COVID-19 Guidance: Child Care Centres

Last updated: April 29, 2022 at 11:58 a.m.

This page includes COVID-19 guidance and resources that may be applicable for child care settings including licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, before and after school programs and EarlyON settings.

To see Toronto Children’s Services’ resources and supports available to child care settings, visit their website at Early Learning & Child Care Partners

 

Licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, before and after school programs and EarlyOn settings are required to follow the guidance provided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education for the management of COVID-19:

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Education

Please refer to the Infection Prevention and Control in Child Care Centres: Requirements and Best Practices document for more information on infection prevention and control in child care centres.

Continue to screen for COVID-19 every day before entering the child care premises using either the TPH screening tools or the provincial COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.

Screening Poster for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools

Download the Screening Poster for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.

Also available in French.

Screening Questionnaire for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools

Download the Screening Questionnaire for Child Care, Day Camps and Schools. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.

Also available in French.

COVID-19 symptom screening:

All individuals must complete a self-screening questionnaire before entering school/child care each day. Individuals with a chronic health issue that is medically diagnosed and unrelated to COVID-19 should look for new, different or worsening symptoms.

A) Does the individual or anyone in their household have 1 or more of these new or worsening symptoms, today, or in the last [5 or 10] days on the symptom screener?

  • Fever >37.8°C and/or chills
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Decrease of loss of taste or smell

B) Does the individual or anyone in their household have 2 or more of these new or worsening symptoms today, or in the last [5 or 10] days on the symptom screener?

  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Feeling very tired
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion
  • Muscle aches, joint pain
  • Nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea

Individual has 1 or more symptoms from list A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from list B) in the last [5 or 10] days

  • The individual is presumed to be infected with COVID-19, must stay home and isolate, and not leave except to get tested or for a medical emergency.
  • If fully vaccinated, OR 11 years or younger, regardless of vaccination status:
    • They must self-isolate for at least 5 days from the day symptoms started and stay in isolation until their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea) and they do not have a fever, whichever is longer in duration.
    • Use test date if no symptoms
    • Once they come out of isolation they must continue to wear a mask when in public settings, including while exercising and are not to visit higher risk settings which include those who are immunocompromised, for 10 days from when symptoms started (use test date if no symptoms).
  • If 12 years of age or older AND not fully vaccinated, OR immune compromised
    • They must self-isolate for 10 days from the day symptoms started AND stay in isolation until their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea) and they do not have a fever, whichever is longer in duration.
    • Use test date if no symptoms
    • Once the immune compromised individual comes out of isolation they must continue to wear a mask when in public settings, including while exercising and are not to visit higher risk settings which include those who are immunocompromised, for 20 days from when symptoms started (use test date if no symptoms).
  • Household members of the symptomatic individual are not required to isolate if:
    • They are 17 years of age or younger and fully vaccinated OR
    • They are 18 years of age or older and have received their COVID-19 booster dose AND/OR
    • They have previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days and completed their isolation
  • Household members the symptomatic individual are required to isolate if they don’t meet the above criteria.
    • If they are immunocompromised they must self-isolate for 10 days
    • Everyone else in the household must isolate for the duration of the household members isolation period
  • If household members develop symptoms, they should follow isolation directions for symptomatic individuals.

Individual has no symptoms from list A) and only one symptom from list B) in the last [5 or 10] days

  • The individual is advised to self-isolate until symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea).
  • If the individual has one symptom from 1B) AND was a close contact of someone in the household/community, they are presumed to be infected with COVID-19, must self-isolate and follow guidance under the section, “Individual has 1 or more symptoms from A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from B) in the last [5 or 10] days”
  • The individual should seek assessment from their health care provider if needed.
  • Their household members do not need to self-isolate.

Individual has symptoms and has an alternative medical diagnosis. Not tested for COVID-19.

  • If the symptoms are from a known health condition diagnosed by a healthcare provider (not related to COVID-19), the individual does not have to self-isolate.
  • If the symptoms are new, different, or worsening, the individual should stay home and self-isolate, and follow guidance under the section, “Individual has 1 or more symptoms from A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from B) in the last [5 or 10] days”

Testing eligibility and availability:

  • Take-home PCR or Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) may be available at school/child-care for individuals who develop symptoms.
    • If no testing is available, based on COVID-19 symptoms as outlined above in the section COVID-19 Symptom Screening, the individual is presumed to be infected with COVID-19 and has to stay home and self-isolate.

Individual had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last [5 or 10] days and has tested negative for COVID-19 on a single PCR test or on two rapid antigen tests and is not a close contact of someone in the community, or has a household member with symptoms/COVID-19 positive.

  • If a single PCR test or two consecutive rapid antigen tests, separated by 24-48 hours, are both negative, the individual is advised to self-isolate until symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea) and no fever then can return to school/child care. Household members will no longer need to self-isolate. If one of the test results is positive for COVID-19, the individual is presumed to be infected with COVID-19 and should not repeat testing.

Individual has tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen test in the last [5 or 10] days

  • They must stay home and self-isolate, and should only leave for a medical emergency.
  • Follow guidance under the section “Individual has 1 or more symptoms from A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from B) in the last [5 or 10] days”.
  • If one of the test results is positive for COVID-19, they are presumed to be infected with COVID-19 and should not repeat testing.

Individual has been identified as a close contact of someone in the community who currently has COVID-19. The individual has no symptoms.

