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Sumatrastrasse 30 8006 Zürich
Telefon +41 44 634 40 90 [email protected]
www.kihz.ch Eine Stiftung der Universität Zürich und der ETH
Zürich
Kinderbetreuung im Hochschulraum Zürich
kihz
Zurich, January 2021
Protection Concept for the kihz Daycare Centres
Valid from 11 May 2020
1st revision: 05 June 2020
2nd revision: 08 July 2020
3rd revision: 31 July 2020
4th revision: 08 September 2020
5th revision: 17 September 2020
6th revision: 28 September 2020
7th revision: 29 January 2021
Outset situation
This protection concept demonstrates how the kihz daycare
centres will continue daily operations
while providing sufficient precautions and awareness for the
continued containment of the
coronavirus. It is based on the principles1 issued by the
Federal Office of Public Health on
29.04.2020 and the recommendations of the Swiss professional
associations kibesuisse and
ProEnfance. This protection concept for the kihz daycare centres
is classified as a
recommendation, i.e. it is not legally binding. Any cantonal
and/or municipal requirements are
included in the protection concept and systematically
updated.
Aim
The protection concept is based on the aim of containing the
coronavirus, while adopting
responsible measures to continue to educate, raise and care for
the children in their familiar
normality. From the list of professional associations’
recommendations, we integrate those into our
daily pedagogical activities that enable us to maintain the
health of all concerned, and weigh up
each situation from a pedagogical perspective.
Guiding principles of the protection concept
The health of the children and staff has utmost priority. Every
measure taken is aimed at the
welfare of the children and their right to a positive
development; the protection of (vulnerable)
employees; and compliance with hygiene and distance rules. To
ensure professional and health-
oriented operations, it is essential that employees are
sufficiently aware and properly instructed,
and that measures are complied with. Both at management and at
group level, the foundation is
doing everything in its power to guarantee and regularly reflect
on the implementation and
enforcement of the defined precautions, rules of conduct and
hygiene measures.
These measures are described in the areas listed below
1 SARS-COV-2 Grundprinzipien Wiederaufnahme des
Präsenzunterrichts an obligatorischen Schulen als Grundlage für die
Ausarbeitung der Schutzkonzepte der Schulen unter Berücksichtigung
der Betreuungseinrichtungen und Musikschulen
https://www.bag.admin.ch/dam/bag/de/dokumente/mt/k-und-i/aktuelle-ausbrueche-pandemien/2019-nCoV/covid-19-schutzkonzept-obligatorische-schulen.pdf.download.pdf/Grundprinzipien%20Schutzkonzept%20obligatorische%20Schulen.pdfhttps://www.bag.admin.ch/dam/bag/de/dokumente/mt/k-und-i/aktuelle-ausbrueche-pandemien/2019-nCoV/covid-19-schutzkonzept-obligatorische-schulen.pdf.download.pdf/Grundprinzipien%20Schutzkonzept%20obligatorische%20Schulen.pdf
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Premises
Hygiene measures on
the premises
The hygiene measures stipulated in the internal safety and
hygiene
concept apply to everyone and are strictly adhered to
(https://polybox.ethz.ch/index.php/s/R9IG6GSyk9jFBvw):
Hands are washed with soap regularly and thoroughly.
After the use of protective gloves, hands are also washed with
soap.
Soap dispensers, disposable towels and disinfectants are
provided.
Closable trash bins with lids are provided.
Surfaces and objects are regularly cleaned, as well as the
premises, especially places that are often touched, e.g. door
handles, light switches, banisters or fittings.
When cleaning objects, especially those used directly by
children, care is taken to use suitable, non-harmful cleaning
agents.
Employees wear gloves when cleaning.
Rooms are ventilated regularly and extensively.
