Daycare hit by closure

Centre workers forced to isolate

TOWNSVILLE parents have been put on the backfoot by the sudden closure of a Douglas daycare centre due to the risk of Covid-19.

Goodstart Early Learning, based near the Townsville University Hospital, has been forced to temporarily close its doors as staff isolate at home.

“Goodstart Douglas is currently closed and is expected to reopen next Monday or Tuesday,” a spokeswoman said.

“The reason for the closure is the threat of transmission of Covid-19 between children, families and employees due to the high levels of positive Covid-19 cases in the Townsville area.”

While it’s not known if there have been cases transmitted at the daycare centre, numerous employees have been forced to isolate at home due to Covid exposure.

“A number of centre employees are currently in isolation, and therefore, for the safety and wellbeing of the families and employees in the centre, the decision was made to temporarily close,” the Goodstart spokeswoman said.

“For the past two years Goodstart – like the rest of our sector – has been focused on keeping Covid out of centres but it’s clear from the experience of the early learning sector in NSW and Victoria that with the borders now open, we can no longer stop Covid moving through our communities and sometimes into our centres.”

Preparations began last year for a response plan to the possibility of Covid transmission, with each Goodstart centre adopting its own strategy.

“Last year all of our centre teams began planning for the expected increase in Covid-19 transmissions in early 2022,” the spokeswoman said.

“Each of our centres is in charge of its own Covid shield (or Covid safety plan) and each team is changing its core controls as community transmission increases.

“As is necessary, this will mean partial or full centre closures to ensure the safety of our families and people.”

While the centre is intended to reopen next week, the centre is also waiting to determine the health of all employees.

“Early learning is vital for children’s learning but it also allows parents to be able to work to support their family,” the spokeswoman said.

“We look forward to reopening Goodstart Douglas, once all employees are well.”