A pandemic is a global outbreak of a virus that is easily and quickly transmitted from person to person. Most people will not have immunity to the virus and a vaccine may not be available for some time after the virus is identified. It is important for child care providers to be prepared in advance to work to reduce the impact and spread of a pandemic virus on the children in their care.
- Coronavirus: What Child Care Providers Need to Know
- Coronavirus: How Does It Impact Child Care Providers and CCR&Rs?
- Coronavirus Updates and Resources for Child Care Providers and CCR&Rs
Before a Pandemic
There are steps you can take to reduce the impact of a pandemic.
- Ensure pandemic response is covered in your emergency plan
- Involve community partners to assist with preparedness training and planning
- Follow and enforce proper sanitation processes and procedures (wash hands frequently, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you are sick, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing)
- Talk with parents and staff about procedures for interruption of care
- Remind parents to have back-up child care options available in the event that your child care program must close
- Make sure you have a process in place to communicate with children, staff, and parents
- Review requirements for reporting illness in your community/state
Other Resources
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- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – This page includes Resources for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs
- Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource – National Association of School Psychologists
- Early Childhood Care and Education Programs Closure and Dismissal During a Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: Technical Guidance for Child Care, Head Start and public and private Prekindergarten Education Programs – Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Agency of Education, and the Department for Children and Families
- Pandemic – Ready.gov
- Emergency Preparedness and Response – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Pandemic Resources – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Preparing Child Care Programs for Pandemic Influenza – American Academy of Pediatrics
- Ready Wrigley – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PDF Download)
- Healthy Habits to Help Prevent the Flu – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Download the following poster in 17 languages (click the poster):