Mandatory
facemasks for
parents and other
external persons
As of August 24, 2020, wearing a facemask is mandatory in all
ETH
buildings (https://ethz.ch/services/de/news-und-
veranstaltungen/coronavirus/pandemie.html) and as of September
1,
2020, in all UZH buildings
(https://www.uzh.ch/de/about/coronavirus.html). It is also
mandatory
to wear a facemask in all kihz daycare centres. The mask must be
put
on before entering the daycare centres.
Mandatory
facemasks for staff
The caregivers principally wear a facemask in the daycare
centre
when they cannot maintain the required distance amongst each
other
or to the children (for exceptions, see Settling-in period and
Childcare
with and without facemasks).
Transition situations
Childcare times An easing of the drop-off and pick-up times
offers parents the option
of voluntarily shortening childcare. This means public transport
can
be avoided during rush hour, for example.
Our daycare centres close their doors at 6.30 pm. No
families
and/or children are allowed in the day care centre or
premises
after 6.30 pm.
Drop-off and pick-up
When bringing and picking up children, it is important to avoid
waiting
times, gatherings of parents in and in front of the building and
close
contact between families and staff.
No physical contact of any kind is permitted between adults, in
particular shaking hands.
Disinfectant is available for the parents
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Fixed drop-off and pick-up blocks for each family are scheduled
as required directly with the individual daycare centre or via
Doodle.
The agreed drop-off and pick-up times are binding.
Parents must expect waiting times outside the daycare centre
during drop-off and pick-up times.
If available, different entrances and exits are used.
Drop-off and pick-up times are extended.
The 1.5 m distance rule between families applies (e.g. with
waiting strips in front of the entrance to the day care centre as
in supermarkets).
Outside entrances/gardens or other specially designated areas
are used as often as possible for the handovers.
Handovers are short and attention is paid to maintaining the
physical distance. However, especially with small children or those
who need support when saying goodbye, there may be a short period
of closeness between carer and parent.
The regular information about life at the daycare centre can be
found on the kihz app for parents.
Telephone calls are offered as a substitute for the regular
conversation in person.
Parents are asked not to both come to bring/pick up their
child(ren). Ideally siblings and other family members should wait
outside.
Parents should avoid gathering on the premises. Parents wishing
to talk amongst each other are requested to go outside.
Parents and/or staff wash hands with the children.
Children's personal belongings are, if possible, put away by the
children themselves in their personal locker, thus avoiding "hand
to hand" contact between adults.
Greeting To greet the children, either individually or as a
small group, a
situation is created that allows the caregivers to show their
face - if
necessary - without a facemask while maintaining a distance of
1.5 m
from each other.
Settling in Settling-in periods are planned step by step and in
consultation with the families.
The child is only accompanied by one parent.
The parent wears a facemask during the settling-in period
During the child’s settling period, care is taken to ensure that
before the first separation from the parent, the child can get to
know the personal carer with and without a facemask and feels
comfortable in both situations.
The group is split (e.g. new child is settled in in a separate
room with 1-2 children).
The accompanying parent should keep a distance of 1.5 m from the
personal carer and the other children if possible.
Daily routine
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Childcare with and
without facemasks
Masks are worn in the following situations: joint eating
situations in the group, at handover situations, in the coakrooms,
when cleaning teeth, and in guided activities. These are the
situations in which staff cannot maintain the required distance
amongst each other and to the children.
The caregivers create short mask-free periods of childcare every
day that are individually tailored to the child’s needs (with
respect to age, character and stage of development).
In key paedagogical situations (e.g. giving a bottle, offering
comfort, changing nappies, etc.) caregivers may attend to the child
without a mask, if a separate room is given for this purpose.
The wearing of masks is mandatory during indoor free play
time.
In the garden, the staff can also go without a mask provided
they can easily maintain the required distance to the children.
In 1:1 caring for infants (up to min. 18 months, with respect to
the child’s stage of development and individual needs and beyond)
as many mask-free situations as possible are created (separated
room).
It is recorded in writing who had contact with which child on
which day without a mask.
