(February 10, 2022) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister of Education and MHA for Conception Bay South, says he’s hearing frustration from parents of children in daycare about inconsistent policy for COVID-19 exposures.

Petten noted children in daycares are required to stay home and self-isolate if they have been exposed to COVID-19 through a non-household contact, while children in K-12 schools are not required to stay home.

“My office and indeed our entire Caucus, continues to hear from daycare operators and parents who are confused and extremely frustrated over isolation requirements and repeated closures. Young children, who need to socialize while spending time with their peers in a structured environment, are being caught up in a contact cycle of daycare closures and isolation,” said Petten.

“The problem is the inconsistency of the policy, which is creating this confusion for parents. All we’re asking for is clarity: why is one place where children gather being treated differently from another?”

Petten says he’s received messages from parents who have received conflicting and contradictory information from the Department of Education versus information provided by Public Health.

“This is completely unacceptable. Daycare operators, who were heralded by this government at the start of the pandemic for providing an essential service to workers when everything else in the province was shut down, are struggling to keep the doors open,” said Petten.

“Government needs to work with these business owners, collaboratively. Clear, timely and accurate information is essential.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca