The provincial government is offering another option for health care workers and other employees providing services during the COVID-19 outbreak when it comes to child care.

On Friday morning, the government announced they will be repurposing child care centres in schools to provide child care services for eligible parents and guardians starting on March 23.

This comes as schools across the province are closed indefinitely to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Priority will be given to employees in health care and others responding during the outbreak. The following is the list of eligible candidates for the program provided by the government:

• Employees directly related to providing essential services in health care including employees working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community and primary health, home care, personal care homes, labs, pharmacies, COVID-19 assessment and testing sites, scheduling departments, and payroll departments including nurses, physicians and physician clinic staff, emergency medical services staff, and other staff essential to the operations of these facilities/departments.
• Employees working directly in child protection, income assistance, and community living connected to the Ministry of Social Services.
• Employees working directly in residential services connected to the Ministry of Social Services.
• Child care centre employees of licensed child care facilities.
• Employees directly related to providing essential services in SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel, water and wastewater management.
• Employees directly related to providing essential services for police and fire.

Application information and more about this service can be accessed at the government’s website.

The government added they will continue to provide funding for child care centres not located in schools during this time.