20,000 day cares may have closed in the pandemic. What happens when parents go back to work?

The Better Life Lab's Care Index report was cited in The Lily about the growing scarcity of child care centers and the expansion of child care deserts:

That might surprise many parents, especially those who are paying full price. Day care costs an average of $9,589 per year for a child under 4, according to New America’s Care Report. It’s pricier in big cities: In D.C., the average cost of care for an infant is more than $24,000.