Operating Information
Ratios
The ratios for centers and family child care programs have returned to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no longer restrictions from the State of California or Alameda County Public Health on group size or mixing. However, every child care program is different and may be employing some efforts to maintain stable groups or reducing mixing among groups of children.
Masks
In Alameda County, as of June 24th, 2022, the use of face coverings is now strongly recommended in child care indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Masking Tips for Children Flyer (CDPH)
Considerations include:
Never place face masks on babies or children under 2 years of age because it poses a danger and risk for suffocation.
Children should not wear face masks while sleeping.
Providers must ensure the use of face masks does not cause children to overheat in hot weather.
Social Distancing
There is no current guidance mandating social distancing in child care settings. However, it is recommended to keep 6 feet of distance between children and staff when unmasked during eating, drinking, and sleeping. It also helps to have outdoor meal times if space and weather allow. Staff should follow Cal/OSHA ETS for physical distancing requirements.
Ventilation
All child care settings should follow the recommended CDPH interim guidance for ventilation, filtration, and air quality which can reduce the spread of COVID-19. Recommendations on maintaining quality air flow in a child care setting are also available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Recommendations on purchasing air filters from the Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council are also helpful.
COVID-19 Screening
There is no current guidance mandating COVID-19 screening. However, it is a best practice to continue to conduct daily screenings for COVID-19 with the children in your care. The Alameda County Office of Education has this screening tool that can be used.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfection can reduce the spread of germs. Follow the CDC’s guide to cleaning and disinfecting your child care facility or family child care home.
And see the State of California Department of Public Health’s Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs for more details.
Infant Care
Children under two should not wear masks and caring for infants and toddlers means that you cannot socially distance. But, it is possible to follow COVID-19 safety practices with some changes. When possible, protect yourself by following these recommendations by the CDC:
Wash your hands frequently.
Wash your hands, neck, and anywhere you have been touched by a child’s body fluids.
Avoid touching your eyes while holding, washing, or feeding a child.
If body fluids get on the child’s clothes, change them right away, whenever possible, and then your hands should be rewashed.
Wash your hands before and after handling infant bottles prepared at home or in the facility.
When diapering a child, wash your hands and wash the child’s hands before you begin, and wear gloves. Follow safe diaper changing procedures.
After diapering, take off gloves and wash your hands (even if you were wearing gloves), and disinfect the diapering area with a fragrance-free disinfectant that is EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a sanitizing or disinfecting solution. If other products are used for sanitizing or disinfecting, they should also be fragrance-free and EPA-registered. If the surface is dirty, it should be cleaned with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Parents and Volunteers
Supporting families while adhering to state and local protocols and best practices related to COVID-19 safety can be challenging. Here are some tips:
Communication: Ensure that all families understand the safety protocols in place at your child care facility or family child care home.
Volunteering and Visiting: Review and update rules for visitors and family engagement activities to reduce the risk of infection, including the strongly recommended use of face masks while indoors unless required by the local public health department, and any other health and safety protocols that have been established. For further information please review CDPH's Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs.
Understand the Law: More information on what rules (vaccinations, visiting, payments) can legally be put in place by private child care centers and family child care homes can be found on the Child Care Law Center's Frequently Asked Question page.