Childcare

Yes, but only to allow children of owners, employees, volunteers, and contractors for essential businesses, essential governmental functions, or for carrying out minimum basic operations to work.  Children of other workers who are not exempt under the Order cannot attend daycare.   

Also, any daycare facility operating to serve children of essential workers need to comply with these mandatory conditions in the Order to the extent possible: 

1. Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day).  

2. Children shall not change from one group to another. 

3. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other. 

4. Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children. 

If you work for an essential business, as described in the Order, you can and should continue to work.  Certain employers, schools, and community organizations will be providing childcare for employees of essential businesses.  You may also employ a nanny or babysitter to provide home-based care for your kids. 

Yes, the Order permits nannies and babysitters caring for a child in the child’s own home to continue working. If families opt to have playdates, they need to keep playdates as a singular cohort. Keep the same group together and do not introduce or rotate members. By rotating members of the group, it allows kids to “pollinate” another group, which goes against the social/physical distancing practices. Play dates should follow the same guidelines for childcare centers that was issued on March 13.