While schools in Jefferson County have closed because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, many day cares continue to operate.
At the start of this week, representatives from Firm Foundations Learning Center, a day care operated by the First Baptist Church of Arnold; Wee Care Learning Center in Festus; and Immanuel Lutheran Preschool and Childcare in Festus said they planned to keep those centers open.
“We have not been given any directive, yet, by the (Jefferson County) Health Department,” Firm Foundations associate director Chyrle Walls said Monday (March 16). “We are following what the recommendations and guidelines are from them. As of right now, we are just moving on and cleaning and playing and learning.”
Firm Foundations, 2012 Missouri State Road, has 100 children in its day care program; Wee Care, 821 American Legion Drive, has 175; and Immanuel Lutheran, 19 N. 3rd St., has 84, the programs reported.
The three Jefferson County day cares emphasized the need for parents to keep their children home if they are sick, or if anyone in their family is showing symptoms associated with the coronavirus or other illnesses. The day cares have the same rules in effect for their staff members.
Firm Foundations
“We are in our general flu season protocol,” which includes having children stay home for 48 hours if they show signs of flu-like symptoms, Walls said.
She said staff members have been reminded to emphasize keeping children’s hands and surfaces clean and making sure everyone remains hydrated.
“We use the three-step method with cleaning – washing, rinsing and sanitizing,” Walls said. “We are doing extra steps with door handles, wiping them down more frequently. We are keeping faces clean. We want to make sure everyone has a clean nose, mouth and hands. It is a good precaution to take at all times, especially now.”
Wee Care
Wee Care posted on its Facebook page a letter to parents signed by director Kathy Poss stating that it will continue to run its full schedule. However, she noted in the letter that she cannot promise the day care will be able to remain open.
“There are three reasons we would shut down,” Poss said Tuesday (March 17). “One is if we were mandated to shut down. The second would be if someone would test positive in our family at Wee Care – a child, parent or staff member. The third reason, which is a little far-fetched, is if we cannot get supplies.
“We are trying to stay open. We have a wide variety of parents who work in different positions of importance in the community, including first responders. We work so the world can work.”
Poss said in her letter that the day care has added additional sanitizing and hand-washing to its schedule.
“The things we have added is we are disinfecting multiple times during the day,” she said. “Before, we disinfected during nap time and when we closed a room. We have closed our home living areas that have dress-up clothes and put all of our stuffed animals away.”
Poss said the Wee Care staff is trying to make sure the children’s routines stay as normal as possible, and staff members do not discuss the pandemic in front of the kids.
“It is like during 9-11; the children need us to assure them that they will be safe, so we have to stop talking about the negative and let them know everything will be fine and we will take care of them,” Poss said. “We are trying to remain optimistic. Teachers are worried too about their health, their family’s health and their paycheck. I try to assure them that we are open and will try to stay open.”
Immanuel Lutheran
On Wednesday (March 18), the Immanuel Lutheran day care posted on its Facebook page that it would remain open, at least for now, after holding discussions with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Jefferson County Health Department and calling the state hotline.
“This is unknown territory for us, but we can make it through with your cooperation and God's guidance,” the Immanuel Lutheran day care post said.
County schools closed Wednesday and are expected to remain closed at least until April 6.
