Winter COVID-19 Screening: Space Heater Guidance

As Pennsylvania enters the coldest part of winter, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is providing guidance on the use of space heaters during daily screening procedures outside the facility.

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As a strategy to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, OCDEL advised child care providers to establish daily screening procedures outside the facility, when possible.

Child care centers are not permitted to use space heaters within the measured child care space. Measured space includes outdoor space during the periods of the day when that space is used for children’s program activities. If child care centers choose to use portable heaters during drop-off COVID-19 screening, that area cannot simultaneously be used for children's activities.

Space heater safety information is detailed in this flyer.