Child & Youth Programs | FAQ | Children Wearing Cloth Face Coverings in Child Care
1. Should cloth face covers be used in Child Development Programs to prevent COVID19?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear a cloth face covering to cover their nose and mouth in the community setting. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer but may prevent the spread of the virus from the wearer to others. The face-covering is especially important in the event an individual is infected but asymptomatic.
2. Is there anyone who should not wear a cloth face covering?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines indicate that cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under two years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance. This restriction applies to all children in Child Development Programs under age two as well as some older children, such as those with asthma or other lung diseases, intellectual disability, or developmental delay.
3. Why is it important that children under two years old not wear a cloth face covering?
Children younger than two years of age should not wear a cloth face-covering because of concerns that they might suffocate.
4. Is there any risk for children who are wearing a cloth face covering?
Cloth face coverings present a cross-contamination risk among children too young to understand "ownership" and "personal property" concepts. o Cross-contamination can easily occur when a child removes the face covering, lays it down, and another child picks up the face cover.
5. If children wear a cloth face covering, what types of sanitation practices should be considered?
Cloth face coverings should be replaced after removal by a child accidentally or for a routine, such as eating.
Staff should wear gloves to handle a child's cloth face covering; handling the face cloth should be followed by hand washing. Cloth face covers should be secured in a plastic bag and sent home to be laundered.
6. What types of cloth face coverings should be used?
Children should wear cloth coverings that hook over the ears.
Cloth face coverings may be made with hairbands for children 3 and over.
For children that are 2 years of age, cloth face coverings require elastic to be threaded through ahem, tied together, and hidden within the hem. (Directions are provided on the Center of Disease Control website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html).
Hairbands are considered to be chokes for children 2 and under.
Homemade cloth face coverings containing strings for tying would be hazardous for use in child care. Strings can pose a strangulation hazard according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Loose-fitting face coverings could obstruct a child's vision, possibly causing a fall or preventing the child from seeing an obstruction. o Children wearing cloth face coverings should be supervised at all times.
7. How should cloth face coverings be designed? Fit snugly close to the face
Be secured with ear loops
Include multiple layers of fabric
Allow for breathing without restriction o Be able to machine laundry and dried without damage to the overall shape
8. Who is responsible for ensuring sufficient cloth face coverings are available for children?
Parents would have to ensure sufficient cloth face coverings are available for use throughout the day.
9. What other prevention measures can be used to prevent COVID-19 from spreading?
Staff should encourage children to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy, such as covering coughs and sneezes with their elbow or using a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Encourage children to avoid touching their faces; if they do touch their face, have them wash their hands as soon as possible afterward.
Encourage children to avoid touching their faces; if they do touch their face, have them wash their hands as soon as possible afterward.
10. Are there other prevention measures that can be used for COVID-19?
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles).
Launder items, including washable plush toys, as appropriate and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry the items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people's items.
Open windows to allow for fresh air to circulate throughout the activity rooms.
Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/faq.html#covid19-children
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