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COVID-19 Preparedness

As cases of the coronavirus continue to be diagnosed around the United States, there was never a better time than now to review your program’s policies and procedures around minimizing illness and sanitation. Take these steps to protect the children in your care, your coworkers, yourself, and your own family:
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others.
  • Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands
In addition, the CDC and the North Dakota Department of Health Center for Disease Control recommends that your program follows a regular cleaning and disinfection routine:
  • Clean hard surfaces (desks, tables, countertops, sinks) daily.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (door handles, faucets, railings), bathrooms and health rooms at least once a day. Use alcohol wipes to clean keyboards.
  • Clean surfaces with fragrance-free soap or third-party certified cleaners. Thorough cleaning with soap and water will remove most microorganisms.
  • Use EPA disinfectants on hard surfaces. Clean the surface first to remove all organic matter. Apply the proper concentration of disinfectant and allow the required wet contact time. Pay close attention to hazard warnings and instructions for using personal protective items such as gloves and eye protection. Use disinfectants in a sufficiently ventilated space.
  • Use standard precautions when cleaning bodily fluids and potentially infectious materials -- blood, vomit, feces, and urine.

Additional Resources

  • The CDC has additional information on Maintaining a Healthy Childcare 
  • For more information about coronavirus, please visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus
  • Child Trends has compiled a list of state regulations and directives aimed at guiding how programs need to respond to infectious outbreaks. To review the North Dakota specifics, click on the link to North Dakota in this article.
Please contact the NDDoH Division of Disease Control at 701-328-2378 or 800-472-2180 with any coronavirus-related questions.