Gov. Phil Scott has ordered the closure of Vermont child care programs that do not serve health care workers, first responders and other people deemed "essential" to fighting the new coronavirus outbreak.
Find the order embedded below.
The order was posted online at approximately 5:20 p.m. Tuesday and takes effect Wednesday for all state-regulated child care programs. The closure period lasts until April 6.
The governor's order defines "essential persons" as the following:
- Health care providers, including people who work at clinics, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, respite houses, long-term care and post-acute care facilities, visiting nurses associations, designated agencies and emergency medical services
- Criminal justice personnel including law enforcement, court workers and correctional staff
- Public health employees
- Firefighters
- Vermont National Guard personnel called to respond to the coronavirus outbreak
- Other first responders
- State employees deemed essential by the State Emergency Operations Center
- Educators and child care providers who care for children of other essential persons.
Child care providers, including public schools, who serve the children of these workers are encouraged to offer extended hours to match the workers' long hours.
Ken Schatz, the commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, warned legislators of the decision during a conference call Tuesday afternoon.
Many details remained unresolved, Schatz said, and state officials will be reaching out to Vermont's 1,200 regulated child care programs.
"We are prepared to make a lot of phone calls," Schatz said.
The Department for Children and Families plans to ask the Legislature for funding to help child care providers stay afloat during the closure and eventually reopen.
For programs that remain open, Schatz said there should be no more than 10 people in a room and no large group activities.
"We’re going to do the best we can under the circumstances," Schatz said.
Many families have been rushing to find child care arrangements because Vermont's public and private schools were ordered to close by Wednesday to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.
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