NY State releases new COVID guidelines for childcare programs

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Governor’s Office released the updated COVID-19 guidelines for childcare programs in NY State. The key takeaways are:

• Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay out of the child care program for 5 days OR until they receive a negative COVID-19 test (whichever is first). Before returning to program, symptoms should be improving and you should be fever-free for at least 24 hours;

• Anyone who comes to the child care program with symptoms or who develops symptoms while at the program should be sent home and encouraged to get tested. Symptomatic children or staff who are able to wear a mask should do so while at the program. If possible, children with symptoms who cannot wear a mask should be separated from others and provided supervision while waiting to leave the program;

• Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should remain isolated at home for a period of at least 5 days and symptoms should be improving and be fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to the child care program;

• Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 and is returning to the program between days 5 and 10 should wear a well-fitting mask, up through day 10, if they are able to tolerate one; OR may remove their mask following two negative COVID tests taken 48 hours apart. Children who are unable to wear a mask may still return to the child care program if they do not have symptoms;

• Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 (this means when they were within six feet of someone with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period) should wear a mask for 10 days whenever feasible. If they do not have symptoms, they do not need to quarantine and can attend the childcare program.

The state no longer requires an entire daycare class to quarantine if one child tests positive, as they did previously. News10NBC reported on the push to change the quarantine policy after parents said they couldn’t go to work after anyone in their children’s daycare class tested positive.

RELATED: NY childcare programs will not have to enforce universal masking starting Wednesday

You can read the full update guidance here: https://www.scribd.com/document/588540310/NY-State-new-daycare-COVID-guidance

You can also read about Gov. Hochul’s announcement on the COVID-19 guidelines for schools.