Newsletter - April 2020 - Resources & Guidance

April 8, 2020

Newsletter – April 2020 – Resources & Guidance

Recommendations and guidance are constantly changing and we are doing our best to provide the most current information. Please read the following newsletter for the most recent updates as there have been many changes.

What Child Health Connection can do for you:

If you remain open, we will continue providing consultation services (within our restrictions – such as phone consultations and teleconsulting) to meet licensing requirements.
Please contact your nurse consultant if you need any of the following:
- Medication Administration Training Part 2
- New staff delegations through teleconsulting
- Annual re-delegations with staff through teleconsulting
- Please note, special health training and delegations will be determined on a case by case basis
If your center is closed, we will document the closure and reach out to you prior to your anticipated reopening date. Monthly consultation is not required during your closure time. If you are closed, but have not let us know of your closure, please do so immediately.
We encourage daily Health Checks on the children and staff during this time (please refer to health check tools below).
We fully support your center following strict exclusion practices for any signs of illness (please refer to the CDPHE guidelines below for exclusion information).
In response to the announcement by Governor Polis on Friday, we are recommending along with other local health departments, for staff to wear cloth face coverings and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Please see details below for more guidance.
Additionally, we are advising that parents do not enter the building at drop-off and pick-up. However, for anyone that must enter the building, advise them to wear face coverings and wash their hands.
Need cloth face coverings for your center? We are working with local volunteers who are making face coverings to be distributed to our child care programs. Please contact your Child Health Connection nurse consultant for more information.

Health Check Form: https://childhealthconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Daily-Health-Checks-During-COVID-19-Pandemic.pdf

Recommendation for Staff to Wear Cloth Face Coverings

It is not mandatory at this time, but we are seeing strong guidance from public health departments to make this recommendation although it is not being enforced. As nurse consultants we want to share best practices with you and want to make this recommendation to protect your staff and help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Encourage staff to wear cloth face coverings. Reasoning: People can spread the virus well before being symptomatic.
Encourage staff members to have at least two face coverings, per day. Reasoning: changing out the face covering for a clean one throughout the day decreases the risk of transmission.
Wash the face coverings with detergent in hot water and dry in a hot dryer after each day of use. Wash any donated face coverings prior to first use.
100% cotton face coverings in three layers are found to be adequate.

Face Covering Infographic: https://childhealthconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/HowToUseAFaceMask-Infographic.pdf

How to put on a face covering:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching the face covering.
Inspect the face covering for tears or holes on either side.
Follow the instructions below for the type of face covering you are using:
1. Face Covering with Ear loops: Hold the face covering by the ear loops. Place a loop around each ear.
2. Face Covering with Ties: Bring the face covering to your nose level and place the ties over the crown of your head and secure with a bow.
3. Face Covering with Bands: Hold the face covering in your hand with the nose-piece or top of the covering at your fingertips, allowing the headbands to hang freely below hands. Bring the covering to your nose level and pull the top strap over your head so that it rests over the crown of your head. Pull the bottom strap over your head so that it rests at the nape of your neck.
Pull the bottom of the face covering over your mouth and under your chin.

How to remove a face covering:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching the face covering. Avoid touching the front of the face covering. The front of the covering is contaminated. Only touch the ear loops/ties/band.
Follow the instructions below for the type of face covering you are using:
1. Face Covering with Ear loops: Hold both of the ear loops and gently lift and remove the covering.
2. Face Covering with Ties: Untie the bottom bow first then untie the top bow and pull the covering away from you as the ties are loosened.
3. Face Covering with Bands: Lift the bottom strap over your head first then pull the top strap over your head.
Throw the covering in the trash or wash the face covering with detergent in hot water and dry in a hot dryer. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Helpful Hints for use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hygienic Practices:

Gloves: The wearing of gloves is optional as there is little guidance surrounding ECE staff wearing gloves at this time. Continue to thoroughly wash hands and practice disinfecting guidance from CDPHE.
Safety Eye Glasses: Safety glasses are recommended but not required. Reasoning: Viruses can enter the body through the eyes.
Outer Covering: Encourage staff to wear smocks or bring an extra set of clothes that they can change into before they go home. When returning home from work, encourage them to remove their clothing and place it in the wash on the high heat cycle with detergent before entering their homes.
Personal Hygiene: Educate your teachers on the importance of showering immediately upon returning home to remove any possible germs they may have brought with them from the center. This is what we nurses typically do after a shift at the hospital or clinic in order to prevent bringing home pathogens to our loved ones.

Keep in mind that children who are excessively coughing or sneezing should not be included in the childcare setting at this time due to the risk of airborne exposure.

State Resources and Guidance

The School and Child Care section of the CDPHE COVID-19 website – https://covid19.colorado.gov/schools-workplaces-community - was updated and now includes the following: