Child care health and safety

Last updated on January 31, 2024

Health and safety information to assist and support child care providers to keep families informed of the latest public health guidance. 

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On this page: 

Health and safety guidance

The Ministry of Health and the BCCDC have provided public health guidance for child care and school settings, which will continue to be updated as needed.

Additional resources:

Rapid antigen tests

For instructions on how to use these Artron tests, there is information on the BC Center for Disease Control’s webpage that outlines how to ensure the most accurate results.

 

Please review these commonly asked questions for more information.

Who are they for (staff, kids, families)?

Rapid antigen tests are recommended for use among child care staff who are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The tests are not recommended for children under five years old due to the size of the swab relative to the size of their nose.

When and how often should they to be administered?

Rapid antigen tests should only be used by those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The use of rapid antigen tests is suggested when the results will inform what to do next. For example, before an adult enters a facility, or before visiting someone who is at higher risk of complications if they were to get COVID-19. 

Are they for take-home or in-program use?

The tests are recommended to be used at home. Test kits should be distributed to staff so they are available when symptoms begin to develop.

Are they ever to be used as a "condition of entry", or can people be compelled to take a test?

The tests should not be used as a condition of entry, and a negative test is not required for entry, even among those who recently tested positive. If the test is positive, it means you should not go to the child care centre. A negative test does not mean it’s okay to go to child care if you continue to show or feel symptoms of COVID-19.

What changes in the assessment and isolation protocol come with a positive test?

If you test positive for COVID-19 (whether by PCR or rapid antigen), you should self-isolate for at least 5 to10 days, depending on age and vaccination status. Information about when you can end isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 is available on the BCCDC website.

Should symptomatic people who test negative and say they are feeling fine stay home?

People who are symptomatic and test negative should stay home until they feel well enough to participate in regular day to day activities.

Archived health and safety information sessions

 

2020 - 2022

March 23, 2022

Child Care COVID-19 Guidance Q&A

Dr. Jason Wong, Associate Medical Director, Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control and Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Deputy Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health answered questions on the latest update to Public Health Guidance for Child Care Settings (PDF, 120KB)

January 26, 2022

Child Care: Discussing COVID-19 with Public Health

Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Reka Gustafson, Vice President, Public Health and Wellness, Provincial Health Services Authority and Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Jason Wong, Associate Medical Director, Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control and Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Deputy Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health spoke to the recent updates of the health and safety guidelines for child care settings and answered child care sector questions. 

February 16, 2021

Dr. Patricia Daly, Vice-President, Public Health and Chief Medical Health Officer from Vancouver Coastal Health, Dr. Geoff McKee, Medical Director, Population and Public Health at BC Centre for Disease Control, Jacqueline Holmes, Manager of Prevention Field Services at WorksafeBC held a town hall to discuss recently updated health and safety guidelines for child care settings.

May 27, 2020

Minister of State for Child Care, Katrina Chen, Medical Lead for the office of the Provincial Health Officer Dr. Trevor Corneil, and moderator Jinny Sims, MLA, held a town hall to discuss child care and COVID-19 for parents.

April 29, 2020

Dr. Patricia Daly, Vice-President, Public Health and Chief Medical Health Officer from Vancouver Coastal Health, answered questions directly from child care providers.

 Please note: All information presented at the live events was accurate at the time the event was held.