Every morning, we dawn our mask and our visor and greet you at the door with questions like, ”Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?”, Have you come in close contact with someone who has COVID 19?” and “Does your child have a sore throat? Nausea, vomiting diarrhea?”
Then we escort your young child into his classroom where caregivers have been busy sanitizing all the materials used, as they do everyday. Throughout the day we ask our young wards to not touch each other, to keep their masks on, to wash their hands.
One gets hurt, she wants a hug, one misses his mom, he wants a hug. We hug them even though it may not be safe. One gets sick, we dawn a gown and gloves to go with our mask and visor. We scoop her to a safe room where her germs cannot spread and we wait for you to come. All the while, consoling the ill child who sits on our lap and needs to be held because she might have “The COVID”. You come, and we tell you that your child may return if her test is negative and she is feeling better. We wait to hear the news, panicked about the worst outcome.
The day continues. It is after lunch and time to put on sunscreen. We get out the gloves, each time changing for the next child we must assist with application. We carry on through our day, ensuring the materials are not being coughed on or sneezed on. We sanitize as we go. We vacuum twice per day, we clean high touch areas constantly, we do laundry every day, all to keep your child safe.
Where is our vaccine? We are told we will be in the second stage. Schools have closed, our province is in a shut down and we are asked to continue working. Where is our vaccine?
