Child Care

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

June 11, 2020

For Providers

If you are currently closed/not operating, and as you are considering next steps - please see the resources shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Espanol).

Also, remember to notify your local licensing office upon re-opening.

Please see recent Department of Children and Families guidance for child care providers (Español).

The Office of Child Care Regulation has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers from our recent series of provider webinars. View COVID-19 Webinar FAQs (Español)

• Prohibit any person except the following from accessing an operation: operation staff; persons with legal authority to enter, including law enforcement officers, Child Care Licensing staff, and Department of Children and Families protective services staff; professionals providing services to children; children enrolled at the operation; and parents or legal guardians who have children enrolled and present at the operation.
• Ensure that each child is provided individual meals and snacks.
• Do not serve family style meals.
• Require pickup and drop-off in the lobby/entry way of the operation, unless it’s determined that there is a legitimate need for the parent to enter an operation. For example, meet the parent at the pickup area and escort the child to the parent.
• Before allowing entry into the operation, screen all individuals listed above and deny entry to any person who meets any of the following criteria through verbal survey:
  • Do you have a fever of 100.4 or higher?
  • Have you had any respiratory infection, or have had a cough, shortness of breath, and low-grade fever?
  • In the previous 14 days, have you had any contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; is under investigation for COVID-19; or is ill with a respiratory illness?
  • In the previous 14 days, have you traveled on a cruise or internationally to countries with widespread, sustained community transmission?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a Supplemental Guide for Child Care. Written in collaboration with the Offices of Child Care and Head Start for a variety of child care settings, this resource provides guidance specific to child care on issues such as:

• Social distancing;
• Child pick up and drop off procedures;
• Cleaning and disinfecting of toys and bedding;
• Safely caring for infants and toddlers; and
• Food preparation and meal service

In addition, the Guidance document provides numerous links to resources that provide even greater detail, including information regarding children’s risks concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).

• The Supplemental Guide for Child Care
• FDOH Handwashing Guidance
• FDOH Handwashing Guidance - Español