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Chicago-area parents seek babysitters amid COVID-19 pandemic

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago-area parents are searching for babysitters who will adhere to social distancing rules as many summer camps have closed in an effort to stymie the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Skokie resident Rebecca Abraham is a nurse in an intensive care unit in a medical system in the northern suburbs, where her husband, Anub, is a doctor. She told the Chicago Tribune that they're splitting child care expenses with close friends, a doctor and an architect who live nearby, to create a 'œminicamp'ť for the families' combined four children between the ages of 3 and 6.

'œWe said, '~We're going to need child care when school closes. Let's split child care and we'll help each other out on our days off,''ť said Abraham, who noted that their sitter moves between the families' two homes, depending on the kids' activities and the parents' busy schedules.

Elizabeth Harz is CEO of Sittercity, which connects people who need caregivers with those who can provide the care. From April to May, she said the company has observed a tenfold increase in the number of child care inquiries. Many reference summer camps being closed.

'œWith day cares closed, coaches without teams and camps shuttered, all of these folks who are used to working with children are now on the market," Harz said.

Sisters Trina and Tina Reynolds-Tyler, who are raising Tina's 4-year-old child Tessa together, are looking for a nanny to care for her this summer at their home on Chicago's South Side.

Tina Reynolds-Tyler has been saving money she would have normally spent on day care to pay for someone a summertime sitter who will teach Tessa by using Montessori principles. But the prospective sitter must agree to strict social distancing rules that the family established.

Meanwhile, summer camp operators are waiting for guidance.

Josh Sutter, who runs a four-week camp called Summer City Adventures in Chicago, said he is 'œstuck waiting for'ť answers from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

He said the counselors are anxiously waiting to find out whether they'll be employed this summer. A third of families who enrolled in the camp still plan on coming, Sutter noted, adding that another third said they'll likely withdraw while others remain undecided.

'œCamp is vital for any working family,'ť he said. 'œIt's just a big holding pattern. I've been fielding questions left and right and I'm tired of saying, '~We don't know yet.''ť

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