Oklahoma daycare providers worry about the crisis they face after COVID-19 pandemic

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Daycares across Oklahoma are facing their own crisis right now.

While they are an essential business, hundreds are temporarily shutting down.

Daycare providers are now worried about how the coronavirus will not only hurt them now, but after the pandemic.

"I'm hoping and praying that on the other end of this pandemic that the landscape of the childcare industry still looks like it does today," said Cindy Alonso, owner of Happy Campers Academy.

Alonso said they did everything to stay open throughout the crisis, but once they hit 20% of their enrollment not showing up they had to shut down.

Even though the daycare is closed for now, Alonso said she is still paying her teachers.

"I really have a commitment to my teachers that we're providing jobs, and quality place for these children to come. I was panicked about what these months will look like," said Alonso.

There's a lot of unknown surrounding this crisis, but Alonso said there's even more on how this will impact daycares and families moving forward.

"After this, the landscape of our industry could look drastically different. And that could be another crisis. Parents will need to go to work, and there will not be enough childcare to provide to these families," said Alonso.

She believes funding from the state is critical.

Right now, The CARES Act allocated $49 million for Oklahoma, but Alonso said child care providers are waiting to hear from the state where exactly that money will go.

The daycare plans to open back up on April 16, but plans to evaluate that date.