900 Welfare offices for persons with disabilities closed throughout Japan due to COVID-19

Written with extracts translated from NHK & NHK World

April 28 2020

A study by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that, due to the spread of the new coronavirus, approximately 900 disabled welfare service offices nationwide were closed during the week until 19th of this month. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is requesting that alternative services be provided mainly by the municipalities when business establishments are closed.

The health ministry says a total of 891 facilities in 35 of the country’s 47 prefectures shut down during that span, including daycare and short-stay service providers.

Of them, 17 were asked by local governments to close after cases were confirmed at their facilities, while 860 opted to cease offering services voluntarily as a precaution.

As a result, it was found that 891 business establishments were closed in 35 prefectures in “out-of-office” facilities such as day service where the governor can request closure and “short-term admission” facilities such as short stay.

On the other hand, 19 business establishments were closed in 11 prefectures, even for “home-visit nursing care” establishments, which in principle require continuation of services rather than those that can be requested.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been requesting business establishments nationwide to take necessary measures against infectious diseases and continue necessary services to protect the lives of users and their families in response to the spread of holidays.

In addition, even when the office is closed, it was requested that the municipalities play a central role in securing alternative services.