Announcement C-21-11, Addition of COVID-19 to List of Reportable Communicable Diseases: The Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Health (DOH) has added COVID-19 to the list of reportable communicable diseases and requires that COVID-19 be reported within 24 hours. After a child or facility person contracts or is showing symptoms of a communicable disease or infection, the child care provider must exclude that person from the facility and must receive notification from a physician or a nurse practitioner (CRNP) that the person is no longer considered a threat to the health of others before the child or facility person may return to the facility. A link to the updated list is provided here: PA Dept of Health List of Reportable Diseases.

Concerns Related to Announcement C-21-11 from the OCDEL ECE Recap: OCDEL understands the concerns raised by many providers regarding the policy issued related to COVID-19 being added to the communicable disease list as outlined in the C-21-11 policy. We are working on a solution, but because we are no longer operating under a Disaster Proclamation issued by the Governor, we cannot suspend regulations as we had flexibility to do in the past. Our regulations state - 55 Pa. Code § 3270.137, 55 Pa. Code § 3280.137, and55 Pa. Code § 3290.137, relating to child health, states: “an operator who observes an enrolled child with symptoms of a communicable disease or infection that can be transmitted directly or indirectly and which may threaten the health of children in care shall exclude the child from attendance until the operator receives notification from a physician or a CRNP that the child is no longer considered a threat to the health of others.”

Also acceptable, is a negative test result sign by a pharmacist testing site operating with CLIA Certificate of Waiver or Certificates of CLIA Compliance, such as a CVS or Minute Clinic, if they are unable to have their pediatrician provide a written note or a signed negative test result. While we work on a solution, if certification were to identify instances of non-compliance, they would have to cite on those instances. It is our intent to work toward a different solution and as soon as possible communicate that to the field. 

Announcement C-22-01, Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Requirements and Access to Free Training through Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organizations (ECE PDOs): The reauthorized Child Care Development Block Grant Fund requires all staff in licensed child care programs to be certified in Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR. Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR is a required health and safety training topic that must be completed before a child care staff can care for children unsupervised, which means a child care staff must be supervised at all times by a qualified child care staff.