COVID-19 Child Care Testing and Playbook Update

Dear child care providers,

The Child Care Playbook has been updated and can be found here.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Child Care team has some updates and reminders about testing for COVID-19:

1. RIDOH is transitioning state-supported testing and vaccination sites to traditional partners and settings to provide COVID-19 services beginning July 1.
2. COVID-19 testing will continue to be widely available throughout the state. There are many places where Rhode Islanders can access free COVID-19 testing. Please, ask this page for a description of the various options for COVID-19 testing in Rhode Island. Is available in English, spanishl y Portuguese. For more information on COVID-19 testing in Rhode Island, visit https://covid.ri.gov/testing?language=es.
3. Starting July 1, people who want to get vaccinated or boosted can call their health care providers or use other options available at orgas retail pharmaciess y vacunas.gov.
4. Test to Stay (TTS) child care testing supplies will continue to be provided to programs implementing TTS, free of charge, by RIDOH through fall 2022, while supplies last. You can order supplies through this link here. TTS forms and templates can be found on the DHS website here. Send an email requesting assistance in completing these forms to [email protected] and [email protected].
5. child care providers should not require PCR tests as part of their illness policy when they require children and staff to be tested due to being a close contact or symptomatic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and RIDOH approve the use of antigens/self-tests in both scenarios. As the state moves toward endemic status and shifts more responsibility for COVID-19 testing to the health care system, child care providers must work to adapt their illness policy accordingly.
6. Antigen testing is no longer recommended on day 5 of isolation. People who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for at least 5 days. They can return to child care on day 6 if they are symptom-free or if symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications).

• They need to use a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days (days 6 to 10).
• If you can’t wear a mask, must self-isolate at home for the full 10 days.

Please email ridoh.covidchildcare@health.ri.gov if you have any questions and a team member will contact you shortly.

Carefully,

The Child Care COVID-19 Response Team

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Dani MiskellyCOVID-19 Child Care Testing and Playbook Update06.21.2022–