COVID-19 preparation
To prepare for a positive COVID-19 case attending an education and care service (service), providers, service leaders and nominated supervisors should:
- Read through the content on this page to understand the steps required of your service
- Ensure daily attendance records for staff, children and visitors are up to date. You will need this if you have to determine who was present at the time a positive case was at the service
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the service’s COVID-19 plans, policies, and procedures
- Where appropriate, ensure that the COVID-19 Infection control model policy
(218kb) is implemented and adapted for use in the context of your setting - Ensure that the service’s existing risk assessments for emergencies
include a response to COVID-19 - Continue to review, update and implement COVID-19 plans, policies, and procedures within the service
- Have well established processes in place to ensure that providers and service leaders are keeping up to date with the latest health advice and directions from ACT Health
- Confirm that provider, persons with management and control, nominated supervisor and service contact details are up to date on NQAITS.
COVID-19 exposure process
If you’re notified of a positive case in your service, you must follow these steps:
Identify positive case
- Confirm whether the child or staff member attended the service during their infectious period
- Identify the period of time that the positive case was at the service during their infectious period.
- Identify which learning cohort (eg room) they attended for the majority of this time (cohorts do not apply to OSHC)
- Ensure that no children or staff attend the service whilst symptomatic.
Actions
Individuals exposed to a case of COVID-19 in a service:
- Should monitor closely for symptoms of COVID-19
- Follow and implement the service’s COVID-19 plans, policies, procedures, and risk mitigation strategies
- If they have COVID-19 symptoms, they should follow the latest advice on the ACT Health website. Home - COVID-19 (act.gov.au)
Communication obligations
As with any infectious disease, providers and service leaders must continue to communicate any positive cases of COVID-19 to their community.
This optional letter template is available on the Education Directorate website for providers and service leaders use at Optional positive COVID-19 case notification letter for families and staff 
(28kb).
Cleaning
All settings where there has been a COVID-19 exposure should complete cleaning in line with the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) COVID cleaning and disinfection guidelines and implement their COVID safe policies and procedures.
Notification obligations
Providers are required to notify Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA)& of a positive COVID-19 case via NQAITS if:
- a child requires urgent medical attention or is hospitalised under regulation 176(2)(a)(ii) within 24 hours; or
- where the operation of the service is restricted (for example a room closure due to staff absences) under regulation 175(2)(b) within 7 days.
For more information about making a notification please refer to NQAITS Portal Emergency Management Help Guide
Support and advice
Providers and service leaders who are unsure or needs further assistance, should contact CECA by email ceca@act.gov.au. CECA can provide guidance and support and seek expert advice from ACT Health on a case-by-case basis.