The highly transmissible delta variant has spread far more quickly and infected more younger people, including children, than the other variants. With nearly 500,000 new cases of COVID infections in children, childcare providers are more pressured than ever to keep their centers and daycares safe for children in their care to prevent coronavirus outbreaks that only lead to temporary COVID-19 closures.
Here are 5 preventative elements and measures that could help childcare providers protect children while in their care and curb the spread of Coronavirus delta variant among the youngest and most vulnerable segment of the population.
Sinks
More than frequent application of sanitizers and alcohol, proper hand washing is still the best preventative measure against spreading coronavirus.
Having a sink right in the classroom can encourage children to more frequently wash their hands.
A handwashing activity or protocol can also instill the habit of handwashing on children early on.
Masks
Masking for any child above the age of two is still recommended. Especially when children are in an indoor environment.
This prevents airborne particles from entering their system and prevents them from catching the virus.
To maximize mask protection, advise parents to choose a well-fitted mask that covers the child’s nose and mouth.
Moreover, regardless of their vaccination status, all staff and children over 2 years old must practice masking for better coronavirus prevention.
Ventilation
As masks can still feel stuffy when worn for a long period of time especially for children, good ventilation can keep them comfortable.
A continuous flow of fresh air carries potential virions out of the classroom and into the outdoors.
Opening windows and doors can help a lot in ensuring there’s proper air circulation in a classroom.
If upgrading your ventilation system is out of the budget, putting fans that face opposite directions can aid in promoting ventilation.
Place one fan facing indoors and another one facing outdoors for continuous air circulation.
Vaccines for adults
As vaccination cannot be mandated, childcare providers must do what they can to encourage their unvaccinated staff members.
From educating them on the science behind vaccines to rewarding vaccinated staff, there are ways to help your unvaccinated staff overcome their vaccine hesitancy.
If you are hiring, it can also be a requirement on your part to ensure that incoming staff are well-protected against the virus and will be less likely to contract a severe case of the virus.
The New York Times also reported that the most vaccinated states tend to have the lowest children infected and hospitalized due to COVID-19.
This clearly demonstrates adult vaccination is a way to protect children from being infected.
Regular testing
As kids still cannot be vaccinated and their robust immune system helps handle coronavirus well, regular testing is the only and best way to detect who has the coronavirus.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 4.9%-17.8% of children tested ended up being positive for the virus.
And as the number of children infected increases, it is critical to test and detect those infected children, especially the asymptomatic.
While children’s immune system is naturally more robust, they can still be carriers of the virus and infect unvaccinated childcare staff.
These are just a few preventative elements or measures childcare providers can put in place to protect children in their care. While young children are still ineligible to receive the vaccines, adults surrounding them such as childcare providers must do whatever they can in order to protect them and prevent them from catching the coronavirus. This not only benefits the children cared for but also the childcare businesses that can continue operating despite and in spite of the raging pandemic.
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