS Policies:

Adults: Adults MUST wear masks/face coverings when in the presence/same room as the caregiver, even if the adult is not in Close Contact with the caregiver. This guidance does not apply to adult care recipients who are:

  • Advised not to wear a face covering for health reasons;

  • Are unable to remove the face covering without assistance; or

  • Have severe asthma, breathing difficulties or other safety concerns.

Caregivers: Caregivers MUST wear masks/face coverings at all times when at a care session, except during a break or while eating (in each case, provided proper social distancing can be maintained).

Children: When in the presence of the caregiver, children 5 and over MUST wear masks/face coverings and children over 2 are RECOMMENDED to wear masks/face covering unless:

  • The child is interacting in online schooling activities, provided proper social distance from the caregiver is maintained

  • The child is unable to remove the face covering without assistance

  • The child has severe asthma or other breathing difficulties or safety concerns

  • The child has special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity

  • The child continues to remove the face covering or otherwise cannot wear the face covering safely and consistently

Face coverings should NOT be worn, but proper social distancing should be maintained:

  • While engaged in physical activities outside (unless otherwise required under local regulation)

  • If the face covering is wet or if the child is engaged in activities that may cause the face covering to become wet (e.g., swimming)

  • While eating at least 6’ apart from the caregiver

  • If the child is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated

Mask Exceptions: At the time of the care request and during the introductory call (if applicable), the family MUST note in the care request if a care recipient (adult, or child 5 and over) is unable to wear a mask due to one of the above-stated health and safety exceptions.

Dara Epstein