DHS COVID-19 PROVIDER GUIDANCE // OCDEL
Addition of COVID-19 to List of Reportable Communicable Diseases
Issued: December 20, 2021; Effective Date: December 20, 2021
Audience
All DHS Certified Child Care Facilities, Early Learning Resource Centers, Office of Child Development and Early Learning Staff
Purpose
To notify child care facilities that the Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Health (DOH) has added COVID-19 to the list of reportable communicable diseases. To provide guidance on the requirements of child care providers for child or facility person return to the child care facility after having a communicable disease, specifically COVID-19.
Background
The PA DOH maintains a list of reportable diseases and COVID-19 was added to the list. PA DOH requires that COVID-19 be reported within 24 hours. A link to the updated list is provided here:
PA Dept of Health of reportable diseases. 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
Discussion
With the addition of COVID-19 to the list of reportable communicable diseases, child care providers must adhere to the certification regulations under child and adult health found in 55 Pa. Code Chapters § 3270, § 3280, and § 3290.
55 Pa. Code § 3270.137, § 3280.137, and § 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.”
55 Pa. Code §3270.153, §3280.153, and §3290.153, relating to adult health, states: “A facility person 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 be excluded from attendance until the facility operator receives notification from a physician or CRNP that the person is no longer considered a threat to the health of others.”
Any child or facility person reporting positive test results or showing symptoms of COVID-19
cannot be in attendance at the child care facility. Upon return, the individual
must provide a written note or a negative test result signed and verified by a physician or nurse practitioner (CRNP) clearing them to return to the child care facility. A home test or any other negative test results that have not been reviewed, signed and verified by a physician or CRNP will not be acceptable for a child or a facility person to return to the child care facility.
Certification staff will review child and facility person files to ensure compliance with the regulations. The citations for non-compliance with the regulations pertaining to children and facility persons with symptoms of disease will be issued under 55 Pa. Code § 3270.137; § 3280.137, § 3290.137, §3270.153, §3280.153, and §3290.153. Additional citations are included with this announcement (see below) as Appendix A-Communicable Diseases Certification Requirements: OCDEL Guidance Chart.
Next Steps
Certified child care facilities must:
- Read this Announcement and share with appropriate staff.
- Ensure compliance of the facility with the reporting and retention requirements in this announcement.
- Review PA Department of Health website for updates to the list of reportable diseases.
- Direct all questions and comments to your Regional Office.
Certification Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning
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Central Region: 800-222-2117
| Southeast North and Southeast South Region: 800-346-2929
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Northeast Region: 800-222-2108
| Western Region: 800-222-2149
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Appendix A: Communicable Diseases Certification Requirements: OCDEL Guidance Chart
Informing
parents of
suspected
outbreaks
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care
Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care
Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.136(b)
55 Pa. Code
§3280.136(b)
55 Pa. Code
§3290.136(b)
| The operator shall inform parents of
enrolled children when there is a
suspected outbreak of a communicable
disease or an outbreak of an unusual
illness that represents a public health
emergency in the opinion of the
Department of Health
|
Informing
parents of an ill
child
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care
Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care
Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.136(c)
55 Pa. Code
§3280.136(c)
55 Pa. Code
§3290.136(c)
| If a child becomes ill at the facility, the
operator shall notify the child’s parent
as soon as possible
|
Reporting
diseases
(positive COVID19 cases)
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.136(d)
55 Pa. Code
§3280.136(d)
55 Pa. Code
§3290.136(d)
| A facility person who knows of a
communicable disease for which 28
Pa. Code Chapter 27 (relating to
communicable and noncommunicable
diseases) requires reporting, or who
knows of a group expression of an
illness which may be of public concern,
whether or not it is known to be of a
communicable nature, shall report it
promptly to the appropriate division of
the Department of Health as specified
in Chapter 27, or to a local department
of health.
|
Utilizing the
DHS Licensed
Facility COVID
Data Tool and/or
reporting to
child care
certification
staff
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.136(d)
55 Pa. Code
§3280.136(d)
55 Pa. Code
§3290.136(d)
| A facility person who knows of a
communicable disease for which 28
Pa. Code Chapter 27 (relating to
communicable and noncommunicable
diseases) requires reporting, or who
knows of a group expression of an
illness which may be of public concern,
whether or not it is known to be of a
communicable nature, shall report it
promptly to the appropriate division of
the Department of Health as specified
in Chapter 27, or to a local department
of health.
|
Children with
symptoms of
disease
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.137
55 Pa. Code
§3280.137
55
Pa. Code
§3290.137
| 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 CRNP that the child is no longer
considered a threat to the health of
others. The notification shall be
retained in the child’s file. Diseases
and conditions which require exclusion
are specified in 28 Pa. Code Chapter
27 (relating to communicable and
noncommunicable diseases). The
Department of Health will provide,
upon request, a list of communicable
diseases.
|
Facility persons
with symptoms
of disease
| Child Care Center
Group Child Care Homes (GCCH)
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH)
| 55 Pa. Code
§3270.153
55 Pa. Code
§3280.153
55
Pa. Code
§3290.153
| A facility person 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 be excluded from
attendance until the facility operator
receives notification from a physician
or CRNP that the person is no longer
considered a threat to the health of
others. The notification shall be
retained in the facility person’s file.
Exclusion from the facility is required
for diseases and conditions specified in
28 Pa. Code Chapter 27 (relating to
communicable and noncommunicable
diseases). The Department of Health
will provide, upon request, a list of
communicable diseases
|