Protocols for Daycare Centers and Nurseries
Epidemiological surveillance
- Checking the temperature of all those coming to the daycare centers and nurseries before entering with a device approved by the SFDA and asking about any respiratory symptoms (cough or shortness of breath).
- Train officials at checkpoints on the method of test performing and the use of thermometers.
- Prevent nannies, employees, children, mothers and companions who have high temperature or respiratory symptoms from entering the daycare centers and nurseries.
- Report a case that has a high fever or respiratory symptoms (cough or shortness of breath) and is suspected of being infected with COVID-19, identify the case’s information and contact numbers and immediately call 937 to see the required directions to transfer the case to the hospital.
- In the event that a confirmed case is registered among the nannies, employees, children, or companions in the daycare centers or nurseries, the following actions must be followed:
- Contact the General Directorate of Health Affairs in the same city or call 937
- Ensure that there is no source of infection by examining and isolating other workers.
- Disinfect the places where the infected individual was.
- Collaborate with the MOH in the process of monitoring cases in contact with the confirmed case so that epidemiological investigation and quarantine procedures are applied in accordance with the procedures followed by the public health team
Awareness and Education
- Rely on official sources to obtain information about Coronavirus (official sources include: the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SCDC)).
- Awareness posters must be displayed in all entrances to the daycare centers and nurseries and prominent places, and must include the following:
- Introduction to the disease, how it spreads and the preventative measures to be taken.
- Awareness of handwashing, avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth before washing hands, and encourage attention to personal hygiene and health care
- Adherence to Hygiene and Cough etiquette (by using tissues and throwing them away immediately or coughing into the elbow and washing hands afterwards).
- Place a board containing a statement of the acts that violate the health requirements and how to report them.
- Use digital channels (such as social media, applications, and text messages), and other channels (such as placing awareness posters inside the daycare and nursery centers) to raise awareness among the nannies, employees, and mothers about Covid-19 in line with the guidelines followed by the MOH and the SCDC.
Prevention
- Require nannies and employees to wear cloth masks when they are inside the daycare or nursery centers.
- Emphasis on commitment to the instructions and preventive measures inside the centers (such as the number of nannies and children for each classroom, the recommended distance between the nannies and employees of no less than 1.5 meters).
- Set the number of employees, nannies and children in the daycare centers and nurseries and reduce the capacity to 50% of total child capacity.
- Reducing personal contact with mothers, wear masks and gloves when dealing with them, and adhere to social distancing when receiving the child.
- Kissing the children and direct contact without a mask should be prohibited.
- Allocate a bed for each child in the sleeping area, with commitment to cleanse and disinfect the bedspreads and mattresses on an ongoing basis.
- Do not allow any nanny or employee who has influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat) to come to work and they must be isolated until they are examined and their symptoms are disappeared and completely cured according to the report of their treating doctor.
- Nannies and employees should follow the instructions in regard to the optimal and safe way to wear and remove the personal protective equipment.
- Emphasis on frequent washing of hands with soap and water for at least 40 seconds, or sanitizing hands with approved sanitizers for a period of no less than 20 seconds when soap and water are not available.
- Provide nannies and employees with safety and protection equipment including masks and gloves and must be provided at the entrance.
- The entry of mothers or companions to the centers should be prevented except in cases of emergency.
- Designate time for pick-up and drop-off of each child to reduce congestion at the same time.
- Allocate one nanny to be responsible for caring of a certain number of children during the whole period.
- Allocate the nannies to one daycare center and nursery and prevent shifting from one daycare or nursery to the other.
Prevention and Safe Environment Requirements
- Hand sanitizers must be distributed and placed in prominent places such as the entrance of the daycare centers and nurseries, bathrooms and dining or playing areas.
- Must ensure the availability of hand soap in the bathrooms and hand sanitizers must contain 60-80% alcohol and meets the requirements of the Saudi Food and Drug General Authority (SFDA).
- Must adhere to routinely disinfect surfaces with SFDA approved disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite or household chlorine disinfectant) and follow the directions indicated on the packages while focusing on the areas where contact is more likely, such as door handles, tables, seats, elevator keys, and others.
- All places and surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water before disinfecting them.
- Ensure that the bathrooms and toils are continuously cleansed with approved disinfectants.
- Ensure nannies wear gloves and masks during the process of changing diapers or clothes for children inside the health facilities or bathrooms.
- Replace carpets and bedspreads with disposable ones, or with ones that can be disinfected in an easier way.
- Use only single-use sheets and towels as much as possible.
- Follow the detailed instructions in the Practical Guide for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public Facilities to Fight Covid-19 Infection issued by the SCDC
- Ensure that the children do not share their personal belongings with any each other, such as: bottles, clothes, bibs, etc.
- Use disposable food utensils (spoons, plates, cups) such as plastic or paper.
- Ensure good ventilation in all places, especially places of assembly, preferably use natural ventilation and reduce temperature in general.
- Must change or clean air filters for ventilation equipment, especially air conditioners, regularly.
- A record of the times of cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and toilets should be maintained
- Disinfect tools that nannies or children may commonly share, such as pens, educational tools, toys, utensils, etc.
- It is preferred to provide trash cans and waste baskets that are used with no touching required, and the waste must be disposed of continuously