Kentucky child care centers must close by the end of the business day Friday, sending parents scrambling to find new child care as schools across the state begin a weekslong closure.
The move was announced by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear late Monday. It's a further nod to escalating fears about exposure to COVID-19 and how it is affecting everyday life — in the commonwealth and around the country.
The move will cause challenges for parents, Beshear acknowledged, but maintained it is an important step to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The state is preparing plans to offer child care for health care workers, Beshear said. He did not share details about those options.
"We have to have every nurse, doctor ... willing and ready to go to work," he said. "We have to make some critical exceptions."
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Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested Sunday preventing gatherings of over 50 people in the coming weeks. That was amended by the Trump administration to gatherings greater than 10 people.
Finding child care for kids during a pandemic is different than a snow day. Backups to cover for parents when kids are out of class, like day care centers and grandparents, are either closing or more susceptible to the virus.
But it is an uncertain and difficult time, parents told The Courier Journal, making less than ideal situations their only option.
"Ideal? Nope. Best decision we can make at the moment with so much still being unknown? We think so," one parent said.
When asked about state protections for people who may be fired for staying home with their kids when they may not have another choice, Beshear said the state will look at its authority and ways it can "better protect" people.
"We are going to have a lot of sacrifice," he said.
Kentucky coronavirus live updates: Get the latest information here
Alia Lee, a Louisville day care owner, said Beshear's move came as a relief.
Lee has been checking kids' temperatures, washing hands and wiping everything down at Little Angels on 18th and Broadway. It is anxiety-provoking work, as children don't always show symptoms, potentially spreading the disease without knowing it.
"My anxiety is through the roof right now," she said. "It's just very scary."
There is a lot of uncertainty for the small business. Lee's not sure how she'll pay staff or bills. Her friends in Ohio in the child care business say they have been getting financial help from the state due to closures. That gives Lee some hope.
As for parents' backup plans, Lee said roughly two-thirds of parents' workplaces had shut down or switched to working from home.
"They're going to have to solely depend on families," she said. "We're all just going to have to pull together, as a unit."
See also: Amid school closures, JCPS offers meals to thousands of students
Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4471, and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth. Support strong local journalism by subscribing: courier-journal.com/subscribe.
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Beshear: Kentucky child care centers must close by the end of Friday - Courier Journal
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