Eleven Chautauqua County child care providers have closed and nearly one-third of available child care slots vacant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That makes some sense given that many more parents are home with their children as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic business closures and stay-home orders.

What happens if those providers can’t reopen when the stay-home orders are lifted and businesses begin to reopen, particularly if schools are closed for the rest of the school year?

Sue Marker, Chautauqua Child Care Council director, said that is a distinct possibility.

“Without financial support from the state or federal government, we’re going to lose them,” Marker said. “We are concerned that some of these that will close or have closed won’t open back up again.”

Child care has long been an issue in the county. Many working parents struggle to afford child care, and there isn’t enough child care to go around for the parents who do need it.

Centers aren’t just closing in Chautauqua County, however. Dorothy Hill, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy policy director, echoed Marker’s fears in her own interview with the Albany Times Union.

If there is no one at home with the children, or if the children aren’t in school, then mom and dad can’t go to work. While there are many facets to reopening the economy that state and federal policy makers will have to wrestle with, they can’t forget child care.