While it may seem like the world is changing, our commitment to families remains to be the same: providing safe, quality, inclusive care.

Below are our pandemic policies, supports to talk to your children, government links as well as our screening tool. If you have any questions or looking for more supports, please reach out, allegro@eastlink.ca

Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

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Covid restrictions lifted

News release

Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

COVID – 19 / Health and Wellness

July 4, 2022 – 12:06 PM

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced today, July 4, that Nova Scotia will remove all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in the community on Wednesday, July 6.

Most restrictions in high-risk settings will remain in place.

“This is the right time. Although we expect to see smaller waves of COVID-19 variants over the summer, our high vaccine coverage and low risk of severe disease from Omicron variants make it manageable as we learn to live with COVID-19. That’s why we are removing the remaining COVID-19 restrictions for the general public,” said Dr. Strang. “The pandemic is not over. But Nova Scotians have the tools and resources to make the right decisions to keep each other safe.”

Effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 6:

Isolation

• isolation shifts from being mandatory to strongly recommended for people who test positive for COVID-19
• it is also strongly recommended that people who have symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or fever isolate until feeling better
• it is still important for people with symptoms to avoid high-risk settings and people at higher risk
• if a workplace has occupational health policies that are stricter than the general public health recommendations, such as mandatory masking or isolation requirements, people must continue to follow those policies.

Masks

• will shift from strongly recommended to optional
• masks are still strongly recommended for people who are ill or in a crowded indoor setting
• for people who have COVID-19 symptoms but cannot isolate, it is strongly recommended they wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public places, on public transit and crowded areas
• it is each person’s own decision whether to wear a mask, weighing their risk factors and comfort and those of people around them.

Testing

• people with symptoms will still have access to COVID-19 testing at testing centres across the province
• people with symptoms who are in a low-risk category in their self-assessment will have access to rapid tests only and will not receive a PCR test whether or not they test positive on a rapid test
• higher risk people and those who work or live in higher-risk congregate settings still have access to PCR testing, and it is still recommended
• Nova Scotia will no longer offer testing for those without COVID-19 symptoms
• rapid tests will continue to be available for pickup at public libraries and MLA offices, but people who are sick should not go.

Long-Term Care, Corrections Facilities, Shelters and Transition Houses

• to align with the policy at hospitals, designated caregivers and visitors will no longer need proof of vaccination to visit
• designated caregivers and visitors will be able to remove their masks when visiting in a private area or while outdoors
• seven-day isolation for residents who test positive for COVID-19 continues to be required.

In July, Nova Scotia will shift to a monthly COVID-19 report, which will be posted online. The report will be produced on the 15^th of every month and reflect the COVID-19 epidemiology in the province for the previous month. The first monthly report will be for June and will be available on July 15. The COVID-19 dashboard will continue to be updated weekly.

Quick Facts:

• the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Protocol in High-Risk Settings remains in place

Additional Resources:

More information on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia is available at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Protocol in High-Risk Settings: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/COVID-19-Protocol-for-mandatory-vaccination-high-risk-settings-en.pdf

COVID-19 online self-assessment: https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en

Epidemiologic summaries: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/alerts-notices/#epidemiologic-summaries

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Moving into Phase 3

Nova Scotia is moving to open up fully as of March 21.  

How is this going to look for us going forward?

As of phase 3 Allegro will look like this…

*Masks:

We are going to ask that all staff, families and professionals continue to wear masks as long as it is mandated in schools. The children will continue to be encouraged to do so again.

*Outings and Backyard:

Children will be able to go out and about in our community once again ie library visits, other playgrounds.  That being said, if it is crowded I have asked staff to leave the area and let me know of their new locations.  Wipes and hand sanitizer will be encouraged to be used while out and about. We will not be using buses at this time.

* Cleaning:

This will continue with norwex and bodsan( to disinfect) oxivir wipes will continue to be used on change tables.

Toys and washrooms will be continued to be cleaned regularly as we have been doing over covid.

We will continue to have a daytime cleaner to support the centre with programming breaks and daily upkeep of all aspects of cleaning.

* Naptime:

Cots wil be continued to be used head to toe of other children and distanced as much as possible.

