Ontario child care centres will be permitted to reopen this Friday with a lot of restrictions in place. The restrictions include the number of people in each room, screening measures and extra cleaning.
While talking about the reopening, Premier Doug Ford said supports have to be in place so people can go back to work as most parts of the province enters Stage 2 of reopening on Friday.
He said: “In this unprecedented time all parents and guardians have had the increased challenge of balancing work and family in this new normal. It is no easy task in normal days, but now more than ever I know it’s even tougher.”
The reopening applies throughout the province though areas like Greater Toronto, Hamilton Area and some areas that share border with the United States have not gotten permission to enter Stage 2.
The Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce remarked that as Friday is just three days away, many child care centres may not be able to reopen fast.
He said: “I appreciate some operators will want to take the time to do the proper training to open up and that may take them some days and we respect that.”
Part of the requirements by operators is to limit the number of kids and staff in a specified space to 10 people and adhere to the legal requirements for ratios of children to staff that is already in existence.
Guidelines for reopening child cares share similarities with the emergency guidelines that have been in operation for kids of essential workers which include increased cleaning, no allowance of visitors in the centre and screening every staff and child for symptoms before entry.
Lecce said he is aware that all parents will not send their kids back to child care while the COVID-19 pandemic persists, as such, the province is extending a directive that won’t make them lose their spot or pay fees during this time.
