Parents, daycares in no rush for reopening
Families, centres confused and concerned as Ontario speeds up the process
When Barry Choi heard the provincial government was reopening daycares across the province, his first thought was: “Too soon.”
About a week ago, the daycare that Choi’s two-year-old daughter, Scarlett, attends opened for just one day to allow parents to pick up a few things their children left behind in March.
The parents had to follow rigorous social distancing procedures. For example, only one adult was allowed in at a time.
The strict protocol didn’t leave Choi or his wife, Carla Salvosa, with the impression that daycare centres would be ready to open their doors to kids on June 12.
Turns out his daycare provider — and several others — agree.
In late April, the provincial government published a multistage plan to reopen the province. Until this past week, the entire province had been in Stage 1, which limited gatherings of people and allowed certain businesses to operate with social distancing measures in place.
On June 8, the government announced that Ontario will be entering Stage 2, except for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, which has a high concentration of the province’s COVID-19 cases, and regions such as Windsor-Essex, Lambton County and Niagara and Haldimand-Norfolk. That same day, the government extended the emergency closing order of all licensed Ontario child care centres until at least June 19.
But the next day, Premier Doug Ford announced all licensed child care
DAYCARE continued on B4
centres in Ontario could reopen on June 12. This took the sector by surprise and has left working parents confused and daycare centres scrambling.
“We just heard about Phase 2 in Ontario and how it didn’t apply to the GTA,” Choi said. Then he got the news that daycares in the GTA were allowed to reopen.
“As soon as I saw this news … I immediately thought, ‘There’s no chance that we’re sending our child back on Friday,’ ” Choi, a personal finance expert at moneywehave.com, told the Star.
“My daughter can’t hug her grandparents. But at the same time, the government’s been telling us that they’re OK to (let the kids) go to daycare. I found that to be a bit confusing.”
When Choi’s daycare reached out to say it would not be reopening June 12, as it needed to make adjustments to the facility to make it safer, Choi and his wife were relieved.
While he understands the financial strain many parents are under, and the need to get back to work, his main concern is his daughter’s safety. Choi is skeptical about the planned procedures to keep children at the accepted physical distance from each other.
Mothercraft, a service based in Ontario, is just one of many child care centres that share those concerns.
In a letter to parents, Mothercraft executive director Michele Lupa said the move to reopen seemed misaligned with the province’s reopening plans, as the GTA cannot join the rest of the province in Stage 2.
The letter stated it will remain closed until it can “secure the appropriate PPE … and have all policies and protocols in place,” including the training of staff.
When daycares reopen, they are expected to follow the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including sanitizing play spaces, toys and equipment as well as implementing physical distancing by scheduling shifts, in-person meetings and how parents will pick up and drop off their children.
Children will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms each day they are dropped off, according to the report. These screening areas will be separated with a six-foot distance and will be shielded with Plexiglas barriers with screening staff to be protected with face shields. The staff responsible for screening is expected to keep a daily log of each child entering the building. If symptoms are detected, the child will be isolated until the parent is available to pick them up.
To limit the risk of transmission, the guidelines suggest not allowing non-essential visitors and limiting the personal belongings children can keep in their cubbies.
Parents have been left with a very difficult decision, said Choi. “For me personally, I’m not sending my child back quite yet,” he said.