Busan Daycare Centers 1,781 Locations Ordered to Close... Indefinitely from the 3rd

All 16 Districts and Counties Must Close All Daycare Centers Until Lifting Order
Only Emergency Childcare Services Like 'Idolbomi' Allowed for Dual-Income Families

On November 24, teachers at a daycare center in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, are disinfecting to prevent COVID-19. [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] All daycare centers in Busan city will be closed starting from the 3rd.

Busan city announced on the 2nd that it will issue the "Busan City Daycare Center Closure Order" to reduce the density of childcare in daycare centers and minimize contact due to the spread of COVID-19.

Accordingly, 1,781 daycare centers in 16 districts and counties of Busan will be closed from the next day, the 3rd, until a separate lifting order is issued.

Before the social distancing level 2 was announced, starting from the 27th, Busan city recommended home childcare, urged daycare centers to refrain from outdoor activities, and canceled or postponed various events and education programs. However, since the recent surge in confirmed cases has not subsided, these strengthened measures have been implemented.

From the 3rd, along with the closure order, all special activities inside and outside daycare centers, outdoor activities, and entry of outsiders will be completely prohibited, except for the minimum activities necessary for emergency childcare.

There have been cases where some daycare centers were closed due to confirmed infections and contacts through external infections from cohabiting family members and acquaintances, so this measure was taken to minimize infections from outside.

However, "Idolbomi" (childcare helpers) will be maintained. Even if daycare centers are closed, families who find home childcare difficult due to both parents working can leave their children at daycare centers. Support for Idolbomi for home childcare will be expanded.

Jeon Hye-sook, Director of the Women's and Family Bureau of Busan city, said, "We have been continuously monitoring the situation of daycare centers and community infections, and since this measure is equivalent to social distancing level 3 in daycare center operations, we ask for cooperation from daycare center staff and guardians."

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