EarlyON Centre providers are expected to employ multiple strategies and a layering of controls to support healthier and safer environments for children and staff as detailed below.

There is not one specific measure that will prevent COVID‑19 transmission from occurring in early years settings, but rather there are multiple structural and individual elements that contribute to making EarlyON Centres healthier spaces and reduce the risk of infection to in-person attendees.

Each of the control measures listed below provides some benefit in reducing spread. However, it is the combination and consistent application of these layered controls as a bundle that is most effective for reducing disease spread in EarlyON Centres.

Working with local public health

While the ministry is providing guidance on how to operate EarlyON Centres during the COVID‑19 pandemic, CMSM/DSSAB and EarlyON Centre providers must follow the advice of the local public health unit when establishing health and safety protocols, including how to implement any provincial direction or local public health direction on health and safety guidance.

The ministry recognizes that this may result in local and regional differences in these protocols, but given the varying impact of COVID‑19 in different communities, it is important to follow the advice of the local public health officials to keep children and families safe in their respective communities.

Find information on your local public health unit.

Immunization disclosure policy

At this time, no instructions have been issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health requiring EarlyON providers to establish and implement a COVID‑19 immunization disclosure policy or proof of vaccination/identification.

However, if these programs are located in a shared facility, such as a school or recreational facility, they may be required to comply with the requirements that apply to those facilities and should consult with the school board or facility operator for further information relating to those requirements.

Health and safety protocols

Every EarlyON Centre provider must ensure that there are written policies and procedures outlining their health and safety protocols for EarlyON Centres, including in-person, mobile and outdoor offerings.

These policies and procedures must be consistent with any direction from local public health and include information on how the EarlyON Centre will operate to prevent and minimize the impact of COVID‑19 in an EarlyON Centre setting, including, at a minimum, the following:

  • how cleaning and disinfecting the space, toys and equipment will be conducted
  • how physical distancing will be encouraged, particularly between groups
  • requirements on the use of medical masks or N95 masks (including non-fit-tested) and eye protection, and any other personal protective equipment (PPE), including information on exemptions or exceptions
  • how shifts will be scheduled, where applicable
  • how attendance records will be organized and maintained in order to facilitate contact tracing
  • rescheduling of group events and in-person meetings
  • arrival and departure procedures

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of workers. This includes precautions to protect workers from exposure to infectious diseases.

Please see the guide on developing a COVID‑19 workplace safety plan to support you in fulfilling this obligation.

Cleaning and disinfecting EarlyON Centres

Cleaning protocols

Existing practices should be reviewed to determine where enhancements might be required, including frequency and timing of cleaning and disinfection, areas to clean and disinfect, choice of cleaning products, and child safety, staffing, signage and PPE use when cleaning.

Please refer to the Public Health Ontario’s environmental cleaning fact sheet for best practices for cleaning and disinfecting, including:

  • which products to use, including disinfectants with Health Canada Drug Identification Numbers (DINs)
  • how to clean and disinfect different materials, including minimum surface contact time
  • other items to remember, including checking expiry dates of cleaning and disinfectant products and following the manufacturer’s instructions

Public Services Health and Safety Association’s child care centre employer guideline provides information on cleaning and Health Canada's hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID‑19) webpage provides information on approved products.

Cleaning products:

Products that provide both cleaning and disinfection action are preferable due to ease of use (for example, hydrogen peroxide products). Only use cleaning and disinfectant products that have a Drug Identification Number. Check the expiry date of the agents prior to use. These should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Cleaning program:

EarlyON Centres premises should be cleaned frequently. Focus should be on regular hand hygiene to reduce the risk of infection related to high touch surfaces. Cleaning plus disinfection twice daily is suggested at a minimum, however, more frequent cleaning and disinfection may be necessary, depending on the frequency of use and extent of soilage. Frequently touched surfaces include but are not limited to washrooms (for example toilet fixtures, faucets), eating areas (for example, tables, sinks, countertops), doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, touch screens, push buttons, handrails, computers, photocopiers, sports equipment, water fountain knobs.

It is recommended that EarlyON Centre providers keep a cleaning and disinfecting log to track and demonstrate cleaning schedules.

Shared spaces and objects:

The risk associated with transmission with shared objects is low. Instead of regular cleaning of shared objects, the focus should be on regular hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette to reduce the risk of infection related to shared equipment. This is especially the case for young children where shared equipment is important for learning (for example, toys for imaginative play, manipulatives for math).

