HHSC TO REPORT COVID-19 DATA FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS, PROGRAMS

  

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is now reporting COVID-19 data concerning cases in children and employees at licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before or after-school programs.

On Thursday, according to a release from the HHSC, the agency began releasing self-reported COVID-19 case count data on regulated, licensed child centers, which provide care and supervision to seven or more children ages 13 or younger at a location other than the caregiver’s home.

The HHSC is also releasing data on school-age programs and before or after-school programs that provide supervision and care to pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students before or after the school day.

The data will be updated on the HHSC website daily on weekdays, no later than 3 p.m. Central Time.  All data is self-reported, provisional, subject to change, and will reflect cases as of the previous business day.  Aggregate-only data will be posted for small, home-based child care operations.

Regulated child care operations are required to follow the HHSC-issued minimum standards and emergency rules, which include a requirement to report confirmed positive cases to the HHSC and local health authorities.  The HHSC investigates any allegations that an operation is not complying with these requirements.

To learn more about a child care operation, including total capacity and compliance history, visit TXChildCareSearch.org.  Texas residents also can dial 2-1-1 to learn about programs and services.