Covid-19 Policies and Information
Policies and procedures are currently in place at the Pemberton Children’s Centre to facilitate the safety of all persons accessing our care and the building. We follow guidelines from BCCDC http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID_public_guidance/Guidance_Child_Care.pdf
While working hard to protect the families of Pemberton and surrounding area, we must rely on each other. The Pemberton Children’s Centre (PCC) is taking illness and social/physical distancing very seriously. Any person with possible illness will be asked to leave the Pemberton Children’s Centre premises for the well being of everyone. At the PCC we have up to 49 children per day and up to 14 teachers per day, the PCC is doing everything it can, but it takes a community of help. Thank you for you support.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website. http://www.bccdc.ca/covid19
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child/ren attend childcare if they have a runny nose?
Currently children with a mild clear runny nose can attend childcare. If there is any concern about the severity or color of discharge management and staff will contact parents and the child may have to return home.
Can my child/ren attend childcare if they have a cough?
No, families are asked not to bring their child to PCC with a cough at this time. Families will be referred to 811.
What symptoms will my child be sent home with or asked not to attend care?
Children with fever, diarrhea/vomiting, cold, flu, sore throat, unexplained rash or headaches will be sent home or refused entry at the gate at this time.
Can my child attend if they have symptoms but a negative test?
If COVID-19 is ruled out, PCC will still require children with symptoms to remain home until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.
What happens if 811 recommends a test but we choose not to?
If your family chooses not to contact 811 or receive a COVID-19 test after being recommended to receive one, your family will be excluded from the centre for 14 days.
Why have I seen children at the Centre with a cough?
Children with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, are able to obtain a medical note to allow them to attend childcare with a cough. Without a medical note, no one with any cold/flu symptoms will be allowed within the centre.
If a parent or sibling has a cough or cold, can my child attend Pemberton Children’s Centre?
If any member of the household has a cough and/or cold or flu symptoms, you are recommended to contact 811. If the symptomatic person is recommended to receive a COVID-19 test, we require the children to remain away for the children’s centre until COVID-19 is ruled out and the person has been symptom free for 48 hours.
If a family member or someone living in the house hold is required to isolate/quarantine, can my child attend care?
This is a very difficult question as families living situations are different. If a household member is required to self-isolate/quarantine, please contact the management of PCC and each situation will be dealt with individually.
Why are the rules of Pemberton Children’s Centre different from what VCH has told me?
The Pemberton Children’s Centre is required to follow all health and safety guidelines mandated by the Licensing Officer. PCC follows all requirements and recommendations of VCH, where the centre may differ is that we have additional requirements to maintain the health and safety of the staff as well as all families who are accessing care. Requiring a family to stay home for a period of time is in the best interest of the community as a whole, in order to remain open and operating we require healthy staff members.
Will my family be notified if a teacher or family tests positive for COVID-19?
Confidentiality will be maintained by the Pemberton Children’s Centre at all times. VCH will conduct the contact tracing and will notify everyone they need to. Pemberton Children’s Centre cannot share this information at this time.
Why will families not be notified if someone tests positive?
The Pemberton Children’s Centre cannot share information of positive results. VCH will conduct any necessary contact tracing and notify the necessary persons.
Will the daycare remain open if a teacher/family tests positive for COVID-19?
Pemberton Children’s Centre will follow the guidance of our Licensing Officer and requirements of Vancouver Coastal Health.
How does reducing the number of children help the Pemberton Children’s Centre?
Following all recommendations of the BCCDC, the staff are required to do additional cleaning and sanitizing each day. Ensuring all necessary cleaning in performed each day takes a teacher’s attention away from the children. By reducing the number of children within each program, the Pemberton Children’s Centre can give each child the time and attention they require while fulfilling all cleaning and health requirements. Staff are also required to stay home if they, or a family member, is unwell. As you can imagine this makes maintaining the required ratios exceedingly difficult. PCC does not want to be put in the position where we are forced to tell families that we are unable to offer care due to staff shortages, all help received from families who are able to keep their children home part or full time (while keeping their place secure) is a great help to the centre during these already trying times. We are asking for families to do this in blocks of time as it also helps with scheduling/ratios.
When will PCC be offering extra spaces to families on the waitlists?
To assist with the reduction of internal numbers we are not offering additional days to families accessing care or new families on the waitlist. Families will be notified when we are able provide increased care to their child/ren.
When will PCC return to the hours of 7:30-5:30?
