Daycares challenged by guidelines for prevention of COVID-19

KAMLOOPS – Businesses are closing their doors, in-class instruction has been cancelled, and some flights are being suspended all in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

One measure the provincial government has not taken is shutting down daycares.

It’s a decision that has some early childhood educators frustrated.

“Quite frankly, we could be part of the problem currently and we would very much like to be part of the solution,” said Karolyn Hendra, chair of the Kamloops branch of the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia.

Hendra says daycares don’t have the ability to adhere to the guidelines set out by the provincial health officer.

“It’s very difficult, you can imagine, having a four to one ratio,” Hendra said, “children coming from different family groupings, meeting together, needing intimate care like diapering and comfort care, cradling, that sort of thing.”

The Kamloops Child Development Centre is taking as many precautions as it can.

“None of the parents are coming into the centre,” said Director of Education Helen Blair, “we meet them at the door and take the children in, the children get washed right away and then sent to their classrooms.”

Blair says groups have been smaller in size over spring break, but she admits social distancing is a challenge.

“We talk about it, but it’s pretty hard for them to keep that distance,” she said. “We remind them. And, they’re outside a lot, so they’re running around a lot and that’s a better way for them to keep their distance.”

Blair feels the Child Development Centre is an essential service and is confident in the decisions being made by the province.

“I would imagine the government knows what they’re doing,” she said. “They seem to be handling things pretty well and if they closed us down that would be a good idea, if that’s what they’re thinking.”

However, as COVID-19 increases its spread, Hendra believes closing daycares would be the safest option.

“B.C. has some of the highest outbreak numbers in the country right now and we’re the ones that aren’t closing our childcare centres,” Hendra said. “We’re really concerned about this.”