Our Covid Policies and Guidelines

                                                                             RCC Covid Protocol Updated Sept. 2022

Risk Mitigation at the Center:

●  Ventilation- We will have 2 HEPA air filters running and at least 2 windows open at least 2 inches at all times in every classroom.●  Masking-

○  Masking is optional when community numbers are low.
○  Anyone showing symptoms should mask indoors until a rapid test has been

done.
○  Parents may choose to have their children mask indoors and or outdoors if they

wish.
○  If cases increase we will institute center-wide masking once again.

●  Separate cohorts- Children will stay within their classroom groups most of the time while indoors, but may combine with other groups for short periods of time as needed.

●  Parents in the building- Parents are allowed in the building and the classrooms. Please mask if you have symptoms or you have been exposed to someone with Covid.

●  Distancing- While napping children will be 3 ft apart from each other.

●  Vaccination- Vaccines are now available for children 6 months and up.

●  Testing- Anyone with symptoms will test and remain at home unless they have a

negative test result. PCR or Antigen. Rapid Antigen tests are now allowed for all children in care. If Staff or students who have parental consent on file, become symptomatic while at school they can be tested at school and remain with a negative test, no fever, and mild symptoms.

●  The bolded COVID-19 symptoms below (when they occur alone) should require immediate exclusion from care. The non-bolded symptoms should be managed on a case-by-case basis by Riverside and the family depending upon the severity, combination of symptoms, and child illness policies of the program.

-Fever (100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or higher,) chills or shaking chills Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

-New loss of taste or smell
-Muscle aches or body aches
-Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough)

-Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms

-Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms Headache when in combination with other symptoms
-Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms

-Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

PCR Testing:
● Riverside will end the individual PCR testing program and test symptomatic individuals only.

Covid Exposure and Isolation:

PCR, Molecular, or home Antigen tests may be used to diagnose Covid, Molecular or rapid tests can be used to release individuals from quarantine or isolation after testing Positive. Symptoms should always be used as a guide to when someone should stay at home.
  

Please notify the center immediately if your child or someone in the house has tested positive for Covid.
If your child is a ‘close contact’ with a Positive individual while either at Riverside or not, Riverside will provide you with tests if needed.

Close Contacts

Close contacts- Children who are exposed to a covid positive individual; will test before coming to school on days 2 and 5 for a one-time exposure, and daily for continual exposure within a household. Parents will administer the test in the morning, and children can attend school if they are negative and can reliably wear a mask indoors.

For a one-time contact, Rapid tests will be administered on days 2 and 5 before coming to school, or more frequently if symptoms appear. After a negative test on day 5, they will no longer be asked to test. Masking is optional unless symptomatic.

For Continuous exposure within a household, the child will test and mask while the covid positive household member is still testing positive. Once the household member tests negative, the child will test and mask for 2 days longer, if they remain negative, they will go back to mask optional status, if no symptoms are present, and no testing will be required.

Covid Positive Cases

Isolation for all positive cases - anyone who tests positive for Covid must isolate for 5 days and can test on day 5 or after using a Rapid Antigen test. If the test is negative, they are fever-free, and symptoms are improving they can return on day 6.

○  If the test is positive, they will continue to test and can return once receiving a negative test result or if they reach day 10, they can return on day 11 if fever-free.
○  If they cannot test they will remain in isolation for 10 days with a return on the 11th day if they are fever-free.

Use of Antigen Tests:

●  At-home antigen tests are now allowed for all children.
●  Parents will need to sign the consent form for antigen testing if they want their child to be

tested when they exhibit mild symptoms at school. Teachers and Administration will determine if the child is well enough to stay at school. All children with a fever over 100 degrees will need to go home and must be fever-free for 24 hours with no fever-reducing medication and a negative test result, before returning.
●  At-home Antigen tests will be provided to parents upon request, for children who were exposed to Covid.
●  If Riverside is unable to provide tests for any reason, Children would need to quarantine at home for 5 days, with a return on day 6 after a negative test, or use a rapid test on days 2 and 5 that a parent provides. Riverside is unable to reimburse parents for any testing supplies purchased.
●  Riverside reserves the right to require additional testing if symptoms warrant, and will provide these tests or test the child while at school with a consent form.

~Riverside will encourage staff to receive vaccine boosters as recommended by their doctor and the CDC.

~Riverside is Mask Friendly and supports the use of masks for anyone who wishes to wear one or have their child wear one. Masks are available if needed.