Similar to the reduction of numbers, Pemberton Children’s Centre has reduced the operating hours to ensure the best possible care for the children while ensuring the additional cleaning and ratios are maintained. Parents will be notified of all changes to operating hours.
When will families be allowed inside the building?
Unknown at this time. With the guidance of BCCDC and Work Safe BC, PCC has limited the number of persons inside the building. This helps limit the possible exposure to all children, families and staff. We will continue to follow all recommendations from BCCDC and Work Safe BC, and keep families updated when changes are made to our health and safety policies.
Do I need to wear a mask at drop-off?
At a child care facility, it is not always feasible to remain socially distant, i.e. sometimes a teacher may need to remove an infant from the parent’s arms. For the health, safety and comfort of the teachers we ask that you support the following guidelines: Please wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up. Please leave your child’s bag on the ground by the gate rather then handing it directly to a teacher. If a child is able to walk, it is best that they enter the Children’s Centre gate on their own rather then handing the child to a teacher. When dropping-off or collecting a child avoid arriving in groups i.e bringing extra family members or friends. And lastly, avoid gathering with friends or other families around the gate. Physical distancing is still the best way to stop the spread of not only COVID-19 but also cold and flu viruses.
Can someone else pick up my child?
With consent we are allowing someone other then the parent/guardian to pick-up a child from care. We do require all persons picking up to follow the same guidelines at the gate i.e. wearing a mask, remaining physically distant and arriving alone.
- Drop-off and pick-up of children are currently at the playground gates for the Cricket and Beetlebug programs. Dragonflies will continue to use the main entrance.
- An active daily health check will be completed before children and staff are allowed to enter the Centre. Please be aware of common symptoms of COVID-19 and check yourself and your child daily. This is especially important after a holiday, vacation or day trip, even if you have not left the province or the Sea to Sky corridor.
- Please wear a mask during drop off and pickup, as it is not always feasible to remain socially distant, i.e. sometimes a teacher may need to remove an infant from the parent’s arms. For the health, safety and comfort of the teachers we ask that you please wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up, leave your child’s bag on the ground by the gate rather then handing it directly to a teacher. If a child is able to walk, it is best that they enter the children’s centre gate on their own.
- When dropping-off or collecting a child avoid arriving in groups i.e don’t bring extra family members or friends. Also, avoid gathering with friends or other families around the gate.
- Only children, staff, maintenance workers, support persons will be permitted on the premises and in the building at this time. All persons accessing the premises or building are required to wash hands upon arrival and departure and wear a mask.
- Regular cleaning and disinfection are important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from contaminated objects and surfaces. Our Centre is cleaned and disinfected based on BCCDC’s guidelines.
- Toys, books, and equipment are cleaned daily (or as soiled) with a stronger (safe) bleach solution and in an industrial dishwasher.
- Hand hygiene is important and frequent hand washing is encouraged.
- Respiratory Etiquette is taught and encouraged. Children and staff should cough or sneeze into their elbow, sleeve or a tissue; throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene; and not touch their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Parents are encouraged to continue this practice at home.
- Personal items may be brought into the centre, however must be washed daily, including lunchboxes and comfort items.
- The Pemberton Children’s Centre respects every person’s privacy. For the safety of families, staff and the community we expect all illness and symptoms to be disclosed, including the use of symptom reducing medications, before entering the premises.
- Our illness policy requires children to be symptom free for 48 hours before returning to our care, even after a negative COVID-19 test.
While working hard to protect the families of Pemberton and surrounding area, we must rely on each other. The Pemberton Children’s Centre (PCC) is taking illness and social/physical distancing very seriously. Any person with possible illness will be asked to leave the Pemberton Children’s Centre premises for the well being of everyone. At the PCC we have up to 49 children per day and up to 14 teachers per day, the PCC is doing everything it can, but it takes a community of help. Thank you for you support.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website. http://www.bccdc.ca/covid19
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child/ren attend childcare if they have a runny nose?
Currently children with a mild clear runny nose can attend childcare. If there is any concern about the severity or color of discharge management and staff will contact parents and the child may have to return home.
Can my child/ren attend childcare if they have a cough?
No, families are asked not to bring their child to PCC with a cough at this time. Families will be referred to 811.
What symptoms will my child be sent home with or asked not to attend care?
Children with fever, diarrhea/vomiting, cold, flu, sore throat, unexplained rash or headaches will be sent home or refused entry at the gate at this time.
Can my child attend if they have symptoms but a negative test?
If COVID-19 is ruled out, PCC will still require children with symptoms to remain home until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.
