Gwangju City Extends 'Daycare Center Closure' Until the 29th

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 16th that it will extend the closure of daycare centers, originally scheduled until the 18th, until the 29th.

Although the recent spread of COVID-19 in the area has somewhat slowed, this measure follows the decision to extend Social Distancing Level 2 until the 29th to block community transmission. Once Social Distancing Level 2 is lifted, normal attendance will resume.

As with the previous closure period, childcare teachers will work normally to provide emergency childcare for families who find it difficult to care for their children at home, such as dual-income families. As of the 15th, there are 1,072 daycare centers in the area, with an emergency childcare rate of 30.9%.

Gwangju City will recognize absences due to parents' infection concerns as attendance regardless of daycare center closure and will fully support childcare fees. Additionally, even if the number of children temporarily decreases, labor costs will be supported based on the usual number of children, granting special exceptions.

Furthermore, the Gwangju Early Childhood Education Promotion Institute will provide play content, which is currently offered for kindergarten remote classes, to children enrolled in daycare centers as well. This is expected to reduce the burden of home care on parents during the closure period and aid in the growth and development of young children.

The provided content includes puppet shows, art play, and physical activities, which can be found on the Early Childhood Education Promotion Institute’s website under Bitgoeul e-Playground > Home Play Packages, Story Gifts.

Im Young-hee, head of the city's Birth and Childcare Division, said, “We are extending the closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 community infections and to ensure the safety of young children,” adding, “We hope daycare centers strictly follow quarantine guidelines.”

Meanwhile, due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 community infections, Gwangju City raised the quarantine response system from Social Distancing Level 1 to Level 2 on the 1st and banned indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people.

Earlier, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education extended the combined remote and in-person classes for elementary, middle, and high schools in the area from the original 15th until before summer vacation, and plans to continue combined remote and in-person classes for kindergartens until the 29th.

Recently, two children attending daycare centers in the area tested positive for COVID-19, but all children and teachers at the respective daycare centers tested negative, so no infections have occurred through daycare centers so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.