Only half of child-care spaces may return under COVID-19 guidelines
City officials still uncertain how many of its approximately 14,500 pre-pandemic spots will be back online initially, in light of requirements
The head of Hamilton’s children’s services says it will be a “couple of weeks” before they know exactly how many child-care spaces will be impacted by the new COVID-19-era guidelines for reopening.
Last week, Education Minister Stephen Lecce gave daycares across the province the green light to reopen as early as June 12, but only if they were abiding by strict guidelines which include attendance records and a 10person cap of staff and children. Grace Mater, director of children’s services and neighbourhood development, said the city doesn’t yet know how many of its approximately 14,500 prepandemic spots will come back online to start.
Some of the 94 organizations that
operate the child-care centres in the city are still assessing their spaces with that limit in mind, she added.
“It’s hard to tell at the moment,” she said. “We’ll know in the next couple of weeks.”
As part of the reopening, child-care centres have to reconfigure and “deep clean” their facilities, recall their staff and order personal protective equipment. Their space numbers will depend on their new normal, said Mater.
As of Wednesday, Mater said they’re looking at operating at approximately 50 per cent capacity, or 7,250 spots.
“We really, at this point in time, have no way of knowing,” she added. “But, that is where some of the thoughts are.”
Toronto’s modelling for a resumption of child-care services estimated only 30 per cent of the city’s pre-pandemic spaces would be available.
In Hamilton, operators also require an inspection from public health, who will give the final say on whether they are ready. Mater said some facilities have been “quick” about their preparation and have already scheduled that inspection.
Some centres could reopen as early as Monday, others are taking a “bit longer,” added Mater.
“They’re trying to make sure that they’ve got everything in place, that they’re not scrambling and we won’t run into any situations where centres open and then have to close,” she said.
Mater said the lone city-run child-care centre, Red Hill Family Centre, is expected to reopen on June 29. Out of the 97 spots, she said they’re looking at operating about 48 of them.
Another issue the city is keeping an eye on is operators’ ability to recall all of their earlychildhood educators, said Mater.
She said with the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit in the mix — which doles out $2,000 a month amid COVID-19 — some may choose not to return due to “low wages.”
“They aren’t compensated at the level they should be,” said Mater. “The system is too underpaid … it’s still a challenge.”