If people would coordinate with each other closed daycares shouldn’t be a huge problem. ALL schools are closed, so how many teenagers are home from school right now? Find a teen to babysit for your kids if you are an essential worker. Or find other parents in the same situation and take turns watching each others’ kids. Social distancing does not mean we can’t come together as a community and help each other out.
Yes it’s hard for some people to find someone to watch their kid but we need to put EVERYONE’s health and safety first. Why are daycare and preschool workers less important than schoolteachers? They have families too, and some daycare workers are retirement age so they are at great risk. Others are young 20-somethings who don’t present symptoms and will likely catch the virus at work and take it home to their parents, grandparents, etc. unknowingly. The fact that daycares are still open just blows my mind.

Anonymous wrote:I mean think about all the stuff that MUST keep happening to prevent people from dying.

You need food, food distribution, food manufacturing, and farmers. You need power and water. You need the entire energy industry. You need the people who maintain roads and infrastructure. You need gas stations. You need people who manufacture and distribute gloves and IVs and medicine.

Plus crime and safety. So police, emts, paramedics, lawyers. Judges. And their support staff. We still need social workers to protect kids.

For all the people teleworking you need internet. It workers. Server maintenance people.



You 100% can't say "no one but doctors out". We live in an interconnected society.

Then keep elementary schools open too. Younger elementary kids need supervision.

The issue is that if regular daycares are open, people who don't really need to will send their kids and it will spread the virus. If you close daycares and designate facilities for people who declare need, you still provide coverage for societal needs pp mentioned. You have to accept human behaviour that few people will voluntarily act in public interest and keep kids home if they have non critical jobs and don't want to burn leave (but can afford unpaid leave). However if you had to declare need, it might keep people away. Fewer kids in daycare means less spreading, which is the goal. LA has set up family resource centers for families in need (and to provide food).

I mean think about all the stuff that MUST keep happening to prevent people from dying.

You need food, food distribution, food manufacturing, and farmers. You need power and water. You need the entire energy industry. You need the people who maintain roads and infrastructure. You need gas stations. You need people who manufacture and distribute gloves and IVs and medicine.

Plus crime and safety. So police, emts, paramedics, lawyers. Judges. And their support staff. We still need social workers to protect kids.

For all the people teleworking you need internet. It workers. Server maintenance people.

You 100% can't say "no one but doctors out". We live in an interconnected society.

Well the internet convinced me that I was wrong.

Daycare is still open but we decided today based on the news to keep the kid home.

Anonymous wrote:In DC, I've had two different friends tell me that their daycares were hoping to get clear direction from OSSE, but that the DC government left it up to daycares. And daycares feel guilty closing if they aren't forced to and also have to make a bottom line. The government should be making these decisions, business do not have enough medical expertise. And this whole epidemic is a case where society needs to make saxeifices, asking individuals and business to so it won't be successful. Hence articles abour large parties at bars this weekend.

The government is not shut down. Many businesses like the ones that provide you electricity, gas, food, etc. cannot shut down.

^pp. Government should figure out how to have a daycare that just serves emergency workers and other essential employees (eg pharmacy assistants and cleaners). They would only need 10% (?) Of the total seats available.

In DC, I've had two different friends tell me that their daycares were hoping to get clear direction from OSSE, but that the DC government left it up to daycares. And daycares feel guilty closing if they aren't forced to and also have to make a bottom line. The government should be making these decisions, business do not have enough medical expertise. And this whole epidemic is a case where society needs to make saxeifices, asking individuals and business to so it won't be successful. Hence articles abour large parties at bars this weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When you are all wondering "HOW ON EARTH?!??!!?" Trump got in again, feel free to come back to this thread. It's all right here.

Complete entitlement, delusion, and cluelessness about the country you live in and the people that actually make it function.

+1

Do you want every store to also shut down? How in the world are people on this thread so sheltered and privileged that they think everybody can work from home? There are so many jobs across many industries that can't work from home. What are people supposed to do with their kids?

Arrangements should be made. If you have two parents who both work essential jobs, one needs to stay home. Relatives need to move in.

It’s hard and awful and such a huge problem but if elementary schools are closed then daycares must be closed.

