Coronavirus #69 – functioning of nurseries and kindergartens

Being concerned about ensuring safety for young residents of Szczecin, their families and employees of nurseries and kindergartens, the City decided that these institutions in our city will not be open from the 6th of May.

According to yesterday's announcement issued by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, this Wednesday (the 6th of May) nurseries and kindergartens will be able to resume their activities, but the final decision to open them must be taken by the leading authorities. The opening of this type of facilities is another easing of the existing restrictions introduced in connection with the coronavirus pandemic and thus an attempt to return to the normal functioning of the entire society. However, the decision seems controversial, especially in the light of the formula proposed by the government. The huge responsibility that comes with it has been shifted mainly to local governments. In accordance with the guidelines of state authorities, directors of public institutions were required to provide parents with information on COVID-19 risk factors and the responsibility they incur. Sending a child to classes, as well as bringing them to the facility itself is associated with many risks - not only for the child, but also for their parents or guardians, as well as other household members.

In connection with the above, Mayor Piotr Krzystek decided that Szczecin public institutions will not be open on the 6^th of May. This state will apply until receiving clear guidelines from sanitary services. In addition, the City will also ask for the relevant opinion of the Provincial Consultant for Infectious Diseases. In order to ensure maximum safety in nurseries and kindergartens, the Municipality will also apply to the Poviat Sanitary and Epidemiological Station for issuing detailed guidelines regarding the safety requirements for each institution, taking into account their characteristics.

- The situation is difficult and the risk of infection is unfortunately still high. Therefore, before our nurseries and kindergartens are open, an appropriate and safe solution must be developed to minimize the potential risk - said Piotr Krzystek, Mayor of Szczecin.

The unresolved issue also remains the right to retain care benefits by parents who, despite the possible opening of the facility, fearing for lack of security will not decide to take advantage of this option. In the opinion of the City, it is unacceptable that in the current coronavirus pandemic, the opening of facilities automatically causes parents to lose benefits

In order to accurately estimate the scale of needs and take appropriate steps based on reliable data, directors of Szczecin's institutions were today collecting information from parents about who of them must return to work and thus cannot provide childcare. According to the information obtained, the vast majority of parents of Szczecin preschoolers were in favour of not opening such facilities (approx. 80%). In the case of nurseries, the parents' voices were evenly distributed. About half of the parents whose children attend public nurseries want these facilities to remain closed at the moment,  as in the case of kindergartens.

We will keep you updated on the next steps taken by the City in connection with the possible opening of nurseries and kindergartens.