MoCo daycare capacity reduction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order is being revised to align with the state's earlier 15-person limit per room. That should avoid disruption at most centers, provided that they didn't expand after the state rescinded its restrictions in early October.

This would be great! Do you have a source or did you call and hear this from one of the council members' offices.

I heard from county staff. They will be putting out a revised press release soon. I have no idea what involvement the councilmembers have in drafting these orders, but I suspect it's mostly county staff in DHHS and the executive's office.

[Anonymous]

The "corrected" press release it out:
https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=28054&Dept=1

Though, they are repeating the lie that there is currently an order in effect that limits child care providers to 15 people in a room. Most of the reason for this new executive order is to put that restriction back into effect after the state rescinded it.

[Anonymous]

I got the following email from Hans Riemer:

This morning I learned that the executive branch was proposing to further restrict child care providers. I reached out to express my opposition to any further restrictions.

I also asked why they have not yet reimposed the restriction on late night alcohol service. I find it disheartening to see a proposal that further loosens restrictions on indoor socializing while imposing further restrictions on critical services for working families.

The Council will take the executive's proposal up on Thursday.

Thankfully, it seems the Executive is backing down and will amend the proposed order. The time may come that we have to reimpose restrictions to control the virus, but key services like childcare should be among the last to be reduced.

I am opposed to any further restrictions on child care.

[Anonymous]

Yeah this was no mistake- Elrich et al. were met with some swift opposition and backed down. It’s almost like they were deliberately trying to sneak this through when everyone was distracted with the election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah this was no mistake- Elrich et al. were met with some swift opposition and backed down. It’s almost like they were deliberately trying to sneak this through when everyone was distracted with the election.

Yep. I agree. This was intentional. Glad someone noticed and posted here a few days ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah this was no mistake- Elrich et al. were met with some swift opposition and backed down. It’s almost like they were deliberately trying to sneak this through when everyone was distracted with the election.

Yep. I agree. This was intentional. Glad someone noticed and posted here a few days ago.

Stoddard basically admitted that they wrote the executive order without consulting with DHHS staff familiar with child care issues. It sounds like there was a fair bit of fallout over the screw up. It's such a damning admission that I'm inclined to believe it.

[Anonymous]

It looks like the county intends to pass this executive order regardless of whether MSDE approves a waiter for the age 3-4 staff-to-child ratios. They will cause a capacity reduction.

[Anonymous]

Why are they trying to reduce the capacity when day cares are doing so well managing a safe and healthy environment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they trying to reduce the capacity when day cares are doing so well managing a safe and healthy environment

Well, to be fair, the state basically forced their hand. They either need to let more people in a classroom, or they need to reduce capacity, in order to meet the normal state-mandated staff-to-child ratios.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they trying to reduce the capacity when day cares are doing so well managing a safe and healthy environment

Well, to be fair, the state basically forced their hand. They either need to let more people in a classroom, or they need to reduce capacity, in order to meet the normal state-mandated staff-to-child ratios.

What do you mean? Why can't they just do 2 teachers and 13 kids?

[Anonymous]

Counties are reducing the capacity to 10 people indoor. I believe this will include daycares too. Hogan might speak on this today. We were told by higher ups to brace ourselves for this announcement today. This will mean that people will lose their daycare spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counties are reducing the capacity to 10 people indoor. I believe this will include daycares too. Hogan might speak on this today. We were told by higher ups to brace ourselves for this announcement today. This will mean that people will lose their daycare spots.

Are you kidding me? Didn't the state just allow daycares (outside MoCo) to return to normal capacity? Which seemed kind of premature IMO but now they're reverting to even stricter capacity limitations? I can't believe they are going after childcares AGAIN before tacking the indoor activities that are the bigger offenders in termsof transmission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counties are reducing the capacity to 10 people indoor. I believe this will include daycares too. Hogan might speak on this today. We were told by higher ups to brace ourselves for this announcement today. This will mean that people will lose their daycare spots.

Are you kidding me? Didn't the state just allow daycares (outside MoCo) to return to normal capacity? Which seemed kind of premature IMO but now they're reverting to even stricter capacity limitations? I can't believe they are going after childcares AGAIN before tacking the indoor activities that are the bigger offenders in termsof transmission.

Nobody knows 100 percent for sure. Prince county and Anne Arundel County just reduce their indoor capacity for businesses to 10 people maximum this afternoon. I expect to know more today after the governors conference. Bracing for for the reductions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counties are reducing the capacity to 10 people indoor. I believe this will include daycares too. Hogan might speak on this today. We were told by higher ups to brace ourselves for this announcement today. This will mean that people will lose their daycare spots.

I really hope not. For one thing, daycares need to take precedence over other businesses. For another, they've specifically NOT been sources of outbreaks, in contrast to said businesses. We really shouldn't be debating this point anymore.

[Anonymous]

Great. Nail in the coffin for any centers who have managed to survive thus far. But yay we can still go get a beer at a bar!