complaint·March 9, 2022

Page 2/5 Throughout the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with six staff and documentation in the form of a letter to the parents dated 12/04/20, another dated 12/21/21, as well as two notices to staff dated 08/17/21 & 01/10/22, were obtained. -Pertaining to the allegation that “Facility staff are not taking any precautions for COVID-19”: the allegation concerned a situation which had occurred in the Pre-K (four-year-old classroom) in December 2021. According to the Reporting Party, on 12/8/2021, the Center was informed that a parent of a child in the Pre-K class tested positive for COVID-19. The parent told Administration that though their child had symptoms of COVID-19, they did not want their child to be tested. The child’s last physical day was 12/3/2021. This information was not shared with the other children’s parents in the same class, though the staff in that classroom were informed. As the staff had been exposed, they had asked if they could take a COVID-19 test and were refused, as Administration stated that all the staff members who were fully vaccinated should come to work as long as they don’t have any symptoms of COVID-19. After 12/8/2021, one staff and at least three children tested positive in that classroom. The concerns of the Reporting Party were that other parents in the classroom of the child were not informed and that the staff members were told to come to work as long as they were not showing symptoms. Though the child was never confirmed as being COVID positive, per the child’s own doctor, as the child was symptomatic and exposed to a positive parent, the child would be treated as being COVID positive. Page 3/5 According to two of the interviews conducted, parents of children who were defined as being a “close contact” with the COVID assumed-positive child were informed on 12/08/21 that they had the choice to either quarantine for two days or to get tested and were able to return with a negative COVID test. This information was documented on an Unusual Incident Report reported to Community Care Licensing on 12/08/21. Children who were not designated as “close contacts” and/or whose parents stated that their children had tested negative were permitted to return on either 12/09/21 or 12/10/21. Though the Center was told that children could return with a negative test, the Center never asked for verification of children’s negative test results. Staff in the affected classrooms who were fully vaccinated were told they could remain working, but should test or quarantine if they were showing symptoms. There was one staff who quarantined for five days before testing and returned after having received a negative test result. It was unable to be determined what the LA County Department of Public Health guidance was during December 2021, as only the written guidance dated 11/09/21 and 01/30/22 was obtained. According to the updated 01/30/22 guidance, “Asymptomatic fully vaccinated staff who are boosted (if eligible) may remain onsite if exposed, however, it is recommended that they test once 3-5 days after exposure.” In this case, the staff and children were exposed on 12/03/21 and thus, five days after exposure would have been 12/08/21, meaning all exposed staff could have/should have tested by 12/08/21. However, only one of the three staff in the affected classrooms tested on 12/09 and returned to work prior to receiving their results; this staff tested positive the night of 12/10. Page 4/5 When asked whether staff had to work, two of the staff interviewed said no, it at the employee’s discretion whether they wanted to work or quarantine, but if a staff wanted to test, they were told to quarantine for 10 days; however, according to one of the staff, when they asked to quarantine, though they were not showing symptoms, they were told to come to work as the Center was short staffed and the staff was fully vaccinated; this staff later tested positive on the night of 12/10/21 and exposed children on 12/09/21 and 12/10/21 since they had returned to work prior to receiving their test results. Precautionary measures against COVID-19 include wearing face coverings; wearing gloves, social distancing; cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting; stable groups; good ventilation and getting vaccinated, amongst others. On 12/17/21, when LPA and the LA County Department of Public Health conducted a joint visit to the Center, though a few recommendations were made, in general, it appeared the Center was taking precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. Although the Center was not requiring verification of negative results prior to permitting staff and/or children to return to the Center, but as it was documented that the Center is taking preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19, the allegation that “Facility staff are not taking any precautions for COVID-19” has been determined to be Unsubstantiated. This agency has investigated the complaint alleging that ““Facility staff are not taking any precautions for COVID-19” and that there was a violation of Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1, Article 6, Section 101223 Personal Rights. Based upon the evidence as presented above, the allegation has been determined to be Unsubstantiated. A finding of Unsubstantiated Page 5/5 means that although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur. No deficiencies are being cited for the allegation listed above. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted on, or immediately adjacent to, the interior side of the main door for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Executive Director Jenni Gonzalez