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Opinion | The COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent action by co-parents Our Family Wizard, so a proper record is maintained and secured of both co-parents' reasonable efforts, flexibility and co-operation; [8] at a minimum, strictly follow and adhere to any communication requirements in an existing Court order, separation agreement or parenting plan; [9] discuss and co-ordinate a strategy for discussing the COVID-19 pandemic with the child, including to identify and ease any anxiety, confusion or fear the child may be experiencing; [10] promptly notify the other co-parent of any changes to a child's health, particularly related to COVID-19 symptoms, and respond to any enquiries by the other co-parent on a prompt and reasonable basis; [11] if child support is an issue, co-parents should continue the status quo arrangements, unless they can agree, on a reasonable basis, to modify the financial arrangements to reflect changes or modifications to the parenting arrangements - for example, if the parenting is modified temporarily from an equal time sharing arrangement to a child residing only with one co-parent primarily, it may be appropriate to temporarily modify the child support arrangements, subject to the ability of the co-parents to do so, financially; and [12] other than these emergency, urgent measures undertaken to attempt to contain the virus, co-parents should otherwise follow strictly their existing Court orders, separation agreements and parenting plans, except as agreed otherwise by them to address these extraordinary circumstances. For any child who may be vulnerable, have pre-existing conditions or compromised immuno-related conditions, co-parents must act immediately, prudently and jointly to protect the child - extraordinary arrangements may be required urgently, at least on a temporary basis. Every co-parent must act reasonably, responsibly and selflessly, to serve the best interests of the child, including emotionally. If co-parents cannot mutually agree on modifying their parenting arrangements for the well-being and safety of their children, and the community at large, their Court order, separation agreement or parenting plan must govern and be followed. However, in these circumstances, co-parents must jointly, flexibly and co-operatively adjust their child's parenting arrangements to not only protect the child, but themselves, other family members and the public generally. Co-parents must immediately rise above their past or historical conflict, if any, to protect their child and the community at large - each has a duty to do so, legally and morally. Unless the safety or well-being of a child is, on a reasonable basis, placed at risk, co- parents must modify and change their parenting arrangements to achieve and comply with the containment measures undertaken by everyone, including social isolation and avoiding leaving home. While this may be a challenge for some co-parents, it is critical that co-parents work together, flexibly, co-operatively and with a child's best interest being paramount, to adjust parenting during this time of crisis. Every co-parent must do his or her part, like every other person in the community, to ensure that every child is socially isolated, exposed to minimal, if any, risk outside of the home, and is responsibly Opinion | The COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent action by co-parents https://www.mykawartha.com/opinion-story/9913046-the-covid-19-pan... 2 of 3 4/23/2020, 5:05 PM