Large Increase in Respiratory Virus Impacting Kids in Western Washington

A surge of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in children has contributed to a shortage of hospital beds for children in our region. RSV can spread easily in childcare settings - and good hygiene practices are especially important to reduce the spread of this virus. During this time, please make sure you and your staff are following your own safety guidelines. Encourage parents to keep their children home when they are sick. 
 
RSV is one of several respiratory viruses that have increased significantly this winter compared to pre-pandemic times. All the good hygiene practices that work against COVID-19 also work against these other viruses. 
Ways to prevent the spread of RSV:

• Keep anyone sick at home. Children should not not attend school or daycare nor should they participate in any group activities when sick. 
• Clean frequently touched surfaces often (e.g., doorknobs, mobile devices, toys).
• Cover coughs and sneezes with elbows or tissues.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid close contact (e.g., kissing, prolonged hugging).
• Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils.
• If you are sick, wear a properly fitting mask when around others if it’s safe to do so. Children under 2 should not wear masks. Children 2-4 years old should only wear a mask with adult supervision.

 
We all have a role to play in the health and safety of our kids. People like you who work with our kids every day are extremely important in our efforts to keep kids safe and healthy. We deeply appreciate all your hard work and support, both now and during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

You can access generic parent letters for RSV on our provider website:
https://providers.whatcomcounty.org/parent-letters/

New COVID-19 Guidance Released from the Department of Health

The DOH Guidance to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in K-12 Schools and Child Cares has recently been updated. Many of the previous requirements have become recommendations.

Key changes:

• Consolidated sections and indicated which COVID-19 prevention and response strategies are supported by Washington State statute and Labor & Industries rules
• Updated criteria for defining outbreaks
• Revised recommendations for return from isolation to include repeat testing