Group structure Unless otherwise prescribed by the Canton of
Zurich, groups of children may be larger than 5 children.
The groups correspond to the familiar structures for the benefit
of the children.
Several groups are allowed to be in the garden/courtyard at the
same time (valid from 08.06.2020).
Employees observe the distance rules (1.5m) to other adults.
Rituals The team assesses which rituals currently give the
children structure and security and are therefore important (e.g.
waving goodbye).
General activities In planned activities, care is taken to
ensure that no "hygiene-critical" games and ideas are offered (e.g.
blowing cotton balls with tubes, etc.).
The caregivers discuss the protective measures with the children
in an age-appropriate manner. They pay attention the their
reactions and questions and respond to them.
If in key pedagogical situations, e.g. when telling a story,
singing circle, etc., a distance of 1.5 m can be consistently
maintained, a facemask does not have to be worn.
Outdoor activities Outdoor play should preferably take place in
the garden/terrace/yard of the facility, but at most in the usual
playground/park/forest in the immediate vicinity, which can be
reached on foot.
The use of public transport is still avoided.
When in the garden or visiting external playgrounds etc.,
employees also maintain the required distance of 1.5 m from other
adults and colleagues.
Shopping together with the children is not permitted.
After spending time outdoors, children and employees take
hygiene precautions (washing hands, disinfection).
The necessary hygiene precautions are also taken for the time
spent outdoors (e.g. sufficient tissues, changing mats, disposable
gloves, disinfectant).
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Eating situations Measures are systematically implemented in
compliance with the hygiene concept
(https://polybox.ethz.ch/index.php/s/R9IG6GSyk9jFBvw).
Hands are washed before preparing meals (including snacks and
baby food).
Children and employees wash their hands before and after eating.
This also applies to when feeding infants.
Staff do not eat together with the children during lunchtime.
The children are given pedagogical and supportive attention during
their meals. Each caregiver takes turns eating their meal in a
separate room.
Children are instructed not to share food or drink.
Serving utensils are used in all cases (e.g. vegetable sticks
are eaten with tongs/spoon/fork and not by hand) and care is taken
that children do not use their hand to help themselves to food from
a plate/bowl (bread/fruit basket).
Employees sit at a distance of 1.5 m metres from each other, if
necessary with tables moved apart.
General care
activities
Close contact is particularly important for babies and must
continue to be provided.
All general care activities are carried out in accordance with
the safety and hygiene concept
(https://polybox.ethz.ch/index.php/s/R9IG6GSyk9jFBvw).
Naps / Quiet times Infants, toddlers and younger children are to
sleep in their familiar surroundings/infrastructure, as this gives
them security for the active periods during the day.
Care is taken to ensure adequate ventilation.
Hygiene measures are observed: e.g. individual pillows and duvet
covers for each child, regular washing, disinfection of the
mats.
Collaboration with parents
Parent interactions
and parents’ events
Parents are obliged to follow the distance and hygiene
regulations of the daycare centre, the written instructions on the
premises (markings, signs) and verbal instructions given by
staff.
Handover talks are kept short. Parents can find regular
information about the day’s activities on the kihz app.
Urgent, important and short matters can be discussed by
telephone.
Other requests are to be communicated by mail.
Progress talks take place in the form of video conferences. If
the daycare centre can provide enough distance in the meeting room,
discussions with parents can also take place on the premises (valid
from 08.06.2020). Progress talks are held with only one parent and
are limited to 45 minutes. All adults wear facemasks during these
conversations.
Parents’ evenings (as an information event) are preferably held
in the form of video conferences. Due to the current
epidemiological situation (status January 2021), parents' events
are not allowed to be held on the premises of the day-care centre
(ban on gatherings of more than 5 people).
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Until further notice, no parent or family events will be held
(drinks evenings, Räbeliechtliumzug, Advent coffee, etc.).
It is essential that parents are available by telephone at all
times.
