If you have to head back to work, and aren’t sure what to do with the kids this summer, there’s some good news. Governor Murphy announced today in his press conference that childcare, sports practices and youth day camps will be allowed to reopen this summer.
Childcare and daycare centers will be allowed to reopen on June 15th. This extends to children of everyone, not just essential services. The Departments of Health and Children and Families will be releasing health and safety standards later today, which daycare centers must agree to adhere to before they are allowed to reopen.
“As we prepare to take the first true steps of our restart and recovery, and as more and more workers prepare to get back out to their jobs, we must ensure a continuum of care for their children,” said Murphy.
Organized sports practices can resume on June 22nd and Murphy stressed that these practices will be no contact, with more rules coming from the Department of Health soon. While he didn’t give full details, Murphy did say that there will be no contact drills allowed and that only outdoor sports will be allowed.
And there will be summer camp, at least in the form of day camp. Summer rec programs and youth day camps will be allowed to start on July 6th. Camps must agree to safety standards before reopening, according to Christine Norbut Beyer, the Commissioner of the Department of Children & Families. There has been no decision yet on sleepaway camps.
For both sports and camps, there will be rules surrounding cleaning practices and social distancing, with complete standards for all of these coming from the Department of Health in the coming days.