Safe Work Australia (SWA) has produced specific guidance for the early learning sector about managing the risks of the Coronavirus to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes specific advice for the sector on physical distancing measures available here. 

We highly recommend you read the guidance here and apply these measures. 

Additionally the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), chaired by the Australian Chief Medical Officer, provided the following advice for early childhood education services on 3 April 2020:

• exclusion of unwell staff, children and visitors
• reduce mixing of children by separating cohorts (including the staggering of meal and play times)
• enhanced personal hygiene for children, staff and parents
  - make sure liquid soap and running water, or alcohol-based hand sanitiser is available at the entrance of the facility and throughout
• full adherence to the NHMRC childcare cleaning guidelines
  - in addition, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces at least daily (e.g. play gyms, tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks)
  - wash and launder play items and toys including washable plush toys as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  - If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely.
• excursions other than to local parks should be discouraged, and
• influenza vaccination for children, staff and parents.

There may need to be consideration of alternative arrangements for highly vulnerable children. AHPPC recommends these parents seek medical advice.

The Australian Department of Health has provided the following advice for employers:

What precautions should I take when cleaning?
When cleaning, staff should minimise the risk of being infected with the Coronavirus by wearing gloves and using alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after wearing gloves.

If cleaning rooms or areas of the workplace where a person with a confirmed case of Coronavirus or a person in isolation has frequented staff may wish to wear a surgical mask as an added precaution.

If a confirmed case of Coronavirus or a person in isolation is in a room that cleaning staff need to enter, they may ask them to put on a surgical mask if they have one available.

What should I tell my staff?
Employers should provide information and brief all employees and contract staff, including domestic and cleaning staff where applicable, on relevant information and procedures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

You should inform staff who meet the above criteria that they should remain isolated in their home. Employees should advise their employer if they develop symptoms during the isolation period, particularly if they have been in the workplace. Public health authorities may contact employers in the event an employee is confirmed to have coronavirus.

Can food and water spread the Coronavirus?
Some Coronaviruses can potentially survive in the gastrointestinal tract however, food-borne spread is unlikely when food is properly cooked and prepared. With good food preparation and good hand hygiene, it is highly unlikely that you will become infected with coronavirus through
food.

It is unknown at this time if the virus is able to survive in sewerage. Those who work closely with sewerage should take the same precautions as those outlined above for cleaners. Drinking water in Australia is high quality and is well treated. It is not anticipated that drinking water will be affected by the Coronavirus.

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