The Government of Saskatchewan has announced it is re-purposing child care facilities in schools to provide child care services for staff in health care and other employees who are delivering services related to the pandemic response starting on Monday.

The child care centres in schools are closed to the parents of the children enrolled in those schools, as of Friday (today).

Priority for those newly opened up spaces will be given to staff in health care and other pandemic response workers for infant, toddler, pre school or school age children.

The list of people eligible to access this child care:

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.