If it is not possible for the parents to be reachable at all
times, or to pick up the child in a short time if the child shows
symptoms of sickness (respiratory infections except for isolated
colds, particularly in combination with fever, dry cough and/or a
general weakened state), it is extremely important that parents
provide the telephone number of a person who can be reached and who
can pick up the child.
Quarantine after
entering or returning
from risk areas to
Switzerland
Parents and their children travelling to a risk area must
quarantine upon return. The child is not allowed to visit the
daycare centre for 10 days (valid from 08.07.2020).
Staff-related matters
Distance between
employees
The distance rule of 1.5 m is maintained.
During meetings and discussions, attention is given to ensuring
that the rooms are large enough and that seating arrangements allow
sufficient distance.
For meetings that require the presence of many/all team members,
online solutions (Skype, Zoom, Teams, etc.) are used if
possible.
Team constellations The staff work in their accustomed
teams.
Substitutions and assignments of employees as stand-ins are
possible to ensure the supervision ratio.
Wearing facemasks Wearing facemasks is mandatory for all people
olther than 12 years. (for exceptions , see paragraph on Daily
routine.)
Facemasks are made available to employees. Private facemasks
(community masks) are not allowed to be used by the employees.
An internal instruction sheet on the use of facemasks is
available
Staff who fall ill at the daycare centre wear a protective mask,
inform the daycare centre head and leave the institution
immediately.
Employees at
particular risk
Employees at risk (pre-existing conditions documented by a
detailed medical certificate, pregnancy) are specially protected.
Reasonable work in compliance with the recommended protective
measures is agreed with the employee.
Quarantine after entering or returning from risk areas to
Switzerland
Employees who travel to a risk area must quarantine on their
return. All employees of the kihz foundation are informed about the
consequences under current labour legislation.
Special features of childcare institutions
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Visits by external
(specialist) persons
All external persons (e.g. supervisory authorities, curative
teachers, auditors, caretakers, manual workers, etc.) adhere to the
federal rules on distance and hygiene.
The names, date and length of stay of external persons are
noted.
Procedure in the event of sickness
FOPH
recommendations
FOPH's recommendations on how to act in the event of signs of
sickness
or in contact situations with patients or risk groups continue
to apply:
Children with minor symptoms of a cold (sniffing, light cough,
sore throat) can attend the daycare centre. In case of major
symptoms such as fever or severe cough, the child remains at home
and may consult a doctor depending on the constellation and the
duration of the symptoms (see FOPH recommendations2).
Parents with symptoms cannot pick up their children
themselves.
Employees with symptoms of an acute respiratory disease (e.g.
cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) with or without fever,
feverish feeling or muscle ache and/or sudden loss of sense of
smell or taste remain at home or leave the childcare institution
and enter self-isolation (see FOPH "Children with symptoms and
possible infection”)
Occurrence of acute
symptoms in the
daycare centre
Employees leave the childcare institution immediately (see
above).
If children develop acute symptoms, they are immediately
isolated until they are picked up by their parents. Employees who
isolate themselves with the child during this time take the
necessary protective measures by wearing a protective mask and
gloves if necessary.
The sick person (child or employee) and all persons living in
the same household stay at home. The sick person does not return to
the daycare centre until they can present a negative SARS-CoV-2
test. If the symptoms are attributable to another infection, the
sick person (child or caregiver) does not return to the daycare
centre until they are symptom-free. For employees, a medical
certificate is mandatory for the duration of the infection.
The daycare centre continues normal operations.
If other persons show symptoms, these persons and all persons
living in the same household go to their doctor for a SARS-CoV-2
test.
Positive SARS-COV-2
test result in
caregiver, child or
parent
The sick person must enter mandatory isolation and all persons
living in the same household remain at home in quarantine. They
will not be admitted back to the daycare centre until they have
been without symptoms for 48 hours and at least 10 days have passed
since the first symptoms appeared.
