On 04/20/2021, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at Spark's Little Learners Academy II. The center was closed. No information was provided regarding the reason for the closure or when the center would re-open. On 04/20/2021, I conducted a telephone interview with Child A's Mother. Child A's Mother indicated that Child A has been sick repeatedly since she began attending care at the center in the summer of 2020. On 04/17/2021, Child A tested positive for COVID-19. Child A started showing symptoms on 04/16/2021 and Child A was sent home because she was sick and crying. Child A's Mother reported that she was concerned about the center's response to the situation because the center was only closing on Monday and Tuesday for cleaning, not for quarantining. Child A's Mother was informed by a child care staff member, who she did not want to name, that Child B (19-month-old female) tested positive for COVID-19 approximately two weeks ago 3 and parents were not notified of the positive case nor was the center closed at all. Child A's Mother then learned that four child care staff members tested positive, and parents were not notified. Child A's Mother was concerned that the owner "only cares about money" and is not following any guidelines like notifying parents, cleaning, or shutting down when positive cases are being reported at the center. Child A's Mother was not satisfied with the quality of care being provided at the center. On 04/20/2021, I received a telephone call from Child B's Mother. Child B's Mother confirmed that Child B tested positive for COVID-19 on 04/07/2021. Child B's Mother denied being aware of any positive cases at the center prior to Child B testing positive. She indicated that prior to Child B testing positive for COVID-19, she did not have any issues with the quality of care being provided. She indicated about two months prior to Child B testing positive, there was a lot of child care staff turnover and the new child care staff members were not as diligent about wearing masks and following protocols as the previous child care staff members. She stated these new child care staff members are also not familiar with the children so they are repeatedly calling Child B's Mother because "they can't deal with her today". Child B's Mother kept in communication with Ms. Smith regarding Child B being tested and updated Ms. Smith after the results came back positive. However, Child B's Mother was "on the fence" with Ms. Smith's reaction. It took Ms. Smith two days to reach out to Child B's Mother after the results came in and Ms. Smith was "nonchalant" about the positive test result. Child B's Mother stated that although she could not say for certain that Child B contracted COVID-19 from the center, she was suspicious since she works from home and Child B did not have a lot of exposure outside of the child care center. Child B's Mother did not know if Child B's classroom was closed or if children or child care staff members quarantined after Child B tested positive. Child B's Mother and Child B quarantined for the required time, so she was not at the center to see if children or staff quarantined. I asked Child B's Mother if she was aware of any other positive cases or if the center had previously closed for COVID-19. Child B's Mother stated that in the late fall of 2020, she was informed the center was closing for a period of time. She was not informed that it was due to COVID-19, but assumed it was. The notice Child B's Mother received indicated that "due to another staff member showing illness" the center was closing. Parents were not notified of the illness or how many child care staff members were ill. On 04/21/2021, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at Spark's Little Learners Academy II. I met with child care staff member, Breanna Howard. Ms. Howard confirmed that Child A had tested positive for COVID-19. She stated that child care staff members were informed on 04/17/2021 that Child A had test

R 400.8155 · Correction status not published

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