The Federal Council has decided to gradually loosen the measures for protection against the new coronavirus. Together with the reopening of schools, probably from May 11, 2020, daycare centers in the canton of Basel-Stadt will also be reopened as far as possible. Until this date, the previous regulations will apply.

From April 27, 2020, in the canton of Basel-Stadt, in addition to the existing circle of parents with activities in system-relevant professions in the health sector, parents who can or must return to work as a result of the first stage of the gradual loosening and whose presence at work is necessary, will also be allowed to bring their children to the daycare centers, as long as they cannot organize childcare elsewhere. This applies to parents who work in medical practices, hairdressing, massage, tattoo or cosmetic studios, as well as in DIY stores, garden centers, flower shops or who work for self-service facilities such as solariums or car washes. If you belong to this group of parents and require childcare in a Familycare daycare center from Monday, April 27, 2020, please contact the respective manager of the daycare center immediately so that she can take your child into consideration for planning from this date.

The Federal Council has asked the cantons to develop protective measures for schools and kindergartens. The Department of Education will draw up a protection concept for the resumption of regular operations of daycare centers in the canton of Basel-Stadt, analogous to the compulsory schools. However, the Federal Council has announced that it will not announce the framework conditions for this until April 29, 2020. The Department of Education is aware that a number of questions still need to be clarified before resuming regular operations. However, the Federal Council's instructions must first be awaited.

For the sake of completeness, we would like to point out that the content of this e-mail is only valid for daycare center children residing in the canton of Basel-Stadt. Information from the canton of Basel-Landschaft is expected later this week; we will then inform the parents concerned immediately.

We would like to thank you for your support and solidarity over the past few weeks and look forward to taking the first step together with you on a long road towards normalization and regular daycare center operations.