Public Reporting of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Licensed Child Care - September 11, 2020

Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division

315 Front Street West, 11th floor 
Toronto ON M5V 3A4

Ministère de l'Éducation
Division de la petite enfance et de la garde d’enfants

315, rue Front Ouest, 11e étage 
Toronto ON M5V 3A4

TO: Licensed Child Care Programs

FROM: Shannon Fuller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division

DATE: September 11, 2020

SUBJECT: Public Reporting of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Licensed Child Care

To support transparency for parents, families and communities, a daily summary of COVID-19 activity associated with licensed child care programs will be posted online beginning September 11, 2020. This daily summary will be found as part of the government’s open data catalogue and can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-cases-schools-and-child-care-centres

As you are aware, licensed child care programs are required to report to the ministry confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19, as well as centre and premises closures. Information from these serious occurrence reports will be used to populate the daily summary that is posted online.

The information that will be posted includes the following:

  • Number of child care centres and home child care premises with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19;
  • Number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in children;
  • Number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in staff or home child care providers;
  • Total number of closed child care centres; and,
  • Total number of closed home child care premises.

Additionally, the name of each child care centre and home child care agency with an open serious occurrence for a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be posted. The name of the city where the program or agency head office is located will also be posted, along with the number of children or staff/providers who have tested positive. No identifying information for the individuals who have tested positive will be posted, and the Ministry will not be publicly reporting the numbers of post-secondary students, parents or individuals ordinarily resident/regularly at the home child care premises who have tested positive. Please note, you are still required to submit a serious occurrence for a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in these individuals.

If you have any questions about serious occurrence reporting, please contact your assigned Ministry of Education Program Advisor.

The health and safety of children, staff and providers remains the government’s number one priority. I want to thank you again for your dedication, commitment and ongoing partnership as we work together to ensure child care programs are safe and supportive places for children and families in these unprecedented times.

Thank you,

Shannon Fuller

c/ Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards