Families Minister Rochelle Squires says families who depend on child care over the summer will be able to take advantage of the reopening of different child care facilities.

"Because of the efforts we have all made to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Public Health has advised that beginning July 1, school-aged children will be able to return to their child care programming. This includes full-time childcare for July and August," Squires says in a Friday press conference.

School-age children can return to different child care options next month.

 

Child care

Child care facilities for school-aged children have been closed along with schools in many areas of Manitoba, including Winnipeg, for weeks. 

Now, Squires says they will be welcoming youth back as of July 1.

There will be no changes to cohort sizes in licenced child care facilities, which can be up to 30 people.

The province says 13,198 school-aged children were impacted by the restrictions on child care in May.

 

Day camps

Day camps will be able to reopen as of July 1 for children aged 11 and younger. Groups will need to be in cohorts of 20 or smaller. Squires says this will give parents child care options while freeing space in child care facilities.

"If a day camp can operate with a few cohorts with 20, that would be permitted."

Overnight camp operations continue to not be allowed.

 

COVID precautions

If there are outbreaks that affect the public, Dr. Jazz Atwal says there will be notifications. COVD-19 exposures are being added back to daily COVID-19 bulletins. 

Other current precautions already in place by the province must be followed.

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