Child Care Services Sector

Page last updated on 3/21/2025.

The information on this page is intended for families with children from birth to 5 years of age and for Early Care and Education (ECE) Providers (such as a child care provider, Head Start teacher, early intervention provider, home visitor, or other educator of young children).

See below, or click the following links, to learn more about sector:

Resources
Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

COVID-19 Resources for Families and ECE Providers

ECE Guidance Documents:

Considerations when a Child has Symptoms of Illness in Child Care or School – California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Infectious Disease Prevention Guidance and Resources – San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
Protecting Against COVID-19 and Other Infections in Early Care and Education Programs – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Public Health Guidance for TK–12 Schools and Child Care Settings – CDPH
Safe Schools for All Hub – State of California

Cases, Close Contacts, and Outbreaks:

ECE providers are required to report outbreaks to their local health department and to their local Community Care Licensing (CCL) Regional Office.
- To reach a Licensing Duty Officer please call (619) 767-2200 and press #3.
To connect with the Epidemiology School Response Team please email PHS.EPI-SCHOOLS.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov or call (619) 692-8636 (available M-F from 8am-4pm, excluding holidays).
Please see the SDCOE Infectious Disease Prevention Guidance and Resources for guidance on when to stay home.
Childcare providers are required to report the suspected presence of any of the conditions listed in Section 2500 (j) to the local health department.

Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Hygiene:

Early Care and Education (ECE) Settings Cleaning and Disinfecting Guide – County of San Diego (CoSD)
How To Clean and Disinfect Early Care and Education Settings – CDC
How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items Frequently Asked Questions – CDC
Handwashing and Hygiene Educational Materials – CDC
Healthy Habits: Diaper Changing Steps for Childcare Settings – CDC
About Hand Hygiene in Schools and Early Care and Education Settings – CDC
Healthy Habits: Coughing and Sneezing – CDC

Masking:

When and Why to Wear a Mask – CDPH

Ventilation:

Ventilation in Schools and Childcare Programs – CDC

General Guidance:

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination – CDC
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) – CoSD

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Guidelines and Outbreak Reporting

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What are the current COVID-19 guidelines for Child Care settings, including daycares and special education preschools?
- Infectious Disease Prevention Guidance and Resources – San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
When can Child Care facilities return to regular sick-leave policies?
- As of Feb. 3, 2025, The only requirements of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations still in place is the Cal/OSHA reporting and recordkeeping requirements, which remain in effect until Feb. 3, 2026.
- Providers should review sick-leave policies to ensure compliance with applicable Title 22 regulations.
Is a virtual (telehealth visit) doctor’s note okay for a child to return after being sick?
- Yes. Consider taking a picture of the doctor’s note for the daycare center’s records or the child’s chart for recording any chronic conditions, allergies, or other conditions; or documentation that the child is cleared to return to school.
How do we report a COVID-19 outbreak?
- Report outbreaks to the County
  - If 3 or more children, staff, or facility contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 within one week of each other and are epidemiologically linked, please send an email to the Epidemiology Unit at PHS.EPI.SCHOOLS.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
  - Childcare providers must report to the local health department (see above) the presence, or suspected presence, of any communicable diseases (see the California Code of Regulations and PIN 23-04-CCLD for more information).
- Report outbreaks to Community Care Licensing (CCL)
  - If 3 or more children, staff, or facility contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 within one week of each other and are epidemiologically linked, please contact the local CCL regional office within 24 hours. To reach a Licensing Duty Officer, call (619) 767-2200 and press #3.
- Submit an Unusual Incident Report (LIC 624 or LIC624B) within 7 days of reporting the cases to the assigned Licensing Program Analyst or Regional Office. Please include the contact with Epidemiology or Public Health Official with recommendations in the report.

COVID-19 Prevention

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What steps can a Child Care facility take to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
- Encourage children, families, and staff to stay up-to-date on vaccinations,
- Take steps for cleaner air,
- Support access to face masks,
- Encourage handwashing and respiratory hygiene,
- Support access to COVID-19 testing,
- Clean and disinfect facilities, and
- Manage individuals with symptoms.
- For more details, see Infectious Disease Prevention Guidance and Resources – San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), and Protecting Against COVID-19 and Other Infections in Early Care and Education Programs.
What are the recommended guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting facilities?
- See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on How To Clean and Disinfect Early Care and Education Settings.
  - Cleaning is done with soap, water, and scrubbing. Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning alone can remove most types of harmful germs (like viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi).
  - Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on surfaces to levels public health codes or regulations consider safe. Sanitizing is done with weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays. Clean surfaces before you sanitize them. Sanitize surfaces that come in contact with children's mouths, such as infant feeding items and toys.
  - Disinfecting is done with stronger bleach solutions or other chemical products. These chemicals destroy any remaining germs on surfaces after cleaning. Clean surfaces before you disinfect them. Disinfect surfaces when someone is sick or at higher risk of getting sick.
- For additional guidance, see the County’s Early Care and Education (ECE) Settings Cleaning and Disinfecting Guide.
Are there any recommendations for hand sanitizer?
- Washing hands with soap and water is the most effective way to remove germs, dirt, and chemicals from hands. If soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help staff and children avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
- To prevent poisoning, keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach and supervise their use.
- Call Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222, if you think a child has been poisoned but they are awake and alert. The center can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Call 911 if you have a poison emergency or a child has collapsed or is not breathing.
- Please refer to About Hand Hygiene in Schools and Early Care and Education Settings, California Poison Control Organization, and the About Handwashing page for more information.