ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFERS ADULT- AND CHILD-SIZE DISPOSABLE MASKS TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

Modified: October 27, 2021 2:04pm

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10/27/2021

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFERS ADULT- AND CHILD-SIZE DISPOSABLE MASKS TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is working with child care centers and other programs with young children as COVID-19 cases are identified among their children and staff.

Based on these case investigations, ECDOH is reinforcing safety recommendations for child care centers. These are basic measures that reduce the risk of respiratory illness transmission, including COVID-19:

  • Masking for all staff and students over 2 years of age
  • Health screening on entry; reminding staff and children to stay home when ill
  • Reporting COVID-19 cases to ECDOH

These are in addition to the standard practices for handwashing, cleaning and sanitation that child care centers follow. Diagnostic COVID-19 testing is available for free through ECDOH; call (716) 858-2929 for an appointment.

Despite a slight decline in overall countywide cases in the past two weeks, the number of cases in younger age groups remains consistent. In a review of interviewed parents for cases in the 0-4-year-old age group from July-September 2021, 43% attended a child care setting. That percentage trended higher with that age group in September compared to the summer months, with 55% of cases in that age group in a child care setting in that month. ECDOH epidemiologists are continuing to review those data for October.

To encourage and facilitate mask use within child care centers, ECDOH is offering adult- and child-size disposable face masks to these facilities in Erie County. Any child care center director or designee, or leader for more informal types of play groups and enrichment activities for non-school-age children, can email schools@erie.gov before November 3, 2021 to request an order. Please provide the approximate number of children and staff at your location or locations, and ECDOH will reply with instructions for pick up from a county facility.

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