  • Close contact exposures in the community are notified by the person who has symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. They can include playdates, indoor gatherings, indoor activities/sports. The Province of Ontario has stated that attending school/child care with someone who is symptomatic/positive for COVID-19 may not always be considered close con­tact. All cases in the school/child care set­tings are encouraged to notify their close contacts directly if they have significant one-on-one interactions, without wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask. If the individual has no symptoms:
    • They do not need to self-isolate; the individual can attend school/child care. For 10 days: the individual should monitor for symptoms and wear a well fitted mask when in public settings (including schools and child care unless under 2 years of age). The individual must not visit people or settings that are at higher risk which include where there are seniors or those who are immunocompromised. They are to avoid activities where they need to take off their mask (e.g. playing a wind instrument in music class or removing their mask for sports). Reasonable exceptions would include removal for essential items like eating in shared spaces at school/work/child care and maintaining as much distance as possible. If exempt from masking (e.g. under the age of 2 yrs) may return to public settings without masking.
    • Household members are not required to stay home.
    • The individual must self-isolate right away if symptoms develop.

Individual has been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and has one or more symptoms

  • Follow guidance under the section, “Individual has 1 or more symptoms from A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from B) in the last [5 or 10] days”.
  • If the individual has one symptom from 1B) AND was a close contact of someone in the community, they are presumed to be infected with COVID-19, must self-isolate and follow guidance under the section, “Individual has 1 or more symptoms from A) and/or 2 or more symptoms from B) in the last [5 or 10] days”.

Household member has symptoms of COVID-19

  • The child/student staff/visitor and rest of the household are not required to self-isolate, if they are 17 years or younger and fully vaccinated; 18 years or older and have received their COVID-19 booster dose AND/OR they had a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days.
    • The individual should monitor for symptoms for 10 days and wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and child care unless under 2 years of age) when leaving the home. The individual must not visit people or settings that are at higher risk which include where there are seniors or those who are immunocompromised. They are to avoid activities where they need to take off their mask (e.g. playing a wind instrument in music class or removing their mask for sports).  Reasonable exceptions would include removal for essential items like eating in shared spaces at school/work/child care and maintaining as much distance as possible.  If exempt from masking (e.g. under the age of 2 yrs) may return to public settings without masking.
    • The individual must self-isolate right away if symptoms develop
  • If the child/student/staff/visitor and the rest of their household doesn’t meet the above criteria:
    • And they are immunocompromised, they are to self-isolate for 10 days
    • For all others- they must self-isolate for the duration of the household member who has COVID-19 symptoms isolation period (see below)
      • If the household member with symptoms or a positive test result is fully vaccinated, OR 11 years or younger, regardless of vaccination status:
        • The child/student/staff/visitor must self-isolate for at least 5 days from the day the household member’s symptoms started AND until their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea), and they do not have a fever, whichever is longer in duration.
        • Use test date if no symptoms
        • From day 6 to 10 wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and child care unless under 2 years of age when leaving the home. The individual must not visit people or settings that are at higher risk which include where there are seniors or those who are immunocompromised. They are to avoid activities where they need to take off their mask (e.g. playing a wind instrument in music class or removing their mask for sports). Reasonable exceptions would include removal for essential items like eating in shared spaces at school/work/child care and maintaining as much distance as possible. If exempt from masking (e.g. under the age of 2 yrs) may return to public settings without masking.
      • If the household member with symptoms or a positive test result is 12 years of age or older AND not fully vaccinated, OR immunocompromised
        • The child/student/staff visitor must self-isolate for 10 days from the day the household member’s symptoms started AND until their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting/diarrhea) and they do not have a fever, whichever is longer in duration.
        • Use test date if no symptoms.
  • If additional household members develop COVID-19 symptoms
    • They should follow isolation directions for symptomatic individuals and if eligible for testing, they should seek testing.
    • Household members who are 17 years of age or younger and fully vaccinated; 18 years of age or older and have receive their COVID-19 booster AND/OR they had a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days and have not developed COVID-19 symptoms are still not required to self-isolate
    • Household members who do not meet the criteria above:
      • And are immunocompromised must isolate for 10 days.
      • All other household members should extend their self-isolation until the last symptomatic (or COVID-19 positive if applicable) person has finished their self-isolation period.
    • The initial household member(s) with symptoms of COVID-19 do not have to extend their self-isolation based on other household members becoming ill.

Individual has travelled outside of Canada

Back to School/Child Care Confirmation Form

  • Toronto Public Health does not recommend or require medical notes for return to school/child care.
  • It is the decision of each child care operator, school or school board to decide if they choose to accept a Back to Child Care/School Confirmation Form.

References

Download this information as a PDF (available in French).

For general COVID- 19 inquiries:

  • Call the Toronto Public Health Hotline: 416-338-7600
  • Visit our website:
    • For general information: toronto.ca/COVID19
    • For school information: toronto.ca/COVID19SchoolInfo
    • For child care centres: toronto.ca/COVID19ChildCareInfo

To report:

  • Child/student or staff COVID-19 cases OR
  • Childcare/school absenteeism of children/students/staff that rises to approximately 30% above baseline absenteeism, fill out the survey at the following link:

Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Reporting for Schools and Child Care Centres Opens in new window

To report non-COVID-19 reportable communicable diseases:

  • Call the Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit Information Line:
    • 416-392-7411, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Visit website and fill out the Reportable Disease Notification Form and fax it to 416-392-0047. After Hours, call 311.

Download this information as a PDF.

Parents can complete a Back to Child Care/School Confirmation Form to provide to the child care to confirm the child is safe to return to child care.

Encourage parents/guardians of child care attendees and child care staff who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated:

Child care centres are encouraged to develop a vaccination policy.

Learn more about the requirements for travellers entering Canada.

Learn more about the COVID-19 resources available to school administrators, child care operators, parents/caregivers and students/children.