(Ohio) – On Monday, March 16th, Governor Mike DeWine issued an order relaxing the teacher/student ratio currently required for childcare programs and preschools.
He urges parents to keep their children home from these facilities if they are economically able to do so and encourages the parent to not leave their children in the care of caretakers over the age of 60.
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, strongly recommends that all childcare programs immediately take the following actions:
- Conduct training for staff on handwashing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, and cough etiquette. Clean all surfaces multiple times daily.
- Implement handwashing routines among all children and staff upon arrival, before and after eating, before and after any outdoor playtime, and at the end of the day.
- Separate children and staff who have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and send them home as soon as possible.
- Prepare to cancel care if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your program (child or staff). Plan for environmental deep-cleaning with EPA-approved products.
- If care is suspended, work with your local health department to make sure there are continuity plans for any meal, medical, or social programs provided through the program.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4ASKODH (1-833-427-5634).
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals
- Wash hands often with water and soap (20 seconds or longer)
- Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry your hands
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
- Clean and disinfect “High-Touch” surfaces often
- Call before visiting your doctor
- Practice good hygiene habits
