Staff shortage closes preschool - Suspicions of covid-19 infection

- During Friday, half of our staff at Sörgård preschool in Brunflo had fallen ill. So in order for the children to avoid a lot of substitutes and maybe get worried, we made the decision on Saturday to temporarily shut down the entire preschool, says the Director of Children and Education, Anna Örjebo Amelin to SVT Jämtland.

At present, the municipality does not know what the preschool activities will look like for the rest of the coming week. However, parents with socially important services will be offered some form of childcare, says Anna Örjebo Amelin.

The entire staff group of nine people and the headmaster will on Sunday test themselves for covid-19.

- We are forced to close due to acute staff shortages, not because we suspect infection in the first place. And that only applies to preschool and thus not school, Anna Örjebo Amelin points out.

The Sörgård preschool is the first in Östersund municipality to close due to staff shortages due to the corona pandemic. And that sets the bar for how the work now continues, says Anna Örjebo Amelin.

- Since this is the first time we do this, it will be a matter of precedent. It is important that we do everything right.

The headmaster and administrative management will on Monday plan for the continued preschool activities. More information will be released during the Monday afternoon.