March 20, 2020: Two days ago Kids First sent an open letter to the prime minister and all premiers calling for closure of all daycare settings.
Then yesterday BC and Saskatchewan daycare advocacy organizations and the Saskatchewan NDP called for daycare closure.
It makes no sense to keep daycares open for children of medical staff as contagion will more easily spread to and through the most vulnerable populations. Little children in groups are vectors of microbial pathogens; this is a fact of life. Policies intended to increase use of daycare ignore the scientific evidence at the expense of children, daycare staff, and public health.
- March 19, 2020. CBC – news article: COVID-19 shut down B.C. schools – so why are daycares still open?
- March 19, 2020. CTV – news article: Sask, NDP calls for blanket child care closures, support for parents amid COVID-19 pandemic
- March 20, 2020 email letter from the Manitoba Premier/Families Minister (See full email PDF here): daycare centres will stay open for up to 16 children of medical personnel, home daycares to stay open, ‘social distancing’ and hygiene rules will be followed. (KF: this is not possible.)
- March 20, 2020 email letter from the Saskatchewan Premier (see full email PDF here): daycare setting can stay open and daycares in schools will ‘repurposed’ for priority use by children of medical personnel. Number of children per room reduced to 8.
kidsfirstcanada.org 