Directive Issued Over Healthcare Workers' Children


Directive issued over healthcare workers' children

Japan's health ministry has issued a directive to local authorities to ensure that day care centers look after children of healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

The directive is intended to help medical workers avoid staying at home, or taking a leave of absence to care for their children when demand for medical services is rising.

Childcare providers are cutting back after a nationwide state of emergency was declared and people have been urged to stay at home as much as possible.

But the ministry is asking local governments to continue providing services for children of healthcare and other workers whose jobs are essential to keep society running.

However, some medical institutions treating coronavirus patients are reporting that their staff members' children have been refused entrance to or asked to refrain from using day care centers.

Ministry officials say healthcare professionals are taking anti-infection measures when treating patients, and that discrimination and prejudice against their children must not be tolerated.