In times of the corona virus, communities should provide emergency childcare for working people. But what to do if the daycare staff are afraid and refuse? A solution has now been found in Pöcking.
- Because of the corona virus, all day care centers in Germany are currently closed.
- Municipalities should provide emergency care.
- But this does not work smoothly everywhere - for example in Pöcking.
Update Monday, March 23, 7:20 p.m .: The community Pöcking has found a solution for the emergency care of children in the community kindergarten. As Mayor Rainer Schnitzler and Managing Director Sven Neumann explained on Monday afternoon, there is now a pool of five educators who look after the children of parents who are employed in the so-called "critical infrastructure".
The issue came up at the end of the council meeting last Thursday. Green councilor Sabine Stolicka had reported the case of a Pöckingen couple. Both are employed in a clinic and had registered emergency care with the community after the loss of their private care in the wake of the Corona crisis. The daycare staff initially refused to look after the children, Neumann had reported.
Coronavirus: children are cared for in Pöcking
After a team meeting yesterday, the pool solution is now available. "We discussed the fears and, as far as possible, cleared them up," Schnitzler told Starnberg Mercury. Among other things, the municipality will provide face masks as soon as the ordered delivery has arrived. Also excluded from childcare are daycare staff who belong to risk groups themselves or who, for example, have to take care of their own children as single parents.
"It is important to hear everyone involved and to take fears seriously," emphasized Schnitzler. Neumann added that it was important and right to take the occupational health and safety of the employees just as seriously as the care needs of the parents. The two children should be able to attend kindergarten from Tuesday.
Original article from March 21
Pöcking - Strange times create strange images. The meeting of the Pöckingen municipal council provided vivid examples of this, which took place on Thursday evening due to the corona, not in the town hall hall, but in the large Beccult town house. Municipal councilors, who usually shake hands warmly, wave at each other cautiously, talk in groups of two with a safe distance. When the meeting begins, a little late, everyone is sitting at individual tables, Mayor Rainer Schnitzler and administrative staff even one floor up on the Beccult stage. Around 20 people on 300 square meters. After all, the acoustics are good so far. Anyone who speaks clearly can also be understood at the back. Culture officer Albert Luppart jokes: "It was worth it that we built the house."
Coronavirus in Pöcking: Quirky atmosphere in the town council
Although the mood was relaxed due to the bizarre atmosphere, everyone was aware of the seriousness of the situation on Thursday evening. Towards the end of the public part, Sabine Stolicka (Greens) asked to think about shopping aids not only for seniors, but also for working people who cannot work in the home office.
Like a Pöckinger couple who turned to the community for their child's emergency care on Thursday. The parents are both employed in a clinic. Managing director Sven Neumann said: “So far, they had private care. In Corona times, however, they can no longer find anyone. ”The community now faces a problem: According to Neumann, the daycare staff refuses to look after the child. "Now you ask: employer, how do you protect us?"
Corona virus: protection for caregivers?
The question is justified, the state makes it easy for itself, says the managing director. “The carers have direct contact with the children. They go to the toilet and help put them on and take them off. ”
Neumann has now contacted the district office - the authority that passes on the Free State's rulings to the municipalities. He wanted to know what municipalities should do in such cases. "We would have to reject the support stand now. We have no other choice. ”The community first wants to do moral persuasion and look for volunteers among the specialist staff.
Emergency care due to corona virus: "Have to try to improvise"
Wolfram Staufenberg (CSU) said at the meeting: "We have to try to improvise, develop flexibility - and we have money." Sabine Stolicka brought private initiatives ("people who are at home") into play. Mayor Schnitzler remarked: "This is much more difficult than with shopping aids." When making an official call by the municipality, one must also have the liability question in mind.
Coronavirus Pöcking: Guardians in protective suits?
With regard to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Managing Director Neumann noted that protective masks and suits were no longer available. This is one of the reasons why he sought contact with the health department. Ulrich Rieger (CSU): "I can't imagine educators in protective suits." Schnitzler's comment: "The children are terrified." Perhaps it will happen anyway, a lot is imaginable these days. Strange times create strange images.
Also read:
First death in the district of Starnberg: The corona location in the ticker
