Hawaii is making $11.9 million available in federal grants for child care providers.

The money from the CARES Act is intended to help support child care providers statewide, state officials announced at a press conference Tuesday.

The money can be used for cleaning and sanitation and other efforts necessary to re-open child care facilities. The deadline to apply is July 31.

The Department of Human Services also released guidelines Tuesday governing the re-opening of child care facilities, with precautions ranging from face masks to temperature checks.

Child care groups are also capped at nine children plus one teacher. State officials acknowledged Tuesday that the cap means that more child care options will be needed as Hawaii’s economy slowly reopens.

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