General Exclusion Requirements
Children and staff must be excluded from schools and childcare facilities when they have certain symptoms of illness, including if they are unable to participate or perform the functions required for their position.
A “child” means any child enrolled in the childcare program or a student at a school.
A “staff member or staff” means any person working or volunteering to perform duties in a childcare facility or school.
Symptoms that require exclusion are listed in the attached document; How Sick is Too Sick? When Children and Staff Should Stay Home from Child Care (How Sick is Too Sick). The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Infectious Diseases in Child Care and School Settings (Infectious Disease Guide) will be used to determine exclusion for symptoms of illness not included in How Sick is Too Sick. There may be additional requirements for specific illnesses like COVID-19 symptoms and illnesses per the federal, county, and town of Telluride guidelines.
Excluding Children
Staff is responsible for observing children at drop-off and throughout the day for signs of illness. If a child arrives at the facility or school with signs of illness that require exclusion, they may not be accepted. If a child develops symptoms of illness that require exclusion during the time of care, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the child. The child will be provided with a place to rest which is separate from the other children until the parent/guardian arrives. The child may return to childcare, or school based on the requirements in How Sick is Too Sick, the Infectious Disease Guide, or as directed by their healthcare provider or public health professional.
Information will be recorded on an illness log when children are sent home due to symptoms of illness that require exclusion. All items used to care for the child (cot, bedding, etc.) will be cleaned and sanitized or cleaned and disinfected if contaminated by body fluids after the child leaves the childcare or school. The date and time when the child returns to the childcare facility or school will be recorded on the illness log.
Excluding Staff
The person in charge of staff is responsible for observing the staff for signs of illness throughout the day. Staff members have the responsibility of reporting, to the person in charge, any signs of infection or illness that may pose a hazard to the health of children and other staff. If a staff member is not well enough to work, they may return based on the requirements in How Sick is Too Sick, the Infectious Disease Guide, or as directed by their health care provider or public health professional.
Outbreaks
When a school or childcare facility has a child or staff member with an illness that is required to be reported to the health department, the health department will be contacted immediately. Outbreaks of illness must also be reported to the health department when there is a larger number than normal of children or staff ill with the same symptoms. For example, above normal seasonal absenteeism for a school or childcare facility would be concerning and the health department will be contacted. The health department will also be contacted when there are two or more people who do not live together and are ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice.
Food Handling Staff Exclusion Requirements
Special attention will be given to staff members who handle food because many illnesses can be spread through food from an infected person. Food handling activities include the preparation of any food (i.e. washing, cutting, cooking, and portioning), the mixing and feeding of bottles, and feeding infants and toddlers solid foods.
Food handling staff must notify the person in charge:
- If they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Jaundice;
- Sore throat with fever; or
- Any open or draining wound that is not covered with a waterproof bandage and is:
- On the hands or wrists*;
- On any exposed portions of the arms; or
- On other parts of the body.
*In addition to waterproof bandages covering wounds on hands and wrists, single-service gloves must be always worn when handling food.
- Has an illness diagnosed by a health care provider due to:
- Norovirus
- Hepatitis A virus
- Shigella
- Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (e-coli)
- Typhoid fever (caused by Salmonella Typhi) or
- Salmonella
- Has been exposed to, or is the suspected source of, a confirmed disease outbreak or living in the same household as someone who works or attends a setting where there is a confirmed outbreak.
Staff will be allowed to return to work based on requirements in How Sick is Too Sick, the Infectious Disease Guide, as directed by the health department, or as directed by a health care provider, or public health professional.
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The child or staff is at risk of infecting others with a contagious illness, either because of symptoms, diagnosis, or recent exposure to a contagious illness.