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Health & Safety Guidelines

From the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott: https://gov.texas.gov/organization/opentexas

A Note about Children and COVID-19

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. While the risk of serious illness or loss of life is greatest in those 65 years of age or older with pre-existing health conditions, persons in every age group can become infected with COVID-19 and some may become seriously ill or even die. We should all be thankful that, with rare exceptions, COVID-19 is not claiming the lives of our children. However, we can never forget that a child with a mild or even asymptomatic case of COVID-19 can spread that infection to others who may be far more vulnerable.

COVID-19 is spread from person to person through contact that is close enough to share droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, speaking, and even just breathing. COVID-19 can also be spread by touching objects where contaminated droplets have landed. Because of this easy manner of transmission, an infant, child or young person who is infected with COVID-19 can spread the infection to others they come in close contact with, such as members of their household, teachers, or other caregivers. We have learned that infected persons with mild or even no symptoms can spread COVID-19. These facts are vitally important when considering the reopening of schools, child care centers, youth camps and other places that provide care and education for our children. One thing is for certain: We must find reasonably safe ways to restore these services so that our children can be cared for and educated, and for their parents and guardians to be able to return to work. For adults in the workplace or other public spaces, we are confident that if certain measures such as cloth face coverings or non-medical grade masks, respiratory etiquette, frequent hand washing/hand sanitation and environmental cleaning and sanitizing are widely observed, we can then proceed with reopening Texas in a safe and measured way.

However, such protective measures that we can expect from adults are, for a variety of reasons, simply not possible for infants, children and youth to practice in schools, child care centers, and youth camps. In some cases, the child will be too young to understand and practice these precautions. We cannot, for example, expect a group of toddlers or schoolchildren not to engage in interactive play or share toys. All of these factors mean that while certain precautions against the spread of COVID-19 can and will be applied to schools, child care centers, and youth camps, the infection control measures that can be put in place in these settings will differ from those that are suitable for other social, business and commercial settings.

Every adult who is responsible for providing care or education for infants, children and youth in these settings must be aware of these facts and be willing to comply with the infection control measures that will be in place in these settings. Parents should monitor the health of their children and not send them to the program if they exhibit any symptom of COVID-19. Parents should seek COVID-19 testing promptly and report results to the program given the implications for other children, families, and staff. Individuals aged 65 or older are at a higher risk of COVID-19. Parents should protect any vulnerable persons who are members of the same household or come into frequent, close contact with infants, children and youth who attend child care centers, schools, or youth camps.

CENTER GUIDELINES TO MAINTAIN HEALTH & SAFETY STANDARDS Benedictine Tutors has taken every precaution to ensure the health and safety of its occupants by routinely sanitizing work surfaces throughout normal hours of operation. In addition, we will be implementing the following procedures in an effort to limit exposure to any possible health hazards:

Waiting Area Procedures

  • All magazines will be thrown out.
  • All handouts will be removed. Electronic copies of handouts can be emailed upon request.

Curb Side Drop-Off Procedures

  • Only students will be admitted into the building with their mask already on. Nitrile gloves are encouraged to be worn, but not mandatory.
  • If another family has arrived at the same time you have, we ask that you kindly allow their children to enter the building safely before releasing your children.

Temperature Scans

  • Every student will have their foreheads scanned for a temperature reading. If the temperature reading is above 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit, the student will not be admitted into the facility and will have to immediately return to their parent’s/guardian’s car.
  • We ask all parents to wait to see their children enter the building indicating a free-and-clear temperature reading. If your child has presented with a temperature higher than 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be returned to the car and must remain at home for the remainder of the camp and an additional (2) two weeks thereafter.
  • Any camp fees paid will not be refunded as all sales are final.

Curb Side Pick-Up Procedures

  • At the end of the camp, students will be released to parents one family at a time once parents have parked safely and directly in front of the center.
  • Center doors will remain locked during operating hours to prevent any non-Summer Camp students from entering the facilities.
  • No tours or walk-in appointments will be given until further notice.

