"Is Disinfection Really Safe?" Daycare Centers and Kindergartens... Concerns Among Parents of Young Children

Anxiety Over Novel Coronavirus Infection... Daycare Centers and Kindergartens Closed
Mom Cafe Members Express "Worry About Children Getting Infected"

On the 28th, a temporary closure notice due to the novel coronavirus was posted at a daycare center in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Concerns among parents of infants and toddlers are increasing due to fears of infection with the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia). Although some daycare teachers in certain areas have come into contact with confirmed cases and tested negative, there is anxiety that children with weak immune systems could still contract the infectious disease.

On the 3rd, posts have been continuously appearing on local mom cafes and online communities stating that they cannot send their children to daycare centers or kindergartens due to fears of novel coronavirus infection.

One mom cafe member said, "Looking at the movement paths of confirmed cases, our child might have crossed paths with them," and added, "I am continuously monitoring my child."

Another parent said, "Daycare teachers especially need to manage their health more carefully, but it is really difficult," and added, "For the time being, I will have to refrain from letting my child go outside."

Complaints from dual-income couples also continued. One parent said, "I don’t know how dual-income couples who cannot take care of their children should cope," and expressed frustration, "I feel helpless, wondering if we just have to wait until this situation ends."

Another parent of an infant expressed concern, saying, "They are disinfecting the daycare centers, but I want to ask if this is really safe."

On the 31st, a resident who visited the Taean County Health and Medical Center in Chungnam, where the daughter who had contact with the 6th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection was confirmed to be a teacher at a daycare center in Taean County, is seen inquiring at the screening clinic set up inside the center. The screening clinic provides medical examination for county residents exhibiting symptoms of novel coronavirus infection such as fever. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Amid growing concerns among parents of infants and toddlers due to the impact of novel coronavirus infections, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced on the 2nd that all kindergartens in Goyang, Bucheon, and Suwon cities in Gyeonggi Province, where confirmed cases have been reported, will be closed for one week starting today (the 3rd).

All kindergartens in the three areas will not hold classes, but will provide childcare services for parents, such as dual-income couples, who have no other place to leave their children.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education informed parents of kindergartens in the three areas on the night of the same day that kindergartens will be closed from the 3rd to the 9th for one week. The number of kindergartens closed by region, including public and private, is 189 in Suwon, 171 in Goyang, and 125 in Bucheon.

Earlier that day, the cities of Goyang, Bucheon, and Suwon announced that all daycare centers in their jurisdictions will be closed from the 3rd to the 9th. The number of daycare centers closed by region is 1,061 in Suwon, 769 in Goyang, and 578 in Bucheon.

Also, in Pyeongtaek City, where a confirmed case was reported, all 423 daycare centers in the area have been closed for eight days starting from the 1st. Anyang City closed one daycare center for one week (from the 1st to the 7th) where a daycare teacher who had contact with a confirmed case tested negative.

Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the morning of the 2nd at 9 a.m. that the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in South Korea has increased to 15.

In particular, just one day after the reality of secondary infections, the family of the sixth patient (wife and son, the 10th and 11th confirmed cases respectively) were consecutively confirmed positive, making tertiary infections a reality.

Also, the wife of the 12th confirmed case (a Chinese national), who had contact with a confirmed case in Japan, was confirmed positive as the 14th confirmed case (also a Chinese national), marking another case of tertiary infection.