Now that there is a question of schools not opening soon because of the corona virus and some parents going back to work, healthy grandparents could be a great resource. Unfortunately, because older individuals are at greater risk for contacting the virus, this creates a dilemma. Ideally, if there was a fast way to tell if a grandparent had no evidence of the virus, they could help with childcare if they tested negative. However, because some of the rapid virus tests are reported to have as many 15% false negative what can parents do?
I think the answer is to talk to your child's pediatrician. Ideally, we would have testing for everyone who wanted it, as Trump promised.That does not seem to be happening, even though it is happening in the White House. If the grandparents were willing to babysit and they could have daily tests that could be the answer. Nursery schools and schools do not appear to be opening soon, which means someone needs to care for the children. Even if a stay-at-home parent was willing to care for her children and yours, how do you know the kids would be safe? Once again it all depends on testing. Even if a parent has had the virus and recovered, he or she may not feel up to having extra children to care for. Some creative ways will have to develop so parents can work and the children will have someone to care for them. One answer might be a college student who is not able to go back to college because their college was not open. However, testing would still be important. Children and adults ideally would be able to be tested, so parents would know how to proceed. I think we all have to speak out and demand adequate testing from our state and federal people in charge.
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