Quebec is backing down. Children and daycare educators who have been in contact with a positive case will again 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 indicating that children and educators who had been in contact with a person positive for the virus in daycare centers would no longer have to be tested for COVID-19 or isolate themselves for 10 days, unless they develop symptoms related to the disease.
Tuesday, during a meeting with various employers’ associations, Public Health announced the end of this directive, to the relief of guard circles. Children and daycare educators who have been in contact with a positive case will therefore have to isolate themselves.
It is good to act with caution. We were worried about having zero days of isolation, because the children could have been contagious and infect many other children and their families.
Geneviève Bélisle, Executive Director of the Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers
Public Health has asked the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) to review its decision, since there is not a sufficient capacity for screening tests and the children are not masked.
Isolation
Public Health announced Tuesday that children who have contracted COVID-19 will have to do a ten-day quarantine, while doubly vaccinated educators will be able to isolate themselves for five days.
Unvaccinated employees will have to do a ten-day quarantine like children, says Mario Ranallo, who heads the Rassemblement des garderies privée du Québec.
“The confinement is for five days, as long as the employee 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 can self-isolate for five days rather than ten. This measure only applies to people who are asymptomatic or whose symptoms have improved.
Daycare workers who return to work after five days of isolation must wear a mask and keep a distance of two meters from others. “It means that they are not allowed to eat with their colleagues. It will be a whole other challenge to put this measure into effect, ”said Mr. Haddaoui.
Lack of tests
Mme Bélisle fears that the lack of screening tests will make it difficult to manage positive cases in the coming weeks.
All case management was based on testing. We risk finding ourselves in front of several people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and we will not know if it is the virus that is circulating.
Geneviève Bélisle, Executive Director of the Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers
Since children do not wear masks and are not vaccinated, Quebec’s public health considers childcare facilities in a priority category to obtain rapid tests, indicates Mme Bélisle. She therefore hopes to have access to tests quickly for families and educators. “It would give us a hand,” she said.
The employers’ associations are unanimous: the frequent changes in the directives will cause several challenges for the staff and the families. “I think it’s going to be very complicated days and weeks. It will require everyone’s good faith and a lot of understanding, ”concludes M.me Bélisle.