Teaching Floor Procedures

  • All backpacks and/or tote bags will be stored in separate pre-assigned and labeled cubbies.
  • Campers will be separated into small groups of no more than 4 students according to grade.
  • Only Tutors will be allowed to handle markers and write on the whiteboards.
  • Students will not be allowed to handle chalk or draw on the chalkboards.
  • Under no circumstances shall a camper enter the offices of the Center Director.
  • All students must bring in their own pencil box, pencils, pens, highlighters and erasers. These instruments are not to be shared with the other students.
  • All Tutors will be required to wear masks and disposable nitrile gloves while at work.
  • Full-Day Campers will not be permitted to store their food in the common refrigerator.
  • All students will be reminded to wash their hands prior to eating snacks and/or lunch.
  • The water fountain will not be available for common use. Again, campers should bring their own water bottles.
  • Campers will have their temperatures scanned indiscriminately throughout the day and upon dismissal. Should the student present with a temperature at any point in the day, a phone call to their parents (and emergency contacts in the event a parent cannot be reached) will be made to immediately pickup their child. If after 60 minutes a child has not been picked up, a (911) call will be made whereupon the child will be transported to the nearest emergency department at the cost and financial responsibility of the parent.
  • All staff will be trained on proper cleaning, disinfection, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Staff will help the Center Director in identifying exposure risks (a.k.a. contact tracing).
  • Work tables will be sanitized prior to opening, at 1pm, at 4pm, and at closing. • Floors will be vacuumed prior to opening, at 1pm, at 4pm, and at closing.

Camper Mask & Glove Responsibilities

  • All students will be required to wear masks. Should a student arrive at the Center without a mask, one will be provided to them at a cost of $25 per mask. Should a student destroy their mask while at the Center, a mask will be provided to them at a cost of $25 per mask.
  • Students will not be required to wear disposable nitrile gloves while at the center, although it is highly encouraged. For this reason, additional pairs of gloves should be sent with the camper. Should a student need to go to the restroom, they will need to dispose of the pair of gloves being used, wash their hands thoroughly and put on a new pair of gloves.

Signs or Symptoms of COVID-19 as Presented by Campers outside of Feeling Feverish or temperature greater than or equal to 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit

All campers will be screened for any of the following new or worsening symptoms of possible COVID-19:

  • Repeated Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore Throat
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Known close contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19

In the event a Camper is exhibiting any of these conditions, they shall be isolated in the waiting room and await parent/guardian pickup. The local health department will be notified and a notice will go out to all parents. Campers with new or worsening signs or symptoms of COVID-19 may not return to the camp until all three of the following criteria are met:

(1) at least 3 weeks have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);

(2) and the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);

and (3) at least 21 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or

  • In the case of a Camper who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to camp until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above; or
  • If the Camper has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to work before completing the above self-isolation period, the Camper must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on a negative nucleic-acid COVID-19 test and an alternative diagnosis.
  • If a Camper does test positive for COVID-19, the Camper will immediately leave the camp and forfeit all future Camps for the year.
  • If 3 or more staffers and/or campers have had any identified positive cases of COVID-19, local public health authorities will be immediately notified and continued operations of the camp will close.

Signs or Symptoms of COVID-19 as Presented by Staff Members

All staff will screened for any of the following new or worsening symptoms of possible COVID-19:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore Throat
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Feeling feverish or temperature greater than or equal to 100.00 degrees F
  • Known close contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19
  • In the event a staff member is exhibiting any of these conditions, they shall be isolated and expelled from the center. The local health department will be notified and a notice will go out to all parents as well.
  • Staff with new or worsening signs or symptoms of COVID-19 may not return to work until all three of the following criteria are met:

(1) at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);

(2) and the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and

(3) at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or

  • In the case of a staffer who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to work until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above; or
  • If the staffer has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to work before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on a negative nucleic-acid COVID-19 test and an alternative diagnosis.
  • If a staff member does test positive for COVID-19, the staff member will immediately be expelled from the camp.
  • If 3 or more staffers and/or campers have had any identified positive cases of COVID-19, local public health authorities will be immediately notified and continued operations of the camp will close.