Haggard Childcare Resources COVID Policies (Updated 5/19/2022)

Vaccinations:

  1. All HCR employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID, including a booster as appropriate, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption.

  2. At this time, children are encouraged, but not required to be vaccinated.

Masking (To be reassessed)

  1. All children +2 years will be encouraged/expected to wear masks except to eat/drink and at nap time while inside; masks are not required outside.

  2. All adults are required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, except when eating or drinking. Surgical/medical/3-ply or N95 (or variations) masks are the minimum requirement. Schools will provide disposable masks for staff.

    *Harbour Pointe is operating on independent mask policy.

Positive COVID Cases:

  1. Preschool aged children who test positive for COVID may return to care after 5 full days of isolation (on or after Day 6) if these four qualifiers are met:

    • Their symptoms have improved or they are asymptomatic.

    • They are without a fever for the past 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.

    • Test negative with an antigen or at-home test any day after Day 5.

    • Wear a well-fitted mask through Day 10.

  2. Preschool aged children who test positive for COVID who do not fulfill all four qualifiers above must isolate for 10 days, in line with restrictions for Infant and Toddler-aged children.

  3. Any Infant or Toddler-aged child with a positive case of COVID (from either antigen or PCR) must quarantine for 10 days since either the first day of symptoms or the day the test sample was taken (whichever came first), regardless of their vaccination status. The date of the positive test or symptom onset is Day Zero. Isolation extends 10 days from then, with the person able to return on the 11th day, if they have been fever free for 24+ hours and symptoms have significantly improved. The WA Department of Health has a quarantine calculator found here.

  4. A staff member may return to school after a COVID infection in line with CDC guidance.

Exclusion for Symptoms:

  1. All children and staff, regardless of vaccination status, will be excluded from the school for any COVID-related symptom, even if mild. The individual may return with a negative test (PCR, antigen, etc.) if symptoms are improving, and they have been +24 hours fever free and without fever-reducing medication.

  2. If one child is sent home with symptoms, an asymptomatic unvaccinated sibling may stay in care until either they develop symptoms and/or the child is deemed a close contact of a confirmed case.

Travel Policy:

  1. HCR defers to the CDC for travel guidance. Any changes to CDC travel guidance are effective immediately for all HCR staff and children.

Close Contact Exposure (Updated 5/18/22)

  1. Infants/Toddlers. Infants and Toddlers are required to quarantine for 7 days following a last known contact, unless they have recovered from a lab-confirmed COVID infection within the past 90 days or are participating in the school’s Test to Stay program for Infants/Toddlers (see below). If quarantining, the child may return to care after the 7 days, with a negative test, taken no earlier than 5 days from the last exposure. If the household member cannot truly isolate (no contact, using separate bathroom, etc.), then the child’s quarantine period would not start until the confirmed case has cleared their isolation period in line with CDC guidance.

  2. Preschoolers (Unvaccinated/Unprotected).

    1. While at School: Unvaccinated Preschoolers may remain in care following a close contact exposure if voluntarily participating in the HCR Test-To-Stay program (details below). The Test-To-Stay program only applies to close contact exposures at school.

    2. While at Home: A close contact exposure from a family member will still require a 5-day quarantine. A child may return on Day 6 if they have negative test (antigen or PCR), continue to wear a mask through Day 10, and remain symptom free.

    3. While outside of School or Home: A close contact exposure outside of school requires the exposed child to test in the same schedule as Test to Stay, but will be conducted individually.

  3. Vaccinated and Protected Individuals. All individuals up-to-date with vaccinations or have recovered from a lab-confirmed COVID infection within the past 90 days, do not need to quarantine after a close contact exposure, unless symptoms develop. These individuals should test 5-7 days after known exposure or when symptoms present. More info here.

Close Contact FAQs (Updated 3/11/22)

  1. When someone in the household has COVID, when can my unvaccinated child return to care? An unvaccinated child is required to quarantine for at least 5 days, post last known contact with a confirmed case, with a negative result from a test taken no earlier than Day 6 post last exposure. If the household member cannot isolate (no contact, using separate bathroom, etc.), then the child’s quarantine period would not start until the confirmed case has cleared their isolation period.

HCR Test-To-Stay Program (Updated 5/3/22)

The HCR Test to Stay program is a voluntary COVID-19 testing program designed for Preschool classrooms and to a limited capacity, Infant and Toddler classrooms of unvaccinated children who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 at school.

  • In Preschool classrooms, this program applies to exposure from either children or staff members.

  • In Infant and Toddler classrooms, this program is limited to exposure from a staff member, due to the consistent and correct wearing of a mask as a mitigating factor for spread.

  • This program is limited to unvaccinated children. Vaccinated children and children who have recovered from lab-confirmed COVID within the past 90 days are not required to participate in this program to remain in care.

  • This program only applies to exposures while at school. Confirmed close contact exposures outside of the program (non-household) must test in the same sequence as Test to Stay, but is done individually.

How It Works:

  • The school will notify families if their child is a close contact of a known positive COVID-19 case while in school and all unvaccinated children will be excluded for the remainder of the day (Day 0).

  • Parents/Guardians will be required to sign a consent form, acknowledging the parameters of the Test-To-Stay program and voluntary participation for their child. Participation is not obligatory and families may choose to complete the 7-day quarantine period for their child.

  • All eligible exposed children in the exposed classroom will be tested three times within the 7-day period following the exposure. These testing days will occur on the following days, or the first weekday following: Day 1, Day 3, Day 5.

  • Testing will occur on the morning of the outlined days prior to arrival at school with a family-provided FDA-approved Antigen test* or proof of a lab-based test on the appropriate date. The parent or guardian will sign an attestation of the test result. No photo proof of the negative test is required.

Remaining In Care During the 7-day Test-To-Stay Period:

  • Unvaccinated children who have been exposed and have a negative test, in line with testing above, can remain in care while they remain symptom-free.

  • All preschool-aged children in the Test-To-Stay program will wear a family-provided KN-95 (or equivalent) mask throughout the 7-day period, while inside. Toddlers will wear a family-provided KN-95 (or equivalent) mask if they are older than 2 years and are able to wear it. Infants of any age will not wear a mask.

  • Lunch and snack will be modified to spread children out through the classroom while eating.

  • The classroom will remain isolated from other children and staff throughout the day, both inside and outside.

  • Hours for the classroom may be reduced during the Test-To-Stay period if staffing levels in the classroom require it.

Contingency in Case of Outbreak:

  • If, during the Test-To-Stay period, the classroom experiences an outbreak, HCR will consult with PHSKC or the Snohomish Health District, as applicable to determine when a classroom closure may be triggered.

*Antigen tests state on the packaging they are not to be used for children under 2 years old.  However, we will accept these tests for children of all ages.  Please see this article for why packaging states this and tips to help test on infants and toddlers: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/home-covid-test-kits-say-theyre-not-for-kids-under-2-so-how-do-i-test-my-toddler/

Updated 5/18/2022