Early Risers takes the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously.  Our policies are carefully crafted, incorporating the latest scientific and medical data, and are the product of extensive collaboration with physicians, scientists and public health experts.

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We use guidance from CDC, Department of Early Education & Care (EEC), and Town of Brookline Public Health Department as the starting point for the policies in place at a given time and through consultation with our Advisory Board, develop and implement what we believe will provide the safest environment for everyone associated with the center.  As guidance and our collective understanding of coronavirus evolve, so do the policies we adopt.  For the most current version of our policies, please fill out the form on our homepage and we will respond as soon as possible.

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Early Risers COVID-19 Policies (Feb 2022):

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1. Illness

In addition to the commonly-known primary symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, cough, loss of taste and/or smell), the top five symptoms reported are:

 

1. Runny nose

2. Headache

3. Fatigue (either mild or severe)

4. Sneezing

5. Sore throat

 

At the first sign of new symptoms of illness, children are required to:

• Obtain a COVID-19 test (PCR for 2 years and under, PCR or two antigen (rapid) tests, with the second test being taken no sooner than 24-hours after the first;

• Stay home until symptoms resolve;

  • ​Time-stamped photos are required for antigen tests

  • Even if the tests are negative, we ask that you still keep your child home until symptoms resolve. If a child starts to show symptoms while here, we will ask parents to come to pick up and get your child/ren tested

 

For example, even a seemingly harmless runny nose is the most common symptom of the Omicron variant.  As such, if your child develops a new runny nose at home or while here, before returning, s/he will need to (1) stay home and get tested and (2) symptoms must resolve.

 

2. Fever, Vomiting, Diarrhea

At the onset of any of these, a 72-hour mandatory exclusion applies and children are required to:

• Obtain a COVID-19 test (PCR for 2 years and under, PCR or two antigen (rapid) tests, with the second test being taken no sooner than 24-hours after the first;

• Be symptom/fever-free for 72-hours without  the aid of medication

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3. Out-of-State Travel

Children that travel out-of-state are required to quarantine for seven (7) days upon return to Massachusetts and obtain produce a negative COVID-19 test administered as follows:

• PCR (children under 2 years): One test on or after day six (6)

• Antigen (children over 2 years): Two negative antigen tests, with the first test being taken on day six of quarantine and the second test no sooner than 24-hours after the first

  • Time-stamped photos are required for antigen tests​

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4. Symptomatic, COVID-19 Positive, and Exposed Individuals

Early Risers has adopted the policies specified below, which are based on (and slightly more restrictive than) EEC’s guidelines

 

Symptoms that are grounds for immediate exclusion from care:

• Fever (100.0° F or higher) or shaking chills

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Cough (not due to other known causes, such as chronic chough)

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies)

Note: The list applies to new symptoms (i.e., if a child has a chronic runny nose or cough then the symptom is not grounds for exclusion)

 

Symptomatic individuals

• If symptoms present while at home, children should be kept home and tested as soon as possible (PCR or two antigen tests administered at least 24-hours apart)

• If symptoms present while at the center, children will be isolated until a parent can come to pick them up. Testing should be performed as soon as possible (PCR or two antigen tests administered at least 24-hours apart)

• Regardless of test results, children may not return until symptoms resolve

 

COVID-19 positive individuals

• Isolate at home for 10 days, obtain a PCR test on day 9, or perform antigen tests on days 9 and 10. Children may return on day 11 (1) with negative test results and (2) if symptoms have resolved

 

Individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19

• Quarantine at home for 7 days, and get a PCR test on day 6 or take antigen tests on days 6 and 7.  Children may return on day 8 (1) with negative test results and (2) there are no COVID-19 symptoms

  • Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more cumulatively within 24 hours

 

Note: The policies described above reflect EEC’s guidelines for individuals that are unable to wear a mask effectively.  Early Risers’ policy assumes that children are unable to wear a mask effectively because, at minimum, they remove their masks when eating and during rest time.