Background:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services (ODJFS) is working to ensure that children continue to be
safe in child care settings and that the rules reflect guidance from the Ohio
Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This
permanent rule will replace the emergency rule filed on August 25, 2020.
The following rule is effective May 9, 2021.
New Rule:
5101:2-18-03.1 "Transitional Pandemic Requirements for
Approved Child Day Camps" is a new rule that is being enacted with the
following guidelines:
- The approved child day camp is to follow all of
the day camp requirements of Chapter 5101:2-18.
- The child day camp is to follow updated
handwashing procedures for all administrators, child day camp staff members,
employees, and children. The child day camp may use non-permanent sinks to meet
the handwashing requirements of this chapter.
- The administrator, child day camp staff members,
and employees may use hand sanitizer after handling chemical products.
- The child day camp is to also assess for
temperature and the COVID-19 symptoms listed in appendix A to the rule and
follow all isolation or quarantine protocols.
- Isolation or quarantine protocols will be
completed in coordination with the local health department or in compliance
with the Ohio department of health (ODH) and United States centers for disease
control and prevention (CDC) guidelines.
- The child day camp will ensure that all
administrators, child day camp staff members, employees, and children wear a
face covering that covers the individual’s nose and mouth while indoors, unless
not medically or developmentally appropriate.
- The child day camp provider will report all COVID-19
positive tests to their local health department and to ODJFS.
- There
are new procedures if the child day camp needs to divide a room into smaller
spaces to serve multiple groups of children.
- The
transitional pandemic rule is valid until the governor of Ohio rescinds the
state of emergency and/or directs ODJFS to return to full child day camp
requirements.
The most recent version of all ODJFS forms referenced in this
rule can be accessed through Forms
Central.
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.