Illness Policy

ILLNESS POLICY

Criteria for Keeping Children or Team Members at Home Due to Illness

To protect the health and safety of all children, families, and staff, these rules apply to both
children and team members. Anyone showing signs of illness that may be contagious or may
significantly impact participation in program activities must remain at home.

Individuals should stay home if they have:

1. A fever greater than 100.4°F / 38°C.
2. A severe or persistent cough.
3. A loss of taste or smell.
4. A continuous runny nose not related
   to allergies.
5. Diarrhea.
6. Vomited more than once during the
   previous night.
7. Any of the following illnesses or
   communicable conditions:
   • Diphtheria
   • Haemophilus Influenza Type B
   • Head lice (live)
   • Hepatitis A
   • Measles
   • Mumps
   • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
   • Ringworm
   • COVID-19
   • Rubella
   • Scabies
   • Scarlet fever
   • Rash of unknown origin
   • Strep throat
   • Tuberculosis
   • Whooping cough (pertussis)
   • Any other infectious disease or illness as directed by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Exclusion Period:

• Children or team members sent home or kept home due to illness must remain away for a minimum of 24 hours (as per AHS policy) or until 24 hours symptom-free (whichever is longer).
• The Program Coordinator or designated supervisor may require a doctor’s note before returning (see following Doctors Note Requirements).
• If the program is in AHS-declared outbreak status, the exclusion period for listed symptoms increases to 48 hours.
• Team members are encouraged to use their Wellness Days when ill to help keep programs as healthy as possible.

When Children or Team Members May Be Sent Home for Health Reasons

Individuals may be sent home during program hours if they develop:

An outbreak must be reported immediately to Alberta Health Services (AHS) when:

1. Vomiting.
2. Diarrhea.
3. A fever greater than 100°F / 37.5°C.
4. Severe or persistent coughing.
5. Migraine headaches impacting participation.
6. Difficulty breathing.
7. Any other signs or symptoms of a communicable disease or illness (see previous list).

When Children or Team Members Can Return

• Must remain away from the program for a minimum of 24 hours or until symptom-free for 24 hours (whichever is longer).
• The Program Coordinator or designated supervisor may request a doctor’s note before returning.
• In the case of AHS-declared outbreak status, individuals with symptoms listed by AHS as part of the outbreak must remain home for a minimum of 48 hours.

Illness Outbreak

An outbreak must be reported immediately to Alberta Health Services (AHS) when:

1. Vomiting.
2. Diarrhea.
3. A fever greater than 100°F / 37.5°C.
4. Severe or persistent coughing.
5. Migraine headaches impacting participation.
6. Difficulty breathing.
7. Any other signs or symptoms of a communicable disease or illness (see previous list).

When Children or Team Members Can Return

• Must remain away from the program for a minimum of 24 hours or until symptom-free
  for 24 hours (whichever is longer).
• The Program Coordinator or designated supervisor may request a doctor’s note
  before returning.
• In the case of AHS-declared outbreak status, individuals with symptoms listed by AHS as
  part of the outbreak must remain home for a minimum of 48 hours.

AHS Contact for Reporting

An outbreak must be reported immediately to Alberta Health Services (AHS) when:

• Respiratory Illness: Two or more cases with new onset of 2 or more symptoms symptoms within a seven day period from different households.
• Gastrointestinal Illness:
  • Two or more cases of similar gastrointestinal symptoms within a 48 hour period with children.
  • Report if there is an unusual increase of GI illness (above the baseline) even if staff were not present at work with symptoms.
• Rash Illness: Three or more cases of similar rash illness within a 10-day period.

Note: These thresholds include both children and team members.

AHS Contact for Reporting

Report Illness to the AHS Provincial Public Health Support team (PPHST):
Call 1-844-343-0971

AHS Role:

• Confirm whether an outbreak is officially declared.
• Provide reporting requirements, cleaning protocols, and outbreak timelines.
• Guide communication to families and staff.

TOPP KIDS Response During Outbreak:

• Activate the Increased Illness Protocol.
• Follow all AHS cleaning, sanitization, and reporting directions. informed as per AHS guidance
• Keep families and team members informed.

Doctor’s Note Requirements

For Children
A doctor’s note is required for a child to return to the program in the following cases:

• The child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease (e.g., tuberculosis, measles, or whooping cough) and must provide medical clearance confirming they are non-infectious.
• The child exhibits symptoms such as diarrhea, mouth sores with drooling, or a rash with fever or behavioral changes, and a physician’s assessment is needed to confirm no health risk to others.

A doctor’s note is not required for a child to return if:

• The child has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours (e.g., no fever above 38.0°C without medication, no vomiting, or no diarrhea) and is well enough to participate in program activities.
• The illness is mild (e.g., common cold) and the parent confirms the child poses no health risk to others.

For Team Members
A doctor’s note is required for a team member to return to work in the following cases:

• The team member has been absent due to a communicable disease that could pose a health risk to children or staff, and medical clearance is needed to confirm they are non-infectious.
• The absence exceeds 5 consecutive working days, and a medical certificate is needed to verify fitness to resume duties.

A doctor’s note is not required for a team member to return if:

• The absence was due to a minor illness (e.g., common cold or flu) lasting fewer than 5 consecutive working days, and the team member confirms they are fit to work without posing a health risk.

All requirements align with Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care Regulation and Public Health Act. The program reserves the right to request a doctor’s note in exceptional circumstances
to ensure the safety of children and staff.

Illness Log