Search

Coronavirus today: Closed child care centers feel like 'Twilight Zone' - The Star Press

Here's the latest coronavirus-related news around Muncie, Delaware County and surrounding communities:

Some child care centers close, others still were open Monday

Some but not all of Muncie's largest child care centers were closed Monday, or planning to do so, to try to help halt the spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

"We wanted to give our families a little more notice," said Carol Johnson at four-star-rated United Day Care Center, 312 S. Vine St., which planned to shut down on Wednesday. "We want to be a good community partner, not part of spreading the disease."

"It's kind of like the Twilight Zone here," said Angela Lopez at the closed, empty, three-star Hazelwood Christian Preschool, 1400 W. University Ave. "It's just the two of us," added Jason Jones, the minister.  "It's a little lonely."

"It seems like it's getting worse every minute," said Tanya Walden, of closed, four-star Huffer Memorial Children's Center, 2000 N. Elgin St., speaking of the governor's decision to close restaurants and bars to dine-in customers. "It's just me and one other person here now. It's quiet."

Wee Wisdom Nursery School and Child Care Center, a four-star facility at 315 N. Morrison Road, remained partly open. The nursery school is closed but the child care center continues to operate on a day-to-day basis.

Parents are not being allowed into Wee Wisdom, and children are being carefully screened, said owner Denise Allen. Their temperature is taken before being allowed in (and twice later in the day).

They're sent home if they start to exhibit symptoms. Also prior to admission, parents are asked whether their kids had any symptoms (or fever-reduction medicine or antibiotics) like fever, runny nose, headache or sore throat in the prior 48 hours.

"We feel an obligation to the parents to stay open if it's safe to do so," Allen said.

SUPPORT LOCAL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS: The paywall on this story has been lifted in the interest of public safety and community knowledge. We ask you consider supporting local journalism with a subscription so we can continue our important work.

 Among other facilities that remained open on Monday were three-star Teddy Bear Child Care, 1600 W Cowing Drive (closing Wednesday); three-star Wee Walkers Child Care Center, 909 W. Memorial Drive; three-star Precious Hearts Development Center, 801 N. Gavin St.; and two-star Caterpillars Clubhouse Childcare Center, 2916 N. Granville Ave., where Jameise Owens said she was awaiting guidance from the county health department.

The YMCA announced over the weekend that Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center would remain open to provide child care for families in need.

RELATED: Majority of public schools close in Delaware County due to coronavirus

All of the Muncie Community Schools' pre-school child care centers and the Head Start program have closed.

— Seth Slabaugh

CORONAVIRUS CLOSINGS: Check the updated list for Muncie and East Central Indiana

Dollar General to dedicate first hour to senior shoppers

Dollar General Corporation on Monday night announced plans to dedicate the first hour of each shopping day to senior shoppers, as well as changing its store operating hours beginning Tuesday, March 17.

The company "is strongly encouraging that the first hour of operations each day be dedicated solely for the shopping needs of senior customers, who are one of the groups most vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus," a release stated. The dedicated hour — generally beginning at 8 a.m., according to individual store hours listed on the Dollar General website — is intended "to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need and want at the beginning of each day to avoid busier and more crowded shopping periods."

All Dollar General stores also plan to close one hour earlier than current close times to allow employees to clean and re-stock store shelves.

— Robin Gibson

IU Health reschedules elective surgeries, moves some visits to virtual care

Effective immediately, IU Health — whose network includes Ball Memorial, Blackford and Jay hospitals — is rescheduling elective, non-urgent surgeries and procedures at all hospitals and facilities, according to a release.

Among other changes to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, primary care and specialty follow-up visits will be conducted virtually or rescheduled.

Well-child visits for children age 2 and older will be conducted virtually or rescheduled.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy visits will be conducted virtually or rescheduled.

Health screenings and elective imaging will be rescheduled.

At this time, newborn and well-child visits for children younger than 2 years old will continue in order to complete the primary immunization series.

IU Health began informing team members and patients Monday morning. Work is also underway to train additional providers to use virtual visit technology.

Over the past weekend, IU Health announced temporary visitor restrictions to protect patients and team members and prevent further spreading of the virus.

Let's block ads! (Why?)



"care" - Google News
March 17, 2020 at 04:19PM
https://ift.tt/2Wlraq4

Coronavirus today: Closed child care centers feel like 'Twilight Zone' - The Star Press
"care" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2N6arSB
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini

0 Response to "Coronavirus today: Closed child care centers feel like 'Twilight Zone' - The Star Press"

Post a Comment


Powered by Blogger.