New COVID-19 cluster reported at Raleigh day care; 4 staff and 6 children affected

A coronavirus cluster has been confirmed at Kreepers-N-Krawlers daycare in Raleigh, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Friday update on clusters in child care centers and schools.

The report shows four cases among staff and six among children.

A cluster is defined as at least five cases.

Kreepers-N-Krawlers could not be reached for this story.

There is currently one other cluster at a child care facility in Wake County, at Goddard School of Holly Springs. DHHS reported four cases among staff and eight among children there.

North Carolina reported its first coronavirus-related death connected with a daycare center in August, at Grace Filled Beginnings in Washington County.

As of Sept. 4, there are 23 clusters and 274 cases associated with child care facilities. There have been two deaths associated with child care facilities.

DHHS began publicly reporting clusters in child care and school settings in late June, as more child care centers began reopening and in anticipation of future school reopening.

Kreepers-N-Krawlers is a five-star licensed child care center, according to the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education database. In North Carolina, centers can receive one to five stars for quality of care.

It has a capacity of 138 children ages 12 and younger.

The state has strict guidelines for child care centers that have reopened, including the requirement to report coronavirus cases to public health officials.

Under a May executive order by Gov. Roy Cooper, child care programs are required to conduct daily health screenings of any person entering the building. Staff and children are not permitted to enter the facility for at least 10 days after first experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, and all staff and children over 11 are required to wear a face covering when they are within six feet of another person.

But as The News & Observer previously reported, some health experts have said that child care facilities do not have adequate assistance and staff to implement safety protocols.

In May, Democratic N.C. Reps. Julie Von Haefen, Mary Belk, Susan Fisher and Rachel Hunt proposed a bill that would have appropriated additional CARES Act funds to child care providers. The $121 million would increase bonuses for child care staff, provide personal protective equipment to child care centers, and designate an additional 52 local child care health consultants. .

The bill stalled in committee and has not received a vote.