Regulations yet to be announced

It’s expected licensed daycares will be allowed to operate in June as Nova Scotia enters Phase 1 of reopening its economy.

But daycare owners, operators and directors have yet to receive instructions on rules, regulations or cleaning standards as the province nears the first phase.

Susan Baldwin, director at Middleton and District Day Care Centre, said she’s been monitoring what New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have put in place as she gets ready to reopen.

“It’s hard for me to give you definite answers because I don’t know if Nova Scotia is going to be similar to, tougher or more lenient than the regulations they’ve come out with,” Baldwin told The Chronicle Herald on Wednesday.

Baldwin said licensed daycares typically receive information and updates from the province’s Department of Education and Early Childhood via email, but she hasn’t received any information on what is expected of them when they reopen.

Joann Alberstat, department spokeswoman, said licensed childcare will remain closed to June 5, with June 8 being the earliest possible reopening date.

Unlicensed and licensed child-care centres in Prince Edward Island are set to open Friday, while still following social distancing and limits on children and staff in spaces.

Regulated daycares in New Brunswick were allowed to reopen on Tuesday under strict regulations, such as general surfaces must be cleaned twice daily and all children and staff must be pre-screened before entering the facility.

Baldwin said if the same regulations are put in place in Nova Scotia, she may not be able to open because she currently can’t find enough cleaning supplies in her rural town to sustain heightened cleaning measures.

“What they’re going to mandate and what restrictions we’re going to have for reopening, if we don’t get that information soon, then how are we supposed to pull everything together within two weeks?” Baldwin asked.

Rachael Sherwood, who runs a private day home in Beaver Bank, was allowed to keep her operation open but voluntarily closed down when licensed daycares were shuttered.

Sherwood plans to reopen her establishment when licensed daycares are given the green light.

“I will reopen with all of the others, but there will be changes. Every aspect of every business has had to be reexamined,” Sherwood said.

Following public health recommendations, Sherwood has eliminated items such as play-doh, books and soft toys that are hard to sanitize in between uses. She has also changed the layout of the daycare in her home to give the children more space.

“A couple of people have reached out though and said they’re nervous about returning to the centres or will be staying home with their child,” Sherwood said.

Baldwin also said she’s heard from a few parents that are wondering if it’s too soon to open daycares.

“There’s so many questions floating around that nobody knows the answers to. There’s so much fear right now, and rightfully so,” Baldwin said.

“I want to stress Dr. (Robert) Strang and Premier (Stephen) Mcneil have been awesome, meeting with each of the sectors and listening to our concerns, so I hope to hear something in the next couple of days so I can prepare.”

In an emailed statement, Alberstat said Strang is consulting with the childcare sector, including sharing public health information “to help operators develop plans to safely reopen when public health decides it is safe to do so.”

“A reopening date will be confirmed closer to this time frame,” Alberstat said.

123RF Licensed childcare facilities in Nova Scotia are to remain closed to June 5, with June 8 being the earliest possible reopening date.