Keeping daycares open vital to those who are helping fight coronavirus outbreak

Schools have now been closed for a week, but many daycare locations remain open.

Posted 2:43 a.m. Mar 21, 2020 — Updated 7:43 p.m. Mar 24, 2020

Mandy Mitchell

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Schools have now been closed for a week, but many daycare locations remain open.

The state has been urging childcare centers to help assist those parents on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis such as health care workers, state employees and grocery store workers. Daycares like the Goddard School in Raleigh are some of the few businesses still open. They are serving an important purpose for parents who are serving the community.

Anne is a mother of a 3-year-old who also works for the Department of Health and Human Services. She said she is super thankful for her daycare.

"Every day that I get up and I don't have an email telling me my child's daycare is closed, I consider it a victory," she said.

Her son attends the Goddard School in Raleigh. She said she is glad they have remained open to serve mothers like her.

Daycare workers taking coronavirus pandemic day by day

"The fact that he has stayed in his normal routine has helped me because I honestly feel like that is the one thing I have control over," she said.

Johnson Pond Learning Center in Fuquay-Varina is also planning to be open next week. They say they are in constant contact with the state, which is offering support and guidance.

"We feel like until it gets to the point where the state tells us we have to close or we just don't have enough staff to keep the building open, then we will still be there for those parents," said Kimmie Champitto of the Johnson Pond Early Learning Center.

Durham Mayor Steve Schewel announced his city plans to keep health clubs and gyms that offer childcare open for the soul purpose of providing a place for children.

"One of the most crucial things we are facing is the deep concern, nationally and here in Durham, that we are able to support our frontline medical workers, and one of the biggest threats is that schools are out and many of them have young children," Schewel said.

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