As Oklahoma’s schoolage children head back to class this month, preventing the spread of illness is a major concern for parents and educators. Rising case numbers of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), COVID-19 including the delta variant, and seasonal flu are already prompting concerns about illness prevention strategies.

While not all sources of illness can be controlled, every child care provider is responsible for implementing safety standards to help curb the spread of these highly contagious viruses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Good Health Handbook: A Guide for Those Caring for Children presented by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma Human Services have published best practices for child care settings.

These six strategies can help prevent illness and inform related policies and procedures:

Address parents and per sonnel directly: Let families and employees know what to expect. Host meetings with parents and personnel to make sure everyone receives the same information and has the opportunity to ask questions. Outline the steps your child care center will take to help keep students and staff safe. Request the cooperation of staff and parents. Clarify sick child procedures and related employee policies in writing, defining symptoms and the procedures that accompany them. The CDC suggests removing individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 for at least 10 days and until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Encourage staff members to get vaccinated: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 and the flu. Children under age 12 cannot yet be vaccinated against COVID-19, which makes getting immunized all the more important for their parents, teachers and other caregivers. Vaccinated adults also fare much better if they happen to contract either virus. Fewer hospitalizations and less severe symptoms overall have been noted in those who have been vaccinated, according to CDC statistics. Consider hosting an in-service training with your county health department to answer staff concerns.

Model correct and consistent mask use: The CDC currently recommends masks for child participants ages 2 and over in indoor settings. Masks are also advised for crowded outdoor settings, especially during close contact activities with people who are not fully vaccinated. Because children cannot yet be vaccinated against COVID-19, adopting masks as a work policy for staff may be advisable. Note: Children should never wear a mask while sleeping.

Keep children in small groups and maintain physical distancing: Limit children’s exposure by keeping small groups, known as cohorts, together for most activities, including playtimes, naps and meals. Keep cohorts separated by six feet when possible. Modify use of shared spaces, stagger bus rows in use during transportation and separate cribs or sleeping mats. The CDC suggests prioritizing outdoor play when possible.

Increase ventilation: Making sure HVAC and other air filtration systems are in working order is essential. Opening doors and windows can also help, as the CDC states “bringing fresh outdoor air into a building helps keep virus particles from concentrating inside.” Opening bus or van windows to allow for air circulation is also advisable.