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Current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) News
COVID-19 Guidance
As you are aware, the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV, aka COVID-19) has, since first appearing in China in 2019, spread throughout the world, including in every state in the U.S. This virus can lead to fever, cough and trouble breathing as well as possible death. Numerous vaccines designed to inoculate against the virus have been developed and are currently being administered. New York State is actively encouraging residents to vaccinate themselves and family members, take continued precautions, and remain informed on any developing news.
Information and Resources for…
Child Care Providers
- Dear Provider Letters
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Dear Provider Letters Regarding COVID-19
- May 31, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Changes to Isolation and Quarantine Requirements for Those Who Are Unable to Wear a Well-Fitting Mask
Effective immediately, individuals previously subject to a 10-day isolation or quarantine due to age, vaccination status and/or inability to reliably wear a mask, may be able to return to their child care program sooner.
May 31, 2022 Letter Word | May 31, 2022 Letter PDF - English
A partir del 31 de mayo de 2022, las personas previamente sujetas a un aislamiento o cuarentena de 10 días debido a la edad, el estado de vacunación y/o la incapacidad de usar una máscara de manera confiable, pueden regresar antes a su programa de cuidado infantil.
May 31, 2022 Spanish Letter Word | May 31, 2022 Spanish Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - March 1, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Updated Child Care Mask Guidance
(for Licensed, Registered or Legally-Exempt Group Providers)
Effective March 2, 2022, OCFS is no longer requiring that masks be worn in your child care program. You may continue to require masks and children or staff should continue to be encouraged to wear a mask if they prefer to do so.
March 1, 2022 Letter Word | March 1, 2022 Letter PDF - English
A partir del 2 de marzo de 2022, OCFS ya no requiere el uso de mascarillas en su programa de cuidado infantil. Es posible que continúe requiriendo máscaras y se debe seguir alentando a los niños o al personal a usar máscaras si así lo prefieren.
March 1, 2022 Letter Spanish Word | March 1, 2022 Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - February 10, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Face Covering Update
Attached is updated COVID-19 guidance for child care programs. Please read this information carefully.
February 10, 2022 Letter Word | February 10, 2022 Letter PDF - English
Estimado proveedor de cuidado infantil con licencia, registrado y grupal legalmente exento: Le adjuntamos la guía actualizada relativa a COVID-19 para programas de cuidado infantil. Por favor lea esta información con atención.
February 10, 2022 Letter Spanish Word | February 10, 2022 Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - February 4, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - New COVID-19 Protocols and New Information Regarding School Age Children
This letter contains the most recent requirements for what to do when someone in your child care program is exposed to COVID-19 through a close contact or tests positive for the virus.
February 4, 2022 Letter Word | February 4, 2022 Letter PDF - English
Esta carta contiene los requisitos más recientes sobre qué hacer cuando alguien en su programa de cuidado infantil está expuesto a COVID-19 a través de un contacto cercano o da resultado positivo en una prueba del virus.
February 4, 2022 Letter Spanish Word | February 4, 2022 Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - January 25, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Memo to the Field - Face Covering Clarification
This letter clarifies that mask mandates are still required in child care settings licensed, registered, or enrolled by the Office of Children and Family Services.
January 25, 2022 Letter Word | January 25, 2022 Letter PDF - English
Esta carta aclara que los mandatos de las mascarillas aún se requieren en los entornos de cuidado infantil con licencia, registrados o inscritos por la Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias.
January 25, 2022 Letter Spanish Word | January 25, 2022 Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - January 18, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - COVID Test Kit Distribution
OCFS is pleased to announce we are partnering with our local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to distribute more than 214,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits to licensed/registered child care programs.
January 18, 2022 COVID Letter Word | January 18, 2022 COVID Letter PDF - English
La Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias (OCFS) se complace en anunciar que nos estamos asociando con nuestras agencias locales de recursos y referencias de cuidado infantil (Child Care Resource and Referral, CCR&R) para distribuir más de 214,000 kits de prueba de COVID-19 para el hogar a programas de cuidado infantil con licencia/registrados.
January 18, 2022 COVID Letter Spanish Word | January 18, 2022 COVID Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español - January 17, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Programs
Dear Licensed, Registered or Legally-exempt Group Provider:
Attached is updated COVID-19 guidance for child care programs. Please read this information carefully.
January 17, 2022 Letter Word | January 17, 2022 Letter PDF - English
Estimado proveedor de cuidado infantil con licencia, registrado y grupal legalmente exento:
Le adjuntamos la guía actualizada relativa a COVID-19 para programas de cuidado infantil. Por favor lea esta información con atención.
January 17, 2022 Letter Spanish Word | January 17, 2022 Letter PDF - Spanish / Español - December 30, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - DOH Advisory on Shortening Isolation Period
Dear Licensed, Registered or Legally-exempt Group Provider:
Attached is DOH’s “Advisory on Shortening Isolation Period for Certain Fully Vaccinated Healthcare Workers and Other Critical Workforce”. Please read this information carefully as it may impact your child care program.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your regulator for assistance.
December 30, 2021 Letter Word | December 30, 2021 Letter PDF - English
December 30, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | December 30, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español - June 28, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - COVID 19 Guidance Updates
This letter is to inform you that effective immediately there are important changes to the COVID-19 related requirements for child care programs. Please read this information carefully. If you have any questions, please reach out to your regulator.