Where an individual is suspected of having COVID‑19 in the EarlyON Centre setting:

  • establish a protocol to determine contaminated areas and carry out cleaning and disinfection, including timing, when to return to use, methods of cleaning, PPE to be used while cleaning and waste disposal
  • identify areas that may require cleaning plus disinfection (items used by the individual and all surfaces within two metres of the ill person) versus cleaning alone (such as hallway or room where the individual has passed through)

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette

Appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are among the most important protective strategies. EarlyON Centre staff, visitors and students on educational placement should be trained and able to assist children on appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, including the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) and reinforcing its use.

Hand hygiene should be practiced by anyone entering the EarlyON Centre setting and incorporated into the daily schedule at regular intervals during the day, above and beyond what is usually recommended (for example, before eating food and after using the washroom).

EarlyON Centre staff, visitors, students on educational placement and children should be provided with targeted, age-appropriate education in proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Local public health units can provide additional guidance. Age-appropriate posters or signage should be placed around the EarlyON Centre setting.

  • Soap and water are preferred as the most effective method and least likely to cause harm if accidentally ingested.
  • Alcohol-based hand rub with a minimum 60% alcohol concentration must be available (60-90% recommended, including ideally at the entry point) and/or plain liquid soap in dispensers, sinks and paper towels in dispensers
  • Alcohol-based hand rub can be used by children. It is most effective when hands are not visibly soiled.
  • For any dirt, blood, body fluids (urine/feces), it is preferred that hands be washed with soap and water.
  • Safe placement of the alcohol-based hand rub to avoid consumption is important, especially for young children.
  • Support or modifications should be provided to allow children with special needs to regularly perform hand hygiene as independently as possible.
  • Tissues and lined, no-touch waste baskets (for example, foot pedal-operated, hand sensor, open basket) are to be provided, where possible.

Refer to Public Health Ontario's how to wash your hands (PDF) fact sheet and respiratory etiquette infographic.

Refer to Health Canada's hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID‑19): List of hand sanitizers authorized by Health Canada, including which sanitizers may be appropriate for different groups of staff and students.

Guidance on the use of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE)

EarlyON Centre providers must ensure that there are written policies and procedures detailing the requirements on the use of PPE and must ensure that these policies and procedures are consistent with the information in this section as well as any direction provided by their local public health unit.

At the advice of the local public health unit, EarlyON Centres may choose to implement additional masking measures based on local circumstances.

Parents/caregivers are responsible for providing their child(ren) (if applicable) and themselves with a non-medical mask(s) or face covering when participating in EarlyON Centre programs and services in-person.

Reasonable exceptions to the requirement to wear masks are expected to be put in place by the provider. Exceptions to wearing masks indoors could include situations where a child cannot tolerate wearing a mask, reasonable exemptions for medical conditions, etc.

EarlyON Centre providers should ensure their masking exceptions policies support children and staff to wear masks to the greatest extent possible.

EarlyON Centre providers may discuss with parents/caregivers, in consultation with the child’s health care professional, whether other types of face coverings might work for the child.

EarlyON Centre providers should consider ways to support nutrition breaks in a safe manner (for example, a space where staff/providers can maintain at least 2 metres distance to remove masks and eat).

EarlyON Centre providers should document their requirements and exemptions related to masks (for example, within their COVID‑19 policy).

Children

All children in Grades 1 and above are required to wear a well-fitted mask (can be non-medical or cloth) while inside an EarlyON Centre setting, including in hallways.

Children can remove masks indoors to consume food or drink only, with a minimum distance of two metres maintained between groups.

Children younger than grade 1 are encouraged to wear masks (can be non-medical or cloth) while inside an EarlyON Centre setting, including in hallways.

Masks are not recommended for children under the age of two.

Parents/caregivers are responsible for providing their child(ren) with a non-medical or cloth mask each visit and should be reminded that if children are wearing masks, they will require a way to store their mask when not in use.

Masking is not required outdoors. Physical distancing is strongly encouraged between groups.

Expectations for staff and students on educational placements in an EarlyON Centre setting

  • All EarlyON Centre staff and students on educational placements are required to wear medical masks (for example, surgical/procedural) or N95 masks (can be non-fit-tested) while inside the premises, including hallways and other shared areas.
  • Eye protection (for example, face shield or goggles) is required both indoors and outdoors, as per occupational health and safety requirements for individuals working in close contact with children who are not wearing masks.
  • Eye protection is not required for individuals working with children who wear masks.
  • Masking is not required outdoors when two metres of distance is maintained from others. Physical distancing is strongly encouraged between groups.

