Some needed relief for parents returning to work.
Ontario is allowing daycares and in-home childcare providers to reopen on Friday.
The government adds summer day camps will also be allowed to re-open.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says strict health standards will have to be met.
They include:
-Cohorting: putting children and staff in groups of 10 or less day over day;
-COVID-19 response plan: all child care settings will be required to have a plan in place if a child, parent or staff member/provider is exposed to COVID-19;
-Screening: all staff and children must be screened prior to entry to the child care setting. Anyone feeling unwell must stay home;
-Daily attendance records: child care settings must keep daily records of all attendees in order to support contact tracing;
-Cleaning: child care settings must be thoroughly cleaned before opening and frequently thereafter;
-No visitors: only essential visitors are permitted entry into the child care setting;
-Implementing drop-off and pick-up protocols in a way that facilitates physical distancing;
-Safety: all toys that can easily spread germs will be removed from the daycares.
Lecce stresses the local Medical Officer of Health must be supportive of reopening plans and adds the province will be strictly enforcing the rules.
“To underscore a zero tolerance approach to non-compliance. We will be increasing penalties by $1,000 a day, per child, or a net 50% increase in the penalty regime. We will also be stepping up inspections to ensure compliance and safety.”
Lecce says the government will be offering additional support to ensure childcare centres have enough Personal Protection Equipment.
Health officials confirmed an additional 230 cases on Tuesday, as well as 14 more deaths.
Just Monday, the province recorded 243 cases.
Health Minister Christine Elliott calls the number trends “very promising.”
