Suwon City Lifts Childcare Center Closure Order...Children Can Return from March 10

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City has decided to lift the childcare center closure order due to the novel coronavirus (March 3-9) and transition to a 'temporary closure' system starting March 10.

With the lifting of the closure order, childcare centers can autonomously decide whether to close from March 10.

Parents can also voluntarily send their children to childcare centers. During the temporary closure period, 'attendance exemption exceptions' will be applied so that childcare fees are provided even if children are absent.

※Temporary Closure: When an emergency situation occurs and normal operation of a childcare center becomes difficult, the center director can shorten hours or close based on their judgment.

At a 'COVID-19 Response Status Report Meeting' held at the City Hall Disaster Situation Room on March 7, Mayor Yeom Tae-young explained the background, saying "While a new confirmed case (20th) occurred in our city, it was an individual we had been controlling (a quarantine target), so we determined it was appropriate to lift the childcare center closure order."

He added, "I sincerely thank all parents who bore the inconvenience for a week and actively cooperated," and stated, "If any emergency situations arise, we will immediately implement measures to protect children."

The city plans to immediately close any childcare center where staff members are confirmed positive or have had close contact with confirmed cases.

Welfare centers, senior centers and other elderly welfare facilities, and social welfare facilities will remain closed. For social welfare facilities, only 'service-type facilities' will close, while 'residential-type facilities' will remain open with restricted external access. Programs at 44 neighborhood civil service centers will continue to be suspended.

Indoor public sports facilities operated by Suwon City including the National Sports Center, Suwon Sports Hall, Seo-Suwon Chilbo Sports Hall, Seoho Sports Center, Gwanggyo Sports Center, Beolter Sports and Culture Center, Yeonghung Park Indoor Sports Facility, Seo-Suwon Guun Sports Hall, Gwonseon Central Sports Hall, Sukji Multi-purpose Sports Hall, Maetan Multi-purpose Sports Hall, Sports Association Hall (fitness), and Manseok Badminton Court will extend their closure until March 16.

Meanwhile, six family and relatives members who had close contact with the 20th confirmed case underwent specimen testing on March 6, and all tested 'negative.' The six will undergo two weeks of self-quarantine. The 20th confirmed case's family members (2 people) have tested 'negative' in all three specimen tests to date.

The 20th confirmed case is a 41-year-old Korean woman who is a relative of the 15th confirmed case. She resides in a multi-family housing unit (different unit) in Cheoncheon-dong, Jangan-gu, the residential area of the 15th confirmed case.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young stated, "As COVID-19 spreads, the local economy is shrinking and businesses, traditional market merchants, and small business owners are facing significant difficulties," and instructed staff to "meet with local business owners and merchants to hear their opinions and review appropriate support measures."

Mayor Yeom Tae-young regularly posts updates on Suwon City's COVID-19 response status on his personal SNS (Facebook), disclosing all information to citizens.

Additionally, the city is using all promotional channels including the Suwon City website (http://www.suwon.go.kr) and Suwon City SNS to promptly disclose COVID-19 related information and provide response guidelines.

※Inquiry Telephone Numbers for Symptom Occurrence

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency: 1339

Visitors to China: 1644-2000

Jangan-gu Health Center: 031-228-5909

Gwonseon-gu Health Center: 031-228-6760

Paldal-gu Health Center: 031-228-7680

Yeongtong-gu Health Center: 031-228-8519