Child Care Quarantine- Available Options

To provide consistency across the board, child care facilities will now have three of the same quarantine options for close contacts as schools. It will be the responsibility of the child care facility to inform Snohomish Health District which option they are choosing when they report a case. If an option shorter than 14 days is chosen, the child care will be responsible for closely monitoring for symptoms through the 14^th day and reporting any individuals who develop symptoms during that time. The options for quarantine are:

1) 7-Day with Negative Test Quarantine (students and staff): Students and staff must quarantine at home. Quarantine can end after 7 full days beginning after the last close contact if no symptoms have developed and after receiving a negative test result. The test should occur no sooner than on or after day 5 post-exposure. Continue monitoring for symptoms until day 14. Negative test results may come from school testing programs, a health care provider, local health jurisdiction, pharmacy or other community-based test site. At home tests are not acceptable. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test includes the original, a copy, or a photo of a document or other communication from the test provider or laboratory that shows:

The first and last names of the individual tested
The type of test performed (must be molecular or antigen)
The date the specimen was collected (must be on or after day 5 post-exposure)
A negative result

If an individual or student who is a close contact chooses not to test or does not get tested:

2) 10-day Quarantine: Quarantine should last for 10 days after the last close contact without additional testing required. However, if any COVID-19 symptoms develop during the 10 days, remain in quarantine and get tested. Continuing monitoring for symptoms until day 14.In certain circumstances, a longer quarantine may be warranted:

3) 14-day Quarantine: Quarantine may be recommended for 14 days after the last close contact with the COVID-19 positive person. Monitor for symptoms during this time, and if any COVID-19 symptoms develop during the 14 days, get tested. A child care is always free to choose this option.

If unsure, consult with the COVID-19 schools and child care team to determine which quarantine option should be followed. To report a COVID-19 case, discuss quarantine options, or if you have any other questions about COVID-19, please call 425-252-5415 and leave a message or email childcarehealth@snohd.org. A staff person from the school and child care COVID-19 team will get back to you. You can also call our main COVID-19 call center at 425-339-5278.

Close up of child receiving immunization

Vaccines for 5-11 Year Old Children

Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. The community clinics operated by the Snohomish Health District (SHD) will not be offering vaccines for those under the age of 12 at this time. We will not have pediatric doses for 5-11 year olds at our vaccination sites. Please talk with your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider about vaccination against COVID-19 or visit a local participating pharmacy.

SHD has been working behind the scenes to provide an adequate network of resources available to children are now eligible for vaccines. This includes working with school districts, pediatricians, clinics, and pharmacies to try and match them up for school-based clinics. Stay tuned for more information as vaccines for this age group become more readily available.

For more technical information about vaccines for the 5-11 year old age group, please visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/children.html.

Free Trainings for Child Care Providers

The Snohomish Health District Child Care Health Outreach program is offering several COVID-19 related trainings for child care providers. These trainings offer free in-service STARS credits.

COVID-19 Vaccine Training for Child Care Providers
Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccination (available in English and Spanish)
COVID-19 Class for Child Care Providers in Washington State
COVID-19 Class for Washington K-12 Schools

Please contact the Child Care Health Outreach program with questions. You can reach us at 425-252-5415 or by email at childcarehealth@snohd.org. Report cases of COVID-19 to our main call center at 425-339-5278.