Province Shares Plan for Reopening Child Care


June 9, 2020

The Province has announced it will allow child care operators across the province to reopen starting Friday, June 12, 2020, provided that they meet public health guidelines similar to those required for emergency child care.

Developed in consultation with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and medical leaders at The Hospital for Sick Children, the Province’s Health and Safety Guidance for During COVID-19 for Employers of Child Care includes the following requirements:
 

  • Children and staff will be limited to groups of 10 or less

  • All staff and children must be screened daily prior to entering the building

  • Anyone feeling unwell must stay home

  • Providers must have a COVID-19 response plan if a staff member or child is exposed to the virus

  • Providers must keep daily records of all attendees to support contact tracing

  • Thorough cleaning of the centre before opening and throughout the day

  • Permitting only "essential" visitors

  • Pick-up and drop-off protocols that facilitate physical distancing

  • Mandatory training, reporting and support from local medical officers of health prior to reopening


Effectively immediately, staff can re-enter child care facilities and begin preparation for reopening.

According to the Province’s news release, “the existing child care funding will be leveraged to support enhanced cleaning costs and health and safety requirements to support the reopening of child care.” OMSSA is working to clarify funding details.

The Province also indicated that emergency child care will wind down effective June 26, 2020, and that service system managers will be responsible for assisting emergency child care clients in returning to their previous arrangements or finding new arrangements during the transition to regular child care.

The Province also confirmed that day camps will be allowed to open this summer provided that they meet these guidelines.

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