JKG COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

Last updated January 5, 2024

Jewish Kids Groups provides safe, fun spaces for children to explore, learn and grow, Jewishly and otherwise. As always – and especially now – the safety of our kids, team and community is our highest priority. Jewish Kids Groups has considered recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a group of local healthcare and CDC professionals, and other resources when developing these health procedures and guidelines. Please note that this document is subject to updates and changes. We will continue to adapt our policies and procedures as new guidance emerges.

Please refer to these references and resources for more details:

• CDC’s Guidance for Schools

• CHOA’s School Health Resources

• American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance for School Re-entry

• OSHA's Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

UNIVERSAL BASIC PRECAUTIONS

• Everyone is screened for respiratory disease symptoms upon entry of JKG space or vehicle daily.

• Hand washing and hand sanitizer are used upon entry and frequently during the day.

• All JKG staff members are required to be fully vaccinated, and have any boosters or additional doses recommended by the CDC.

• JKG’s indoor mask policy is based on CDC’s Covid-19 Hospital Admission Levels. Our mask guidance will change depending on if the levels are low, medium, or high in the county that JKG’s facility is located in. If the level is low or medium, masks are optional. If it is high, masks are encouraged until the level goes back down to low or medium. We will communicate to families any time there is information to share about masks.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

• Each day, students and staff answer a question asserting that they are not showing more than one respiratory disease (e.g. COVID-19, flu) symptom before entering a JKG vehicle or building. Symptoms include:

  • Fever of 100°F or higher

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Chills

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • Sore throat

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Congestion or runny nose with malaise

DURING THE DAY

Transportation

• We leave windows cracked open when students are riding in JKG vehicles in order to improve ventilation when possible, as this is the most effective way to minimize cross-contamination between occupants.

JKG Spaces

• We require frequent hand washing and sanitizing several times a day. 

• Classroom spaces (especially surfaces) are cleaned frequently throughout the day.

Eating

• We practice proper hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer before and after eating.

• We clean and disinfect tables before and after meals. 

• Any food items are served to students individually. Sharing food is not allowed. 

Outdoor Play Areas

• We encourage groups to use outdoor spaces as much as possible.

• Students and teachers are never required to wear masks while outdoors.

APPROACH TO CLEANING AND HYGIENE

• Enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces is prioritized and completed daily.

• We use natural ventilation (i.e., opening windows) to increase outdoor dilution of indoor air as much as possible, and use portable HEPA filtration units in all classrooms.

• We implement and enforce handwashing guidelines for all team members and students often throughout the day, especially before and after eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after using the restroom.

• If a child or team member develops any respiratory disease symptoms, they will be sent home as soon as possible.

IF/THEN INFECTION SCENARIOS

The following if/then scenarios are based on CDC’s guidelines:

• What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19

• Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

Scenario 1: A student or teacher has unexplained symptoms listed at the top of this page.

For the student or teacher:

• JKG administration should be notified and the individual should not come to JKG while symptomatic.

• Symptomatic person can return to JKG after:

  • Resolution of symptoms* or fever (without fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours

For the rest of the school:

No change; monitor students and teachers for symptoms

Parent communication:

In this scenario, the JKG Director will only communicate with the parents of the symptomatic student. The parents of students in the rest of the school will not be notified.

Scenario 2: A student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19 (regardless of symptoms or vaccination status) or is presumed positive by a healthcare provider.

For the student or teacher who tested positive:

Remains home from JKG and can return after the following criteria are met:

• 5 days* from first day (based on CDC guidance here), if asymptomatic or symptoms are nearly resolved, including 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. The person does NOT need to be retested to return to JKG.

• The person who tested positive and returns to JKG after day 5 will be required to wear a well-fitting mask at JKG on days 6-10.

• Please note, per CDC guidelines, “day 0” is the first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. “Day 1” is the first full day after symptoms developed or test specimen was collected. JKG uses this calculator to calculate when students or teachers may return to JKG.

For the rest of the school:

• Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19. Students/teachers who were at JKG with the person who tested positive may choose to wear a well-fitting mask at JKG for ten days and should monitor for symptoms. We recommend exposed individuals get tested at least 5 full days after their last exposure. If the individual develops symptoms, they will be required to follow the requirements laid out in scenario 1.

• The classrooms and administrative areas will be sanitized before students return after a confirmed case.

Parent communication:

In this scenario, all families will be sent communication from the JKG Director.

Scenario 3: A student or teacher is exposed to a confirmed or presumed positive person.

Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19. Students/teachers who were at JKG with the person who tested positive may choose to wear a well-fitting mask at JKG for ten days and should monitor for symptoms. We recommend exposed individuals get tested at least 5 full days after their last exposure. If the individual develops symptoms, they will be required to follow the requirements laid out in scenario 1.

For the rest of the school:

No change; monitor students and teachers for symptoms.

Parent communication:

In this scenario, the JKG Director will communicate directly with the parents of the student who was exposed.

Scenario 4: A member of a student or teacher’s household tests positive for COVID-19.

Please note: In this scenario, we consider that student or teacher to be exposed. JKG administration should be notified regarding any household COVID-19 cases.

Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19. Students/teachers who were at JKG with the person who tested positive may choose to wear a well-fitting mask at JKG for ten days and should monitor for symptoms. We recommend exposed individuals get tested at least 5 full days after their last exposure. If the individual develops symptoms, they will be required to follow the requirements laid out in scenario 1.

For the rest of the school:

No change; monitor students and teachers for symptoms.

Parent communication:

In this scenario, the JKG Director will communicate directly with the parents of the student who was exposed.