COVID-19 Operational Updates
COVID-19 Guidelines & Policies
Illness Policy
We ask ALL community members to be mindful of COVID symptoms. Since our children and staff are in close proximity and often have close contact, we are still vulnerable to higher infection rates. While the pandemic emergency has ended, child care centers are still likely to have disruptions in our hours of operations if staff are infected and while the state continues to require 5-day isolation for positive cases. With this in mind, please continue to be in close communication about cold symptoms, especially those of COVID:
Fever of 100F or higher
Cough
Shortness of breath/trouble breathing
Chills
Night sweats
Muscle/body aches
Headache
Confusion
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Congestion or runny nose
Diarrhea
Other Illnesses
Below are other illnesses that may require your child to stay home. If confirmed that symptoms are not COVID-related:
Fever of 100F or more
Diarrhea (2 or more contained episodes or 1 uncontained episode in 24 hours)
Vomiting (1 episode in 24 hours)
Undiagnosed rash accompanied by other symptoms such as fever
Conjunctivitis
Inability to participate in regular classroom activities
Children and staff may come back to CCSC when:
Child or staff member has been fever-free without medication for a full school day
Child or staff member has been symptoms free (normal stool and no vomiting) for 2 full days
Child or staff member has been treated with prescribed medication for strep throat or conjunctivitis before returning to CCSC accompanied by a doctor's note stating when they are able to participate in group care.
If your child was exposed to any highly contagious illnesses (such as chicken pox, measles, lice, strep throat, stomach bug, etc.), please inform the classroom teachers immediately.
Changes to the illness policy may be made at the discretion of center leadership based on varying circumstances.
Updated 10/25/2024
Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines
The health and safety of all CCSC’s community members are of highest priority. CCSC’s COVID-19 guidelines were realigned with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) beginning June 6, 2023. In some areas, CCSC’s guidance is more conservative because of the nature of childcare. Please note that guidance on the CDPH’s web pages change frequently, so it is important to read CCSC’s posted guidance below.
If you or any household member tests positive for COVID-19, or have close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you must follow the guidance below to resume or continue to be on-site:
Isolation Guidelines
Isolation is when you are sick or test positive for the virus (even if you don't have symptoms). Children, household members or CCSC staff with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should:
Self-isolate until day 5 after the start of symptoms (Day 0) or after the date of first positive test (Day 0) if asymptomatic.
Isolation can end without a negative test result after Day 5 if ALL of the following are met:
Symptoms are not present, or are mild and improving
Fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
If symptoms, including fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.
Person infected must wear a tight-fitting mask through Day 10 (indoors and outdoors)
Children under 2 years old and others who are unable to mask, must isolate for 10 days or test negative for 2 consecutive days after day 5.
CCSC requires all community members who test positive to wear a tight-fitting mask for 10 days (indoors and outdoors) after testing positive. However, masking can end after day 5 and before day 10, if a person tests negative for two consecutive days. Please date and document negative tests should documentation be requested.
After isolation has ended, if symptoms recur or worsen, get tested again and if positive, restart isolation at Day 0.
Quarantine Guidelines
Quarantine is when you might have been exposed to the virus and may or may not be infected. Children, household members or CCSC staff who might have been exposed to the virus, and may or may not be infected, should follow the guidelines provided below.
After exposure to a positive case, staff and children who are asymptomatic can continue to attend CCSC with a negative test result taken within 3-5 days from last exposure, unless the person exposed had COVID in the last 90 days.
Close contacts, ages 2 years old and over, who are asymptomatic may continue attending CCSC after exposure to a positive case and must wear a will-fitting mask around others (indoors/outdoors) through day 10.
Close contacts, under 2 years old and others who are unable to mask, who are asymptomatic may continue attending CCSC after the following have been met:
Perform symptom (including temperature) checks in the morning prior to drop-off through the 7th day after exposure.
Do a rapid test in the morning prior to drop-off, on day 2-7 after the last exposure. Upload your negative test result to the on-line test portal, as well as show a picture of the dated test to teachers at drop-off.
If symptoms develop, test, and isolate immediately.
Antigen tests are recommended for testing.
Updated 6/6/2023
Masking/Face Coverings Policy
Masking indoors is optional. Anyone who chooses to wear masks for personal reasons may do so and will be supported. There are circumstances when masking will be required by the classroom or program. See examples of these below.
Masking outdoors for everyone is optional.
Masking for children 2 years and under is not permitted at child care centers.
Circumstances when masking will be required:
Masks must be worn through day 10 after a person, regardless of vaccination status, tests positive for COVID-19.
Masks must be worn by persons with symptoms even if they test negative, until their symptoms are improving or resolved.
CCSC may require 5-10 days masking center-wide in the event of COVID outbreak, after winter break or in classrooms with a high concentration of symptoms and positive cases.
Updated 6/6/2023
Travel Policy
CCSC recommends, but does not require, that international travelers test themselves using a rapid COVID test on Day 0. Travelers who are experiencing symptoms of illness should mask until receiving a negative rapid COVID test on Day 5.
Updated 6/6/2023
Another Social Story: A Story About Face Masks and Why We Wear Them
This is a social story that a team of teachers wrote with the inspiration from BKP children through classroom interactions and through Zoom. Wearing a face mask is now required whenever we are around other people. Through the creation of this social story we hope to support children as they experience this new reality. The children's thoughts, ideas, words, and drawings in our story illustrate their understanding of this important topic.
Updates for Winter Closure 2023
Masking
Masking is strongly encouraged for anyone ages 2 years and older when indoors through January 12, 2024. Exceptions to this policy include:
All children under 2 years old
During meal and nap times for children ages 2 and over.
Anyone who is medically unable to be masked (staff and coopers are required to have documentation).
COVID-19 Test
We strongly recommend to test for COVID-19 prior to returning to CCSC for children and family members. CCSC requires staff to test before coming back to work.
News of positive test results in your household or when school resumes, should be sent to your program coordinator's email. Please follow the COVID-19 Guideline Flowchart for Santa Clara County for quarantine, isolation and/or masking requirements. To review additional Stanford campus COVID-19 protocol, please click here.