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It’s not just health-care workers across Saskatchewan whose jobs are being seriously affected by the fourth COVID-19 wave in the province.
Daycare providers are as well, according to the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association’s executive director, Georgia Lavallee.
“We have been hearing reports from our members that, yes, there is an increase of cases in children and staff as well in early learning programs. So that’s both centres and home-based programs,” she said.
There are now eight Saskatoon daycares listed on the provincial government’s active COVID-19 outbreak web page. There also are two outbreaks in each of the south and north zones, and one each in Regina and the far north.
Lavallee says many educators and other staff are afraid, stressed out and burned out because children under the age of 12 aren’t yet eligible for vaccinations, and there’s no provincial mask mandate.
On Wednesday, the provincial government reported there were 104 new cases among Saskatchewan children aged 11 and under. The day before, there were 101 new cases in that age group.
“It’s a big challenge to keep people safe, and it’s getting harder and harder. It’s not necessarily just individuals or children in their centres or homes, it’s keeping their families safe as well,” she explained.
“Everybody’s capacity is reducing significantly. This has been a long haul for everybody and it’s scary.”
About a week ago, the non-profit association sent out a questionnaire to its 500 members asking them what they need, what kind of support the organization can offer, and how they’re doing.
Lavallee says it has become too much for some people who are ready to throw in the towel.
“We are hearing that after 25 years, educators are thinking about leaving the field because it’s a stressful career to begin with, and then you add COVID-19 and the pandemic to this,” she said. “Individuals are thinking about leaving.”
But Lavallee says many daycares are still doing the best they can to try at least to limit the number of cases. That includes limiting the number of visitors to their facilities, encouraging or mandating mask use, continuing their cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and rolling closures throughout the province.
She hopes everyone across the province does their part to help out one another.
“Do everything you can to not only help yourselves safe, but (help) the most vulnerable sector of the youngest that cannot currently get the vaccine,” she pleaded.