Preschooler At Naugatuck YMCA Tests Positive For Coronavirus

NAUGATUCK, CT — A preschooler at the Naugatuck YMCA Child Care Center has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday.

The child’s parent notified staff at the preschool program about the positive test Thursday. The YMCA is working with the Naugatuck Department of Public Health and is following their guidance, according to officials.

Students in the preschool program are divided into groups and they don’t interact with each other, officials said. Out of an “abundance of caution,” they are requiring all children in the preschooler's group, along with their siblings and the group’s teacher, to self-quarantine for at least 14 days before returning to the center or visiting the YMCA.

Officials said the decisions are in line with CDC and state guidelines, which state that those who have been in “close contact with an infected individual—defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the individual meets the criteria to stop isolating.”

“Before making the decision to open our child care this year - amid the COVID-19 crisis, we spent ample time developing plans to ensure the safety of the children and staff in our program,” the YMCA said in a statement. “The extensive precautions we have taken include but are not limited to: staff temperature and symptom checks upon arrival to class in the morning; increased cleaning throughout the day, including between use of all equipment; and staff wearing masks at all times. The children were also kept in group cohorts that did not interact with one-another.

“We will monitor the rest of our preschoolers, but with the close-knit nature of child care groups and our adherence to cohorts we believe that having the children within this pod, as well as the teachers, remain at home will help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”