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Mainz (dpa / lrs) - The childcare facilities in Rhineland-Palatinate will remain in place even after the new federal and state resolutions on the corona pandemic.
"We will continue to have this restricted regular operation at the daycare centers if there is an urgent need," said Education Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) on Wednesday in Mainz.
"Up to now, parents in Rhineland-Palatinate have used it very responsibly."
With the new rules on home office and the expansion of children's sickness benefit, parents will be able to look after their children at home without sacrificing income or vacation.
The hygiene concepts in early childhood education have proven themselves, said Hubig.
Of 2,600 daycare centers, 10 are completely closed and 16 are partially closed due to corona infections.
In 46,000 children cared for in daycare centers, there were 15 infections at the beginning of the week, plus 61 cases in around 40,000 employees.
The minister announced that, from next week, educators will be able to be tested free of charge even if they have second-degree contacts with infected people.
The country also supports the facilities with protective equipment "so that they have the standard they need".
The younger children are, the less often they get Covid-19 and the less often they infected others, said the director of the Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine at the Mainz University Medical Center, Fred Zepp, at the State Chancellery's press conference.
"The transmission from child to carer is comparatively rare."