If we observe any of the following symptoms in your child while they are in our care we will isolate them from the other children and will call you immediately so that you can make arrangements to pick up within one hour. Exclusion from the NLC is required when the teachers and the Director feel that a child is in a contagious phase of an illness, if they require more care and observation than can be offered at the NLC, or if a child can no longer be comfortable at the NLC.
REASONS FOR EXCLUSION FROM THE CENTER – Potential COVID-19 Symptoms
A child MUST be excluded from the NLC if they show any of the following symptoms. While the NLC understands many of these symptoms may also be a result of non-COVID-19 related issues, the Center must proceed with an abundance of caution during this time of pandemic.
- A child showing any of the following signs/symptoms must be excluded from the NLC:
- Temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher within the last 24 hours
- Shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
A child showing two or more of the following signs/symptoms must be excluded from the NLC:
- Cough
- Congestion or runny nose
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Muscle or body aches
- Excessive fatigue
- Headache
INCLUSION/RETURNING AFTER EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR OR IS PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
- Household member has tested positive or is presumptive positive for COVID-19
- Child must stay home for 14 days after the household member’s isolation period has ended.
- Monitor the child for symptoms during this time. If symptoms start, contact the child’s physician/pediatrician. If the child tests positive or presumptive positive for COVID-19, follow the instructions in #1.
- Close contact with someone who has tested positive or is presumptive positive for COVID-19
- Child must stay home for 14 days after exposure
- Monitor the child for symptoms during this time. If symptoms start, contact the child’s physician/pediatrician. If the child tests positive or presumptive positive for COVID-19, follow the instructions in #1.
REASONS FOR EXCLUSION FROM THE CENTER – Non-COVID-19 Symptoms
A child showing any of the following signs/symptoms MUST be excluded from the NLC. The NLC’s “24-hour policy” states that the child may not return to the NLC until s/he has been symptom free for a period of 24 hours unless otherwise accompanied by a physician’s note stating that the child is not contagious. EXCEPTION: In the case of lice, a child may return as soon as s/he has been treated with a lice shampoo and all lice and nits removed with a lice comb.
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- Discolored skin or eyes
- Unusual spots or rash
- Severely irritated skin or scalp
- Extreme or unusual behavior
- Earache
- Red, draining, or crusty eyes
- Lice
INCLUSION/RETURNING AFTER ILLNESS
If a child was excluded from the NLC due to non-COVID-19 symptoms, they may attend/return to the NLC:
- Symptom free for 24 hours unless otherwise accompanied by a doctor’s note indicating your child may return to care.
- In the case of lice, a child may return as soon as s/he has been treated with a lice shampoo and all lice/nits have been removed with a lice comb. Check hair again after 7 days and retreat as needed.
If a child was excluded from the NLC due to COVID-19 symptoms, they may return to the NLC:
- With documentation from a healthcare provider:
- Once a healthcare provider has determined either that your child has a specific diagnosis (influenza, strep throat, common cold, etc.), or symptoms are related to a pre-existing condition (ex// allergies).
- This documentation from the health provider must state that your child may return to daycare and must identify any other criteria to be met prior to your child returning to the NLC (e.g., fever free for 24 hours).
If your child or other household member has a COVID-19 test pending, the results must be received before your child can return to the NLC. Based on those results, your child may return to the NLC:
- If the test result is negative, and, if applicable, your child is fever free for at least 24 hours without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
- If the test result is positive, you must wait until ten (10) days have passed since the onset of symptoms (if asymptomatic, 10 days from positive test), your child is fever free for at least 24 hours without medication, and other symptoms have improved. (For more Info, please speak with your healthcare provider or the Loudoun County Health Department, or the CDC.)
Without documentation from a healthcare provider – Without documentation from a health care provider, the NLC must treat the illness as COVID-19 and your child may return to the NLC after these criteria are met: Ten (10) days have passed since the onset of symptoms, your child is fever free for least 24 hours without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
Some illnesses/conditions such as Hand, Foot and Mouth, or lice, are easily spread in a community such as a child care center. If a child is diagnosed with such an illness, every effort will be made to notify families whose children might have come in contact with either the ill child or other opportunities to be exposed to the disease. Notification will be made via email, flyers, postings at the front desk, etc.
Please Note: Some communicable diseases must be reported to the Public Health authorities so that control measures can be implemented. Parents and staff are asked to notify the NLC within 24 hours after a child, a person in that child’s immediate family, and/or staff member, have developed a known or suspected communicable disease. If a communicable disease is diagnosed within the NLC community a notification email will be sent to all families regarding the specific symptoms, what to watch for, steps to take to avoid/treat, etc.
If your child exhibits any of the above listed symptoms while in your care, please follow the exclusion/inclusion regulations, even if their symptoms have resolved by drop-off time. We understand that it can be inconvenient to stay home with a child who no longer appears to be ill, however bringing a child who has had symptoms like those listed above into contact with other children often spreads illness. Please be considerate of other children and families and – if in doubt – keep your child home.