Expectations for all other adults (parents/caregivers/visitors)

All other adults (parents/caregivers/visitors) are required to wear a well-fitted face covering or non-medical mask while inside the premises, including hallways and other shared areas.

Masking is not required outdoors. Physical distancing is strongly encouraged between groups.

Proper use of masks and PPE

Refer to Public Health Ontario resources and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website for how to properly wear and take off masks and eye protection. You may also wish to view a helpful video on how to properly put on and take off masks and eye protection.

Keep in mind that it may be difficult to put on a mask and eye protection properly (for example without contamination) after having removed them, given the frequent and spontaneous need for close interactions with young children in an EarlyON Centre setting.

Masks should be replaced when they become damp or visibly soiled.

The use of medical masks and eye protection is for the safety of EarlyON Centre staff and the children and families in their program. This is especially important when working with individuals who may not be wearing face coverings for example, young children under the age of two).

Sourcing PPE

EarlyON Centre providers should secure and sustain an amount of PPE (including but not limited to face shields or goggles, medical masks, N95 masks (non-fit-tested, gloves, etc.) and cleaning supplies that can support their current and ongoing operations.

To support healthy and safe operation of EarlyON Centre programs, a supply of medical masks, N95 masks (non-fit-tested), and eye protection (such as, face shields) is being procured and delivered through the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services to EarlyON centres on a monthly basis.

  • The N95 masks meet NIOSH standards but have not been, and are not required to be, fit-tested. Staff/providers will have the option to wear either medical/surgical masks or an N95 mask (non-fit-tested) provided by the government.
  • A back-up supply of high quality three-ply cloth masks will be made available to school aged children in EarlyON Centre programs upon request.

A back-up supply of non-medical or cloth masks will also be provided for school aged children in EarlyON Centres in case they cannot bring one from home.

The Ontario Together Portal has a workplace PPE supplier directory that lists Ontario businesses that provide PPE and other supplies.

Screening for symptoms

All individuals entering the EarlyON Centre premises must self-screen every day before attending the program using the provincial screening tool or a screening tool designated by the local public health unit. The province will continue to provide a COVID‑19 screening tool for use by schools and child care, and may update this frequently throughout the year. All individuals must follow the monitoring and isolation advice outlined in the screening tool.

Any local screening tool must align with the provincial tool. Local public health units may designate a commensurate or more restrictive screening tool for local use.

The ministry may direct EarlyON Centre providers to perform daily on-site confirmation of self- screening, such as during a period of potential higher transmission (for example, after a holiday period). EarlyON Centre providers are expected to have a process in place to validate the daily self-screening of these individuals prior to or upon their arrival at the EarlyON Centre premises if directed to do so. Confirmation or proof of self-screening should be in a form deemed appropriate and accessible by the provider (for example, proof of completed paper copy of screener, mobile application indicating a “pass”).

Screening for EarlyON Centres

All EarlyON Centre staff, students on educational placement and visitors must self-screen.

Any individuals that do not pass the screening procedures will be asked to remain home and self-isolate.

See the provincial COVID‑19 screening tool for symptom screening, monitoring, and isolation procedures.

At the advice of the local public health unit, EarlyON Centre providers may choose to implement additional screening measures based on local circumstances.

Screening for children/parents/caregivers

Parents and caregivers are required to screen themselves and their children prior to attending an EarlyON Centre. The provincial COVID‑19 screening tool is available to support parents and caregivers to meet this requirement.

Parents or caregivers of any child that has not completed the screening for symptoms prior to arriving at the EarlyON Centre setting will be required to complete screening prior to entry.

Any child that does not pass the on-site screening procedures will be asked to remain home and self-isolate. See the provincial COVID‑19 screening tool for symptom screening, monitoring, and isolation procedures.

At the advice of the local public health unit, providers may choose to implement additional screening measures based on local circumstances.

General screening requirements

It is the responsibility of the provider to ensure that all screening procedures (including on-site confirmation) are completed and to ensure that no individual enters the premises unless they have completed the screening and the result of that screening has indicated that they are allowed to proceed.

  • Signs should be posted at entrances to remind staff, parents/caregivers and visitors of screening requirements.
  • Providers should make self-assessment tools available to staff to ensure awareness of possible symptoms of COVID‑19.

