Background:

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recently revised their guidelines to protect against COVID-19 in child care and educational settings. As a result, the prescribed form JFS 08087 "Communicable Disease Chart" has been updated to amend the response guidelines for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Per Chapters 5101:2-12, 5101:2-13 and 5101:2-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code, the JFS 08087 must be posted in the child care center, family child care home and approved day camp.

New Guidelines for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) as stated on the JFS 08087:

EXCLUSION

Children and staff with a positive test or signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 shall be excluded until criteria to discontinue isolation has been met. For the latest criteria, please visit the Schools, Child Care, and Colleges section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html

QUARANTINE

Quarantine at home may be recommended for close contacts of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, depending on vaccination status and previous disease history. For details on quarantine recommendations, please visit the Quarantine and Isolation section of CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html. For school specific considerations, please visit the Schools, Child Care, and Colleges section of CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html.

CONTROL

Encourage vaccination of eligible persons, unless contraindicated. Isolate children who begin to show symptoms while in the building away from others when possible, in an isolation room if available. Recommended prevention measures include adequate ventilation, modifying spaces to allow better distancing, handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfection (EPA List N). Additional measures (e.g., masking, physical distancing, cohorting, etc.) may be recommended under certain situations. Your child care program or school might need to implement additional procedures if an outbreak occurs. If an outbreak is suspected, work with your local health department to determine next steps. Further guidance can be found at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html.

REPORTING

Report to the local health department as described in the Ohio Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Control Manual: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/infectious-disease-control-manual/section3/section-3-coronavirus-disease-2019.  Vaccine available. Please check with local health department regarding eligibility guidelines.

Implementation:

Programs will not be required to order the revised chart. Programs must print this procedure letter and post it next to the chart to meet compliance with the Ohio Administrative Code.  Programs may order a new chart once they become available in the warehouse.

Questions:

Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at childcarepolicy@jfs.ohio.gov or 1-877-302-2347, option 4, if you have any questions.