Regulated child care services on the Avalon Peninsula are now permitted to open to operate at up to 50 per cent capacity.

The Department of Education says the change, made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health will help to address the child care needs of essential workers.

Last week RNU President Yvette Coffey indicated that some of her membership were still encountering problems accessing child care even though regulated child care operators were allowed to stay open to take the children of essential workers during Alert Level 5. She met with the minister responsible last week.

Child care operators are still required to limit spaces to existing clients.

The department recommends the following priorities:

• First priority should continue to go to families where parents are required to leave their homes to report to their workplace;
• Second priority can go to families where one or more parents are required to work from home; and
• Third priority can go to any other family with a spot, provided capacity remains.