June 28, 2021 Letter Word | June 28, 2021 Letter PDF - English
Esta carta es para informarle que con vigencia inmediata hay cambios importantes en los requisitos relacionados con COVID-19 para los programas de cuidado infantil. Lea esta información detenidamente. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con su regulador.
June 28, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | June 28, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español - June 24, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - Governor's Executive Orders End
When the state of emergency ends in New York State today, all child care related Executive Orders (EOs) issued by Governor Cuomo will no longer be in effect.
June 24, 2021 Letter Word | June 24, 2021 Letter PDF - English
June 24, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | June 24, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español
End of Executive Order Child Care Subsidy
End of EO Subsidy Word | End of EO Subsidy PDF - April 1, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - Travel Advisory Update
Dear Provider,
Today, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) updated its COVID-19 Travel Advisory. All New Yorkers must adhere to the travel guidelines, attached hereto, and available on the NYS DOH website. Please review the information contained in these important guidance documents. - March 24, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - Vaccination
This letter provides information on additional COVID-19 vaccination sites, making the vaccine more accessible to providers.
March 24, 2021 Letter Word | March 24, 2021 Letter PDF - English
March 24, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | March 24, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español - February 24, 2021 - Letter to Legally-exempt Summer Camp Directors
This letter contains information regarding steps to enroll for summer 2021 as a legally exempt group summer camp program, to provide child care services to families who are receiving child care assistance.
February 24, 2021 Letter Word | February 24, 2021 Letter PDF - English - January 11, 2021 - Dear Provider Letter - New Vaccine Guidance for Child Care Providers
This Dear Provider letter provides guidance to child care programs regarding the State's vaccination plan. Prioritized populations now include: owners, operators and staff of OCFS licensed and registered child care programs; providers and staff of New York City based child care programs under article 43 and article 47 of the city health code (identified as "approved child care"); and providers and staff of Legally Exempt Group Child Care programs. Please read this information carefully, and review the Department of Health's website for detailed information.
January 11, 2021 Letter Word | January 11, 2021 Letter PDF - English
January 11, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | January 11, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español
- May 31, 2022 - Dear Provider Letter - Changes to Isolation and Quarantine Requirements for Those Who Are Unable to Wear a Well-Fitting Mask
- Guidance Documents
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CDC Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted updated Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning.
The Guidance document provides numerous links to resources that provide even greater detail, including information regarding children’s risks concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Updated Interim Testing Guidance: Protocol for COVID-19 testing with prioritization by job title/role
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) continues to monitor the situation and work to expand COVID-19 diagnostic and serologic testing for New Yorkers. The attached document broadens the circumstances in which essential workers may request a COVID test by contacting the state’s COVID 19 testing hotline.
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Updated Interim Testing Guidance: Protocol for COVID-19 testing with prioritization by job title/role
English: April 26 Updated Testing Guidance PDF
বাংলা/Bengali: PDF April 26 Bengali Updated Testing Guidance
中文/Chinese, traditional: PDF April 26 Chinese (traditional) Updated Testing Guidance
Kreyòl Ayisyen/Haitian Creole: PDF April 26 Haitian Creole Updated Testing Guidance
한국어/Korean: PDF April 26 Korean Updated Testing Guidance
Pусский/Russian: PDF April 26 Russian Updated Testing Guidance
Español/Spanish: PDF April 26 Spanish Updated Testing Guidance
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Updated Interim Testing Guidance: Protocol for COVID-19 testing with prioritization by job title/role
- Webinars
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New Webinar Video Available
Child Care Providers and Federal Assistance: Small Business Administration Loans and Loan Forgiveness
Tom Copeland’s Small Business Administration Opportunities and Economic Relief for Child Care Providers webinar recorded on April 9, 2020 is available for viewing.
Go to the video of the webinar.
Parents
National Diaper Bank for Parents to Access Diapers During this Challenging Time
If you or someone you know needs diapers, there may be assistance in your community.
To find out if an agency in your area provides diaper assistance to families in need, please call 2-1-1 on your phone or search online at 2-1-1.org. Specialist are available 24/7 to help identify local resources that may be able to help provide diapers and other basic necessities.
For more information wisit the National Diaper Bank.
Helping Your Child Wear a Face Mask
Making Masks Fun
- Making Masks Fun! Tips for Getting Kids to Embrace Face Coverings amid the Coronavirus Pandemic - Little Medical School
- 9 Tips to Help Your Child Wear a Mask - PBS for Parents
- Arthur | Wearing a Mask - PBS Kids
- Baby Joy Joy | Put On Your Mask - Baby Joy Joy Early Learning
- Fluffster Wears a Mask - Sesame Street
- More mask videos for parents and kids - YouTube Search
En Español
- 9 consejos para ayudar a su niño a usar una mascarilla - PBS for Parents
- Fluffster usa una máscara - Sesame Street
- Usa tu máscara | Baby Shark
- Más videos de máscaras para padres e hijos - Bing Search
Teachers
Teacher Toolkit Posters
- Poster A: English COVID Poster A | Spanish COVID Poster A
- Poster B: English COVID Poster B | Spanish COVID Poster B