Second positive COVID-19 case at Saskatoon French daycare

A father who has a child who goes to the Felix-le-Chat daycare has told 650 CKOM there has been a second positive COVID-19 case at the daycare.

Robert Englebert has a two-year-old son who attends the daycare. He says the daycare sent parents a notice Sunday evening that a second person — who had been isolating and was associated with the person who was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive last week — had also tested positive.

Last week, parents were told about the first case on Thursday by the daycare and it was closed on Friday and stayed closed Monday.

Englebert commended the daycare for how it has communicated with parents but says he has been disappointed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s response.

“The daycare had attempted to contact the Saskatchewan Health Authority, but the person who answered indicated there was nobody available due to the fact that it was a Sunday so the daycare indicated it would be closed (Monday) pending further information,” said Englebert.

Englebert also has a four-year-old daughter who attends Ecole canadienne-francaise. The school and daycare share a building but are operated independently and have separate entrances.

He says the lack of communication from the province has been frustrating.

“It’s extremely difficult on parents and on families. We’ve got our kids home since we got word of the first case,” said Englebert. “So it has been days now and we know more cases may be possible because there is an incubation period.”

Englebert says it has been stressful and scary for families who have so many questions.

“We’re not going to be sending the kids back for a number of days at least, even if the daycare reopens, just to be safe,” said Englebert. “It has been very difficult. Parents are trying to work, we’re at home, the whole family is at home and we’re doing our best to limit contacts just in case we find out this spreads further.”

Englebert says it feels like the SHA and the province are not emphasizing quick dissemination of information to parents and families.

“We want that information. We want to know that we have at least the minimal information on whether to send our kids to school or daycare, and to know whether a facility is COVID-free or whether there are cases there,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a delay.”

650 CKOM reached out to the SHA but did not receive comment at the time this story was published.