• Illness & COVID-19 Policies

    Updated March 2022

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    • General Illness Guidelines 

    • Per NC Childcare Licensing rules, White Plains Children's Center must exclude children from attending school if they have any of the following symptoms:

      - A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

      - Vomiting

      - Diarrhea

      - Is unable to participate comfortably in activities

      - Has symptoms that result in a need for care that is greater than the staff members can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children. 

       

      Children must be symptom-free for at least 24 hours, without the aid of medication, before returning to school. 

       

      More information regarding our Illness Exclusion Criteria can be found on pages 32-34 of the WPCC Family Handbook on our website here.

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    • COVID-19 Protocols 

    • In addition to the illness guidelines listed above, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, students who fall into either of the two categories listed below must have a negative PCR COVID-19 test or doctor's note before returning to school:

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    •  Summary Table for Returning to Child Care

      Category Scenario Criteria to Return
      Positive antigen test without symptoms Child/staff person has tested positive with an antigen test (including an at-home antigen test) but does not have or develop symptoms of COVID-19.

      If the child/staff person takes a repeat PCR/molecular test performed in a laboratory within 48 hours of his/her positive antigen test, and that PCR/molecular test is negative, the positive antigen test can be considered a false positive and the person can immediately return to child care; OR

      If the child/staff person does not take a repeat PCR/molecular test, or takes one within 48 hours and it is also positive, he/she can return to child care 5 days after the specimen collection date of the first positive test, as long as he/she did not develop symptoms. The person must continue to mask for an additional 5 days to minimize risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies. Isolation should begin starting from the date of his/her first positive test. The person is not required to have documentation of a negative test in order to return to child care.
      Positive PCR test without symptoms Child/staff person has tested positive with a PCR/molecular test but the person does not have and does not develop symptoms. Person can return to child care 5 days after the specimen collection date of his/her positive test as long as he/she did not develop symptoms. The person must continue to mask for an additional 5 days to minimize risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies.
      Positive antigen or PCR test with symptoms Child/staff person has symptoms of COVID-19 and has tested positive with an antigen test (including an at-home antigen test) or PCR/molecular test.

      Child/staff person can return to child care when:

      • He/she completes 5 days of isolation*; AND

      • It has been at least 24 hours since he/she had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); AND

      • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.

      The person must continue to mask for an additional 5 days to minimize risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies. The person is not required to have documentation of a negative test in order to return to child care.
      Symptoms without COVID-19 test or an alternative diagnosis Child/staff person has symptoms of COVID-19 but has not been tested for COVID-19 nor has visited a health care provider. Therefore, the person who has symptoms is presumed positive.

      Child/staff person can return to child care when:

      • He/she completes 5 days of isolation*; AND

      • It has been at least 24 hours since he/she had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); AND

      • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.

      The person must continue to mask for an additional 5 days to minimize risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies.
      Symptoms with a negative COVID-19 test or an alternative diagnosis

      Person has symptoms of COVID-19 but has received a negative PCR test for COVID-19 or has visited a health care provider and received an alternate diagnosis that would explain the symptoms of COVID-19.

      Child/staff person can return to child care when:

      - It has been at least 24 hours since he/she had a fever (without using fever-reducing medicine) AND;

      - Other symptoms improving for at least 24 hours.
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    • Health & Safety 

    • We began letting families back into the building during drop-off and pick-up as of March 18, 2022. However, we are continuing to take steps to limit the students' exposure:

      - minimizing any large, indoor gatherings

      - keeping all tours to the hours 12:30-2:30 during naptime

      - limiting outside visitors that are not parents/guardians

       

      Additionally, universal masking is no longer required, however, strict masking will be enforced as it pertains to the criteria to return to childcare listed above. If your child is unable to wear a mask consistently and without frequent adult support, your child will need to remain at home for the full 10 days. 

       

      Cleaning and disinfecting are part of our broad approach to preventing infectious diseases at WPCC. Each classroom has a “yucky bucket” for toys that have been contaminated with bodily fluids. Contaminated toys are specifically washed, sanitized, and air-dried. All surfaces and toys are sanitized and air-dried daily upon arrival and departure. For more specifics about the frequency and type of cleaning that occurs for each surface at WPCC, please reference the NAEYC Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Frequency Table.

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