What happens if 811 recommends a test but we choose not to?
If your family chooses not to contact 811 or receive a COVID-19 test after being recommended to receive one, your family will be excluded from the centre for 14 days.
Why have I seen children at the Centre with a cough?
Children with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, are able to obtain a medical note to allow them to attend childcare with a cough. Without a medical note, no one with any cold/flu symptoms will be allowed within the centre.
If a parent or sibling has a cough or cold, can my child attend Pemberton Children’s Centre?
If any member of the household has a cough and/or cold or flu symptoms, you are recommended to contact 811. If the symptomatic person is recommended to receive a COVID-19 test, we require the children to remain away for the children’s centre until COVID-19 is ruled out and the person has been symptom free for 48 hours.
If a family member or someone living in the house hold is required to isolate/quarantine, can my child attend care?
This is a very difficult question as families living situations are different. If a household member is required to self-isolate/quarantine, please contact the management of PCC and each situation will be dealt with individually.
Why are the rules of Pemberton Children’s Centre different from what VCH has told me?
The Pemberton Children’s Centre is required to follow all health and safety guidelines mandated by the Licensing Officer. PCC follows all requirements and recommendations of VCH, where the centre may differ is that we have additional requirements to maintain the health and safety of the staff as well as all families who are accessing care. Requiring a family to stay home for a period of time is in the best interest of the community as a whole, in order to remain open and operating we require healthy staff members.
Will my family be notified if a teacher or family tests positive for COVID-19?
Confidentiality will be maintained by the Pemberton Children’s Centre at all times. VCH will conduct the contact tracing and will notify everyone they need to. Pemberton Children’s Centre cannot share this information at this time.
Why will families not be notified if someone tests positive?
The Pemberton Children’s Centre cannot share information of positive results. VCH will conduct any necessary contact tracing and notify the necessary persons.
Will the daycare remain open if a teacher/family tests positive for COVID-19?
Pemberton Children’s Centre will follow the guidance of our Licensing Officer and requirements of Vancouver Coastal Health.
How does reducing the number of children help the Pemberton Children’s Centre?
Following all recommendations of the BCCDC, the staff are required to do additional cleaning and sanitizing each day. Ensuring all necessary cleaning in performed each day takes a teacher’s attention away from the children. By reducing the number of children within each program, the Pemberton Children’s Centre can give each child the time and attention they require while fulfilling all cleaning and health requirements. Staff are also required to stay home if they, or a family member, is unwell. As you can imagine this makes maintaining the required ratios exceedingly difficult. PCC does not want to be put in the position where we are forced to tell families that we are unable to offer care due to staff shortages, all help received from families who are able to keep their children home part or full time (while keeping their place secure) is a great help to the centre during these already trying times. We are asking for families to do this in blocks of time as it also helps with scheduling/ratios.
When will PCC be offering extra spaces to families on the waitlists?
To assist with the reduction of internal numbers we are not offering additional days to families accessing care or new families on the waitlist. Families will be notified when we are able provide increased care to their child/ren.
When will PCC return to the hours of 7:30-5:30?
Similar to the reduction of numbers, Pemberton Children’s Centre has reduced the operating hours to ensure the best possible care for the children while ensuring the additional cleaning and ratios are maintained. Parents will be notified of all changes to operating hours.
When will families be allowed inside the building?
Unknown at this time. With the guidance of BCCDC and Work Safe BC, PCC has limited the number of persons inside the building. This helps limit the possible exposure to all children, families and staff. We will continue to follow all recommendations from BCCDC and Work Safe BC, and keep families updated when changes are made to our health and safety policies.
Do I need to wear a mask at drop-off?
At a child care facility, it is not always feasible to remain socially distant, i.e. sometimes a teacher may need to remove an infant from the parent’s arms. For the health, safety and comfort of the teachers we ask that you support the following guidelines: Please wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up. Please leave your child’s bag on the ground by the gate rather then handing it directly to a teacher. If a child is able to walk, it is best that they enter the Children’s Centre gate on their own rather then handing the child to a teacher. When dropping-off or collecting a child avoid arriving in groups i.e bringing extra family members or friends. And lastly, avoid gathering with friends or other families around the gate. Physical distancing is still the best way to stop the spread of not only COVID-19 but also cold and flu viruses.
Can someone else pick up my child?
With consent we are allowing someone other then the parent/guardian to pick-up a child from care. We do require all persons picking up to follow the same guidelines at the gate i.e. wearing a mask, remaining physically distant and arriving alone.