EarlyON Centre providers may wish to consult the province’s COVID‑19 website for information and resources on COVID‑19 symptoms, protections and seeking health care.

For screening an individual at the EarlyON Centre setting and escorting parents/caregivers and children to the program, EarlyON Centre providers should take appropriate precautions including, maintaining a distance of at least two metres from those being screened, being separated by a physical barrier (such as a plexiglass barrier), and providing alcohol-based hand rub containing 60% to 90% alcohol content at all screening stations.

Note: Where a provider has chosen to screen individuals using rapid antigen tests, screening is subject to the consent of the individual.

Attendance records

In addition to attendance records for all children, parents/caregivers, and visitors that receive in-person programs and services, all EarlyON programs are responsible for maintaining daily records of anyone entering the program setting.

These records must include all individuals who enter the premises (for example, parents and caregivers, cleaners, people doing maintenance work, people providing supports for children with special needs).

  • Records are to be kept on the premises and along with name and contact information, must include an approximate time of arrival and time of departure for each individual.
  • Records must be kept up-to-date and available to public health within 24 hours if requested.

Where possible, contact information should be obtained electronically (for example, via online form, survey, or e-mail) or by phone prior to arrival at the EarlyON program setting.

Monitoring and responding to reports of COVID-19 symptoms in an EarlyON Centre setting

Ill individuals should not attend EarlyON Centre programs. Individuals who have tested positive on a COVID‑19 test (PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen) should self-isolate immediately and follow isolation guidance as outlined in the COVID‑19 integrated testing & case, contact and outbreak m anagement interim guidance: Omicron s urge and the guidance of their local public health unit and health care professional regarding direction for isolation and returning to EarlyON Centre programs. Note that individuals do not need to provide a medical note or proof of negative result to return to the program.

See the provincial COVID‑19 screening tool for symptom screening, monitoring, and isolation procedures. All individuals must follow the monitoring and isolation advice outlined in the screening tool.

If an individual becomes ill while in the EarlyON Centre setting:

  • The ill individual and their parents/caregivers and/or child(ren) should immediately be separated from others in a separate room, where possible (for example, an isolation room).
  • Anyone providing care to the ill individual should maintain as much physical distance as possible. If physical distancing is not possible (for example, if a young child needs comfort) staff/providers should consider additional PPE (such as, gloves, gown).
  • The person caring for the individual must wear a medical mask or N95 mask (may be non-fit-tested) and eye protection and be trained on proper use of PPE, including donning and doffing.
    • If tolerated, the ill individual should also wear a medical mask.
  • Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette should be practiced while the ill individual is waiting to leave or be picked up.
  • Cleaning of the area the separated individual was in and other areas of the EarlyON Centre setting where the ill individual was should be conducted as soon as reasonably possible after the ill individual leaves (see above in the Cleaning section).
  • The ill individual and/or their parent or caregiver should be advised to use the online self-assessment tool and follow instructions which may include seeking medical advice and/or going for testing for COVID‑19.
  • Regular EarlyON Centre operation can continue unless directed otherwise by the local public health unit.
  • An ill individual who has a known alternative diagnosis provided by a health care professional may return to the EarlyON Centre setting if they do not have a fever and their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours, or 48 hours if vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.

All early years sector partners, together with Ministry of Health and local public health units, will work closely to monitor and respond to reports of COVID‑19 symptoms.

Outbreak management

Public health directed dismissals are no longer likely to occur in EarlyON settings. Unless specific direction is provided by the local public health unit, closures are at the discretion of the EarlyON provider. Providers are encouraged to communicate clearly with families and staff so that they are aware of any closures and how they may be impacted.

In response to the evolving situation related to the COVID‑19 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern, the Ministry of Health has provided interim public health guidance on case, contact, and outbreak management for schools and child care settings.

The COVID‑19: interim guidance for schools and child care: Omicron surge guidance, which can be found on  the Ministry of Health's website, provides the direction for local public health units on the management of COVID‑19 cases, contacts and outbreaks in school and child care settings. EarlyON providers may wish to review this document and adhere to any guidance pertaining to updated case and contact management for school and child care related COVID‑19 cases and apply these to EarlyON settings.

Reporting confirmed cases to the Ministry of Education

Where a staff, child, parent/caregiver, or essential visitor has a positive COVID‑19COVID-19 test and/or there is an EarlyON program closure due to COVID‑19, CMSMs/DSSABs are not required to report this information to the ministry.