After spending 42 years in the child care industry, there isn’t much Sue Stendahl hasn’t seen.
Stendhal, who owns Cottage Day Care Inc. in Bend, said she has operated through everything, from chicken pox outbreaks and to economic recessions, and has weathered sharp drops in her attendance.
But the reaction to the coronavirus is unlike any Stendhal has ever seen. On Monday, only 35 of the usual 75 to 80 children she serves showed up. Many of her staff members are now on leave.
“Everyone’s worried of course, and afraid, and being super cautious,” Stendhal said of the economic fallout.
In preparation for mandated school closures that began on Monday, the Early Learning Division of the state department of education issued guidelines for childcare providers on how to operate during a pandemic. Tips include how to expand capacity for an influx of children no longer in school, as well as what to do if a child appears sick.
But for at least some childcare providers in Central Oregon, there is no influx — in fact, numbers are dropping.
“I usually have 14 children. I have two today,” said Pearl Watkins, the owner of Pearl’s Playroom in Bend, on Monday.
Many parents are working from home, meaning they can keep their children along with them, Watkins said.
Kelissa Averry, owner of Giggle Monsters Daycare & Preschool, said on Monday several of her families are electing to have their kids stay with other parents who are staying home anyway because it is cheaper.
“I love that the community has reached out,” Averry said. “But for me, it’s worrisome.”
Having only a few kids could put Averry in a financial bind, she said. She’s also concerned about keeping proper supplies, such as toilet paper and cleaning products, in her center as people reportedly are shopping and buying more supplies at grocery stores to prepare.
To keep her license, Averry must have a certain amount of supplies on hand, she said.
“If people keep panic buying, it’s going to cause issues,” Averry said. “We would have to close because of the supply issue.”
Several childcare facilities have also reported struggling to find adequate supplies, said Brenda Comini, Regional Early Learning Hub Director in Redmond.
This article was originally published by the Bend Bulletin, one of more than a dozen news organizations throughout the state sharing their coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak to help inform Oregonians about this evolving heath issue.
