Staff at Jesse Ketchum Early Learning and Child Care Centre test positive for COVID-19

Three staff at Jesse Ketchum Early Learning and Child Care Centre, one of the City of Toronto’s seven licensed child care centres that provide care for the children of essential and critical service workers, have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, two other staff and two children are awaiting test results.

The Jesse Ketchum Early Learning and Child Care Centre has suspended child care services for a period of 14 days. The centre will undergo a deep cleaning and will only reopen once approval is granted by Toronto Public Health.

The City continues to reach out to notify the families who have children attending the child care centre. Staff and the 58 children who attended the child care centre from April 21 to April 28 will be asked to remain at home for two weeks from their last day at the child care centre and will be excluded from all Toronto emergency child care centres as a precautionary measure for this same period.

Since opening on March 31, Toronto Children’s Services has been implementing enhanced infection prevention and control procedures that meet public health guidelines. This includes small group sizes for rooms, daily screening, including temperature checks of children and staff, as well as the development of enhanced infection prevention policies and procedures approved by Toronto Public Health and the Province.

The City’s remaining six emergency child care centres will continue to operate:
Malvern Early Learning & Child Care, 1321 Neilson Road, opened March 31
Thomas Berry Early Learning & Child Care, 3495 Lake Shore Blvd W., opened March 31
Falstaff Early Learning & Child Care, 10 Falstaff Avenue, opened March 31
City Kids Early Learning & Child Care, 34 Bathurst St., opened April 13
Danforth Early Learning & Child Care, 1125 Danforth Ave., opened April 16
Metro Hall Early Learning & Child Care, 55 John St., will open on April 29

Children’s Services, in conjunction with Toronto Public Health, will be reviewing any other procedures that may be put in place to ensure the health and safety of families.

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