* Food:

We will continue with “family style” serving as this supports children best. The food is delivered in a dish then educators put small amounts into a serving bowl/tray for children to serve themselves.  This allows less germs if a child should sneeze on it or grab too many.

Food from home unless you have dietary needs…will continue to not be brought into Allegro.

*Sickness Policy:

We will be referring back to our old sickness policy, however if your child is unwell please try to keep them home to allow time to fully recover.

*Handwashing Stations:  

This will remain at the front entry way along with hand sanitizer to encourage use for all to continue as its best practice.

* Hallway and classrooms:  

We would like to continue to limit one family member only for drop off and pick up( unless you have more than one child) this helps us in our small narrow hallways.  

Families are welcomed back into the room for drop offs and pick ups and please feel free to chat with educators verbally at these times if need be.  Of course we still encourage you to use the tadpoles app to let us know of your child’s night/morning as not always does the verbal  communication happen due to families rushing to get to their own work.

The flow of coming in the front and exiting out the back is still encouraged as it stops others from running into each other so much.

We will be bringing our coffee station back up in the front entryway to allow families time to gather and chat over a cup of coffee.  I know the couch isn’t a comfortable one but it is there for you to relax and take a moment if need be.

The covid board  just outside the office area will be done and we will be back posting more info on Quality Matters and Framework expectations here.

Vaccines:

As of right now, all staff are fully vaccinated.

Scrubs:

Staff will continue to change into scrub tops to lessen the germs and hardship on our clothes.

Jan.2022

Please see the current recommendation below. We are asking if your child has a NEW or WORSENING cough, you call 811; if your child has any combination of 2 symptoms, call 811.

What steps does Public Health take when a case of COVID-19 is reported in a school or child care setting?

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Updates:

April 25th, 2021

Updates:

October 9, 2020

Useful Links:

Online Screening tool – to book a Covid-test https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. The CRB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-benefit.html

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they’re sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-caregiving-benefit.html

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) will provide $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in one-week periods.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-sickness-benefit.html

October 9, 2020.

To reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19, people should stay home if they feel unwell. Families need to closely monitor and screen their children each day using the COVID-19 Daily Checklist. Keep children home when they are unwell or have new or worsening symptoms and complete the COVID-19 Self-assessment. Talk to your child care setting if your child has chronic symptoms for example seasonal allergies or migraine

September 16, 2020

Dear Owners/Operators/Staff: 

The COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for Child Care Settings document has been updated by Public Health to reflect the changes made to the daily symptoms checklist. The document can be found at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/education/ . Please share this important information within your organization and with families. We ask that you destroy any previous versions of the document that you may have copied. 

The main update is in the section on Preventing the Introduction of COVID-19 into Child Care Settings. The following items have been clarified: 

1. Clarification on return to child care guidance for individuals who are unwell – revised wording includes consideration of isolated clear runny nose in individuals who are otherwise well 

2. Clarification that household contacts of individuals who are unwell or being tested for COVID-19 do not need to isolate if they are feeling well 

3. Clarification on guidance for chronic symptoms 

It is important to note that Public Health (PH) will determine the need for individual or public notification around cases and outbreaks of COVID-19. They will continue to actively monitor COVID-19 and the guidance document will be revised/updated based on new evidence or changing epidemiology going forward. Also, there was a slight update to the COVID-19 Daily Checklist, to restore the original language around runny nose/nasal congestion and signs of fever (i.e. chills, sweats). This checklist can be found at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/Daily-COVID-checklist-en.pdf 

We understand that the child care sector is working diligently to ensure the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in the child care setting is minimized. Following the measures provided to you by PH within the context of your facility is important. We would ask that you refrain from modifying or creating ‘rules’ or ‘guidelines’ that are exclusionary to families, inhibit access to child care, or inadvertently create additional risk while attempting to implement unrecommended protocols. 

Updated August 26, 2020,.

Following assessment by 811 or a Health Care Provider (as above), individuals with only chronic stable symptoms (e.g. cough, sneeze, runny nose, or nasal congestion) due to a medical condition such as asthma or allergies may return. Individuals with new or worsening symptoms must not enter and should be reassessed.

https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/COVID-19-Childcare-setting-guidance.pdf