Quebec is backing down. Children and daycare educators who have been in contact with a positive case will have to isolate themselves.
“They decided to go back to the practices that were there before December 30. I know that for the parents, it is confusing ”, indicated to Press Geneviève Bélisle, Executive Director of the Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers (AQCPE).
On December 30, daycare centers received new directives concerning the management of COVID-19 cases in their establishments. It indicated that children and educators who have been in contact with a person positive for the virus in daycare would no longer have to take a test for COVID-19 or isolate themselves for 10 days, unless they develop symptoms related to the disease.
“We were worried about having zero days of isolation, because the children could have been contagious and infect a lot of other children,” says Mme Bélisle.
Considering that Public Health does not have sufficient screening test capacity and that children are not masked, they mandated the INSPQ to review their recommendation, said the director general.
Isolation
Children who have contracted COVID-19 will have to do a 10-day quarantine, while educators will now be able to isolate themselves for five days. “The confinement is for five days, as long as she can return to work. If her condition does not allow it, she can lengthen the duration of her isolation, ”says David Haddaoui, president of the Association of non-subsidized day care centers in installation.
Earlier Tuesday, Public Health announced that fully vaccinated Quebecers with COVID-19 will be able to isolate themselves for five days rather than 10.
Employees in daycare centers who return to work after five days of isolation will not be able to take their breaks and their meals near other workers. “Employees will have to keep their masks on at all times. It means that they are not allowed to eat with their colleagues. It will be another challenge to implement this measure, ”said Mr. Haddaoui.
With Coralie Laplante, Press