This. It's terrible. Many, many people are going to have their lives completely turned upside down. But yes, daycares need to close and all non essential businesses need to close to slow the spread.

State, local and federal governments are all open. Who will do the critical work if we shut down everything especially child care. Think logically about what you are saying. These workers are not able to take off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When you are all wondering "HOW ON EARTH?!??!!?" Trump got in again, feel free to come back to this thread. It's all right here.

Complete entitlement, delusion, and cluelessness about the country you live in and the people that actually make it function.

+1

Do you want every store to also shut down? How in the world are people on this thread so sheltered and privileged that they think everybody can work from home? There are so many jobs across many industries that can't work from home. What are people supposed to do with their kids?

Arrangements should be made. If you have two parents who both work essential jobs, one needs to stay home. Relatives need to move in.

It’s hard and awful and such a huge problem but if elementary schools are closed then daycares must be closed.

This. It's terrible. Many, many people are going to have their lives completely turned upside down. But yes, daycares need to close and all non essential businesses need to close to slow the spread.

What about medical professionals with kids? Ah, they should stay home so their kids can stay home to slow the spread, right! Yes, some essential businesses should hold off so that the non-essential businesses that need to close can stay closed. Either you have your priorities confused, or you’re not recognizing the fact that to some extent, daycares are an essential business too? Those who can keep their children out of daycares should by all means do so, but we cannot shut them all down and just hope certain professionals keep performing as they do, if not harder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When you are all wondering "HOW ON EARTH?!??!!?" Trump got in again, feel free to come back to this thread. It's all right here.

Complete entitlement, delusion, and cluelessness about the country you live in and the people that actually make it function.

+1

Do you want every store to also shut down? How in the world are people on this thread so sheltered and privileged that they think everybody can work from home? There are so many jobs across many industries that can't work from home. What are people supposed to do with their kids?

Arrangements should be made. If you have two parents who both work essential jobs, one needs to stay home. Relatives need to move in.

It’s hard and awful and such a huge problem but if elementary schools are closed then daycares must be closed.

This. It's terrible. Many, many people are going to have their lives completely turned upside down. But yes, daycares need to close and all non essential businesses need to close to slow the spread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor Bowser just recommended that daycares close except for those caring for children of essential health/emergency workers

Link? I could not find the statement

I was watching her live presser and it was in response to the q&as at the end. She said she was hoping to encourage daycare providers to open up next to hospitals etc.

? Wouldn’t that negate the purpose of school closures?

And yes, of course, daycares should be closed.

And what do you think should happen to the millions of people with kids who actually work every day and can’t just stay home without anyone noticing or caring?

It literally takes a village... I've seen several moms online step up and offer to watch another kid or two (not the perfect social distancing but better than being in a daycare full of 10+ other kids) for free for those who need care.

Is it really better? The 10+ kids have been together every day. Now they’re mixing with new people.

My kids are at an in home daycare so maybe it’s a bit different. They are staying open for now. All the parents had a chat on Friday- we are fortunate that most of us can telework now. So no one is sick or out there on public transport, etc. and we are willing to except the shared minimal risk of keeping the kids together.

We could deal with two weeks with the kids at home, but let’s be honest, this is going to go in a lot longer than that.

Anonymous wrote:Kids are not that affected. Even if they do become carriers then spread is still limited in case of those parents who need daycare because they are working from home.

It is trickier with parents who are working and now get infected and bring it to work. I guess this is were we need to do rigorous testing/screening.

Not an easy problem to solve, but we do need to somehow help the people who will be out there working and taking more risk. They should definitely do some sort of tax relief or credit for people who are in essential categories and are working through this.

What about the teachers and their families?

Kids are not that affected. Even if they do become carriers then spread is still limited in case of those parents who need daycare because they are working from home.

It is trickier with parents who are working and now get infected and bring it to work. I guess this is were we need to do rigorous testing/screening.

Not an easy problem to solve, but we do need to somehow help the people who will be out there working and taking more risk. They should definitely do some sort of tax relief or credit for people who are in essential categories and are working through this.

Our daycare just announced they’re closed. DH and I plan to work in shifts. Yeah, it’s going to be hard.

Anonymous wrote:And KEEP them closed after this passes!

This really shows how out of touch some people are.