It is imperative that the head of the daycare centre is informed
upon receipt of the test results.
The head of the daycare centre immediately informs all daycare
centre staff, the parents of the children attending the daycare
centre, the office of the kihz foundation.
A positive test result does not automatically force the daycare
centre to close. Nor does it force quarantine on all children and
employees from
2
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/das-bag/aktuell/news/news-25-09-2020.html
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/das-bag/aktuell/news/news-25-09-2020.html
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the same daycare centre. The procedure must be clarified in each
individual case (contact tracing, cantonal doctor).
A daycare centre can only be closed in agreement with the
applicable municipality office.
Quarantine rules in
the canton of Zurich
in the event of a
positive
SARS-CoV-2 test
result in childcare
institutions
If staff in a childcare institution or guests test positive for
SARS-CoV-2 these persons must enter isolation. Also obliged to
quarantine are
• in institutions without facemasks: all close contact persons
(children, staff and guests). (Close contact applies to the
corresponding group, or often for the whole childcare institution,
namely when children and staff had cross-group contact for longer
than 15 min under 1.5 m). • in institutions with facemasks: only
those persons who, as a defined exception, had close contact
without a mask with the person tested positive (for definition of
close contact, see above).
If a child in a childcare institution tests positive for
SARS-CoV-2, this child must enter isolation. Also obliged to
quarantine are
• (in institutions with or without facemasks) neither the other
children nor staff nor guests.
If two or more children in a childcare institution test positive
for SARS-CoV-2 within 10 days, these children must enter isolation.
Also obliged to quarantine are
• in institutions without facemasks: all close contact persons
(children, staff and guests). (For definition of close contact, see
above). • in institutions with facemasks: only the children who had
close contact (for definition of close contact, see aboveand the
staff or guests who, as a defined exception, had close contact
without a mask with the positive tested children.
Quarantine rules in
canton Zurich
in the case of a
positive
SARS-CoV-2 test of
the mutation
variants* (Great
Britain, South Africa,
Brazil) in care
institutions
* The situation
concerning the
mutations is highly
dynamic. Changes can
If employees of a care institution or guests test positive for
one of the new variants (Great Britain, South Africa, Brazil) of
SARS-CoV-2 or if there is any cause for suspicion, stricter
quarantine rules apply. This is the case when the "new" Covid-19
variant is confirmed or suspected. (There is cause for suspicion
when a person who has tested positive had a direct or indirect link
to Great Britain, South Africa or Brazil or to a confirmed mutation
case). The stricter quarantine rules are as follows:
In order for a contact between two persons to be considered duly
protected, both parties must – in contrast to the previous variant
– wear a face mask, also in extra-familial educational and care
institutions where, especially with small children, this is not the
case. In other words: in contrast to the ‘old’ variant of the
virus, if a caregiver tests positive, it is no longer enough that
the caregiver wears a mask to prevent the child from having to
quarantine.
If a child (who was not wearing a face mask) tests positive for
the new variant, or there is cause for suspicion: all the child’s
close contacts
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be made to procedures
at any time and any
updated rules issued by
the Contact Tracing
department are to be
applied.
go into quarantine, i.e. the entire children’s group and all
caregivers involved.
If a caregiver tests positive for the new variant, or there is
cause for suspicion: all the children under the care of this
caregiver go into quarantine. The other caregivers do not have to
go into quarantine, provided both parties always wore a face
mask.
In addition: with the new variants, not only are first-degree
contacts defined and quarantined, but second-degree contacts too.
The latter are defined as household members, persons who provide or
receive care in the household, and intimate contacts.
Now, if the parents of a child in a daycare centre tests
positive for the new variant, or there is cause for suspicion, the
child counts as a first-degree contact and must go into quarantine.
However, according to the definition above, all other children and
caregivers in daycare centres and extra-familial care, do NOT come
under the group of second-degree contacts and must therefore not
quarantine.
