R.I. child care programs report low COVID-19 transmission after reopening

Island child care programs reported just 52 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases after reopening in June and July, according to a report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 660 of the state’s 891 child care programs reopened over the period to serve nearly 19,000 children. Twenty-nine programs reported COVID-19 cases, with all but nine reporting a single case with no apparent secondary transmission. Before reopening, the state required each program to reduce enrollment to 12 students and staff members in physically separated spaces with no switching between groups, which increased to allow up to 20 people per program on June 29.

The state also required the programs to screen children and adults daily for symptoms, implement enhanced cleaning and disinfection based on CDC guidelines, and adults to wear masks.

“Despite limited identified secondary transmission, the impact on child care programs was substantial, with 853 children and staff members quarantined, which highlights the importance of community mitigation efforts to safeguard child care programs,” the authors said.