To login to the Pennsylvania Key Portal various intranets, please login here. Isolation: Separates an individual who is sick with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. Schools should designate an isolation room or area for anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms. The staff member waiting with the student should wear a N95, KN95, or KF94 mask or should double mask. Guide for Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case in Schools, Responding to a COVID-19 Outbreak in Schools, Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K-12 Schools. If 10% of a ECEs population is positive, contact the Health Department at (215) 685-5488 OR email covid.schools@phila.gov for contact tracing and further guidance on response, access to outbreak testing or possible pauses to in-person learning. While the risk of monkeypox to children and adolescents is low, schools and ECEs should take the same precautions that are utilized to stop the spread of other infectious diseases. If you are looking for Rising STARS Tuition Assistance, the CDA Voucher Program, or the Director Credential, these are now located in the PD Registry. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Case Investigation: The identification and investigation of individuals who are classified as being a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. pertinent laws and regulations and general health and safety.. All other programs must report to the PA Department of Health, 1-877- The Health Department has developed a COVID-19 sample screening tool. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Individuals who are able to mask cannot test out of the 10-day masking period. Make sure you have all the vaccines you are eligible for at CDCs vaccines schedule at-a-glance (PDF). COVID-19 vaccines are freeto everyone living in the United States. Quarantine or modified testing strategies may be more appropriate for children less than age 2 and those who cannot mask. staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Rapid antigen tests are preferable to PCR when used to detect current infection for those with recent history of COVID-19 infection. Implement plans to comply with the Acting Secretary of Healths Order on or before ed location and able to maintain a physical distance of six Read complete guidelines below, under Managing Exposures and Cases: Isolation for cases. Masking should be maintained for 10 days after exposure. Encouraging the wider school community to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation. Maximizing the amount of outside air circulated by the system. Schools and ECEs should take advantage of all ventilation strategies available to them especially when transmission in the community is high or there is an outbreak in the school. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Schools guidance (K-12) | Programs and initiatives Cleaning/disinfecting after a COVID-19 case or COVID-19 symptoms: Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as classroom, offices, bathrooms, common areas, and your isolation room or area and in the classroom where the sick child or staff member was after the sick child or staff member has gone home. Installing filters with minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) of 13, or the highest compatible with the filter rack. It emphasizes layered preventative measures for spread of COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases, such as influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus, to support safe and healthy learning environments for all. Although the "close contact" definition is generally 15 consecutive minutes, there are circumstances where 15 cumulative minutes, or less than 15 minutes, may be used. The CDC's Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K-12 Schools is an additional helpful tool that may be used to determine close contacts in schools. feet from all other individuals. The CDC's Pa. Code 3270.14, 3270.21, 3280.14, 3280.20, and 3290.18, all pertaining to compliance with Reporting COVID-19 cases to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health can be done by completing a REDCap Pediatric Survey. Access additional isolation information or refer to CDC's The detailed guidance is categorized by the following key practices: Vaccination, including booster shots, remains the best strategy to protect students and staff and the community and reduce interruptions in learning. As we enter the third year of the pandemic and begin a new school year, we have drawn on lessons learned and input from schools and communities to create a framework that helps children continue in-person learning. In order to best meet our communitys diverse needs, we have created a set of baseline or minimum recommendations based on guidelines from the Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serve as best practices within the school setting for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 for students and staff. Next Steps Child care providers must: Read this Announcement and share with appropriate staff. The Pennsylvania Department of Education is committed to offering guidance and resources to support and help protect school communities during this pandemic. As we adapt to the ever-changing pandemic, we know more and have more tools to help us let teachers teach and students learn with fewer disruptions. Services. Children older than 2 who cannot mask for medical reasons stated above should receive an antigen test every other day until day 10 in order to limit transmission. The decision to close for any length of time remains a local decision. emergency in the opinion of the Resources on Covid-19 in Pa for Ece Programs & Professionals Obsolete: December 10, 2021, Announcement C-20-04:Suspension of Regulatory Requirementsfor Certified Child Care Facilities Duringthe COVID-19 PandemicSunset: Sept. 30, 2021, Announcement C-21-05: Obsolete Certification Announcements for Certified Child Care Providers To stay up-to-date,subscribe to the PA Early Ed News. Health, the Department of Education and Read CDCs full guidance for isolation and quarantine. Because these children cannot mask, they will need to be tested. As recommendations regarding the mitigation of COVID-19 continue to evolve, local department of health, The operator shall inform parents of PDF Ocdel Covid-19 Faq In order to best meet our community's diverse needs, we have created a set of baseline or minimum recommendations based on guidelines from the Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serve as best practices within the school setting for mitigating the risk of Healthcare professionals should see Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. FAX: 717-213-0585 Staff illness: PA-HAN 619 for additional information on isolation periods. Opening windows and/or doors on opposite sides of the room and consider using fans to blow outside air through the room. Maintaining healthy facilities Were always working to improve phila.gov. does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting. drinking, playing an instrument that would be obstructed by the face covering; or, Participating in high intensity aerobic or anerobic activities, including during a physical P-3 Alignment accurate information. nature, shall report it promptly to the To support Requirements for Schools | It is consistently OCDELs message to follow the CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs. providers must continue to use the COVID Data Collection Tool and notify their designated The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has releasedupdated information for COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs, as of Jan. 28, 2022, which include updated guidance to reflect new quarantine andisolation guidance and recommendations, specifying the circumstances when isolation and quarantine periods can be shortened, and updated guidance regarding staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Pennsylvanias Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL): Pennsylvanias Promise for Children programs are required to report positive COVID-19 cases utilizing the DHS Licensed Facility COVID The Department will consult with you on management issues for your facility. Facilities who do not have access to the COVID Data If possible, increase ventilation in the building by either: Handwashing & Respiratory Etiquette In order to best meet our communitys diverse needs, we have created a set of baseline or minimum recommendations based on guidelines from the Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serve as best practices within the school setting for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 for students and staff. and mouth with material that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is To request test kits and supplies for your school, email COVID.schools@phila.gov. The staff member waiting with the student should wear a N95, KN95, or KF94 mask or should double mask. In all instances when reporting to DHS, provide: The CDC COVID resource pages are recommended as the primary source of up-to-date and Those individual cases who cannot maskbecause they are under 2 years of age or have a medical condition which prevents them from maskingmust isolate for a full 10 days. The PA Key website is best viewed in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. gymnasium. Responding to Cases - Department of Education "Face covering" means covering of the nose regulations. An official website of the City of Philadelphia government. To get the most from their education, children need to connect with peers and their surroundings in-person. Checking that the external air inlet duct is not blocked and that it is at least 15 feet from persons. COVID Data Collection Tool by DHS personnel. To assist child care providers with continued compliance with these requirements, OCDEL has Any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who experiences Optimizing ventilation provided by the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by: Having the HVAC system checked to assure that it is working properly. Department of Health (DOH) Early ChildhoodEducation COVID-19 Reporting Options February 3, 2022, Addition of COVID-19 to List of Reportable Communicable Diseases December 20, 2021, Special Announcement on Masking Guidance: A Message fromActing Secretary Meg Snead December 10, 2021, Accouncement C-21-10:Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early LearningBureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development and Bureau ofCertification December 10, 2021, Announcement C-21-09: Reinstating and Extension of Child Care Certification Regulation Suspensions Due at Act 73 December 7, 2021;Sunset: October31, 2022, Announcement C-21-08: Compliance with Acting Secretary of Health's Face Covering OrderObsolete:December 10, 2021, AnnouncementC-21-07: COVID-19 Policy Updates