Post-COVID Health Practices in ECE: Preventing Respiratory Illnesses

While the United States Public Health Emergency was declared over, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses continue to require prevention efforts to reduce illness and promote health. With the shift in COVID-prevention efforts,  young children have experienced increasing rates of respiratory sickness, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and COVID-19.

Child care programs are experts in disease prevention and have led the way in implementing disinfection and handwashing routines and in monitoring children for illness. It is important to remember that although COVID restrictions have loosened, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to keep children safe and healthy and to reduce the transmission of illness in child care settings. You can find helpful prevention tips and resources in this article from Child Care Aware of America.