The developing issue- COVID-19

[Daisy123]

My insurance company didn’t outright say that I had to close but they were very clear that it would be in my best interest. If there were to be any covid related incidence then the liability could be huge. It would be very difficult to prove that any illness originated from my house but the potential for a lawsuit is there. They went through a list of what I should be doing if I were to remain open...disinfecting of hands of anyone coming through the door, sanitizing of all toys, dishes and so forth.
But insurance aside...I felt it was something that I needed to do. It will be interesting to see what the Ford government lists as non essential...I’m hoping for some clarification as to if we can get government help.

[Peacefulbird]

My insurance company didn’t outright say that I had to close but they were very clear that it would be in my best interest. If there were to be any covid related incidence then the liability could be huge. It would be very difficult to prove that any illness originated from my house but the potential for a lawsuit is there. They went through a list of what I should be doing if I were to remain open...disinfecting of hands of anyone coming through the door, sanitizing of all toys, dishes and so forth.
But insurance aside...I felt it was something that I needed to do. It will be interesting to see what the Ford government lists as non essential...I’m hoping for some clarification as to if we can get government help.

I'm not sure if at this point the government can help. They are dealing with bigger HEALTH related challenges and they're doing the best they can.

We are adults and I think this time it is up to us to decide and value our and our loved ones lives. It is time for you to evaluate pros and cons (and if something goes wrong don't try to find a scape goat or blame someone else, they're giving you the choice to decide)

It is a MUTATING VIRUS, God forbide it doesn't pass and endangers our own children's lives.

I think at this stage (perhaps I'm wrong), we are all working together towards "lowering the curve", unfortunately this keeps increasing. Following the information and stadistics, now it's time for you to decide. It's a critical time for all of us.

[Jasp76]

So since home daycares with under 6 is considered essential by Fords list, does that mean we would not be entitled to any of the Government benefits for small businesses if we choose not to open. I don’t know about you guys but I’m not comfortable with all that’s happening to opening my home. If regular licensed daycares are not considered essential then why do we have to open. I thought the whole point of this was to flatten the curve by continuing to social distance. I know a lot of parents are also apprehensive with sending their children to daycare at this point as the numbers in our communities keep going up. I’m wondering also if our full time parents choose not to send their children would we be entitled to Government subsidies since we won’t have an income coming in?

[Fearlessbaby]

Insurance companies are the biggest fear mongers out there. I wouldn't trust an insurance company to scare me into closing. I would listen to the facts and the experts. Of course a parent can't sue you!

[Jasp76]

It just makes me angry that we are now considered essential workers without the benefits of licensed childcare employees. The Government barely recognized us before except to pass regulations. Now the Province of Ontario expects us to operate as essential businesses, SERIOUSLY??!!!

[Peacefulbird]

It just makes me angry that we are now considered essential workers without the benefits of licensed childcare employees. The Government barely recognized us before except to pass regulations. Now the Province of Ontario expects us to operate as essential businesses, SERIOUSLY??!!!

Anyways, at this point homedaycares PRIVATE and LICENSED aren't mandated to close. Some still operating. You need to evaluate the pros and cons. Many of us have close family that are at high risk so, we decided to close. Maybe some of you do not have that risk and continue open.

The government is looking currently into probably opening few licensed centres (that were originally closed for the virus) and bring staff to care for children that come from families that are working on the front line.

Think about this, it was your choice to work independently many have decided to work with the licensed sector but still don't have benefits there called "providers"

Working in a centre is also a choice but benefits comes from the deductions of your monthly paycheck.

Being independent helps you to avoid those deductions but then, the responsability to save for the rainy days, is yours.

It kind of makes common sense, when the government insists that you are part of the "essential bussines", because many of us have been working and developing close ties with families that work on the front line. Don't we see often these cheese slogans? Or was it just to convince others?: A SECOND HOME, A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, AN EXTENSION OF YOUR FAMILY etc.

Now theyre asking you to step up, if you can (after evaluating pros and cons) and decide if you'll keep supporting those families that need you now.

At this point doesn't matter who gets recognized or not it's a virus that is threatening our lives.

[bright sparks]

It just makes me angry that we are now considered essential workers without the benefits of licensed childcare employees. The Government barely recognized us before except to pass regulations. Now the Province of Ontario expects us to operate as essential businesses, SERIOUSLY??!!!

The list was put together only to specify which businesses are allowed to operate at this time and the category they highlight them as are "essential services". That designation is not relative to the childcare industry specifically when it comes to licensed or unlicensed. Nobody and nowhere is the government telling you that you are expected to operate. This was put into place to force closures of certain high risk unnecessary businesses.

This has nothing to do with licensing or regulations and everything to do with risk factors. Home daycares are at a much lower risk than centres due to capacity. If we are all social distancing and independent home daycare providers are putting policies in place for sickness and expectations they have of their current families then there is a lower risk to daycare kids than when we go to the grocery store without them because in most cases it is a much more intimate and controlled circle of people.

I urge people to calm down, it is stressful beyond belief, but I am grateful that we are listed as essential because if my daycare closes it will be my call not a forced closure from them. Also reality check, if you close now, when do you reopen? Closing for 2 weeks while your daycare families are not locked down may reduce exposure for yourself, but after two weeks with the province and country still operational, you just open up the risk again so more realistically daycares could be closed for a month or two which is a far greater hardship financially for us and our daycare families and doesn't really change the risk to our particular set of circumstances.

Don't misunderstand me for being someone who is not putting safety first, but if your daycare families are already social distancing, working from home or in an environment where separation is enforced and taken seriously, and those families do not have a vulnerable person living with them and they are not visiting anyone or having visitors, then the most exposure to a person those kids have is the provider and the people living under their roof.

I have an amended policy that covers COVID-19 and it was overseen by a doctor working out of an acute centre in Hamilton,ON. She expressed that she sees no major risk factors in my daycare staying open at this time and I have spoken in great detail to all my families to be clear on their movements. It is more a question of ethics than Health and Safety. If I had families whose members worked in the public sectors with regular uncontrolled exposure to massive amounts of people then I would likely be making different choices, but consider the facts with a clear head, not with anxiety and stress and emotion at the forefront because then our choices may be misguided and out of panic which doesn't help anyone.

It has taken me a while to get to this resolve, but there is nobody to be angry with. I worked 2 full time jobs 2 weeks ago and I have lost one of those losing a $1000 PER WEEK!!! I know the stress of this and it has taken me that long to chill out and stop losing my mind.

It is awful for everyone but right now I am focusing on reducing my outgoings, being resourceful with freezer meal prep, catching up on household chores and jobs around the house and focusing on how fortunate I am to be able to work, still have a job and be in a position to make the best choices for my family, daycare families and my business.