Registered Daycares In New Brunswick Prepare To Re-Open Next Week
MONCTON – Registered daycares in the province are able to open their doors again on May 19.
Janice Sutherland, the owner of Home With A Heart Daycare in Moncton, says they received three recovery manuals.
They include protocols from the provincial government, Public Health and Worksafe New Brunswick.
Sutherland says one thing that is required, is a pre-screening when the children are dropped off.
“There is a questionnaire that every parent needs to fill out before they are allowed access. Temperatures are also taken and if any of the things on the forms are checked positive they won’t get access to the centre.”
One of the questions Sutherland expects to be asked by parents, is how do they plan to ensure the children are physical distancing?
“We can try, but what they are setting out for us, is that we cannot have a group over 15 kids. The children are actually exempt from the two-metre physical distancing, and staff should encourage children not to touch each other and to practice good hygiene.”
She admits, at her childcare, she kept four staff members and they have been making improvements and cleaning since Covid-19 began. She knew they would eventually open under stricter regulations and wanted to be prepared for it. Her centre is divided into three buildings, so keeping groups of 15 children won’t be difficult.
“Every business model is different and every daycare is different,” she said. “Some of the daycares that have one big open space, they will have a harder time because they are going to have to create barriers. If they are licensed for 30 children in a large gym, they’ll have to have two groups of 15, and will have to put up a barrier, so they aren’t able to mix.”
The children won’t have to wear masks, but the daycares will need to have them on hand in case a child gets sick. Sutherland says that child will be required to wear the mask until their parents pick them up.
She’s aware some parents will be reluctant to send their kids, out of fear.
“The only thing I can say to people is we need to get our workforce out there again,” she said. “The first thing that has to open is childcare because we can’t go to work until childcare [centres] open. With the new protocols, it is probably going to be one of the cleanest places that people can go.”
Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend, a Huddle content partner.