On September 30^th, 2020, Saitama Prefecture announced that designated care homes and welfare facilities will temporarily accept persons receiving in-home care in cases where their caregivers are hospitalized due to Covid-19. Eligible users are those who are in need of nursing care (elderly/ disabled children), and whose carers (family members, etc.) are hospitalized due to infection with Covid-19. The persons themselves must have tested negative for Covid-19. This service will be implemented with the cooperation of the Saitama Senior Citizens Welfare Service Council and the Saitama Developmental Disability Welfare Association, who will dispatch staff from nearby facilities for their care. For the elderly, temporary accommodation has been arranged for 20 people in 5 places, namely, Kagayaki Nursing Home (Fukaya City, 5 people), Iwatsuki Nagurien Care Center (Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, 4 people), Musashinoen Wakaba Nursing Home (Sayama City, 4 people), Makiba En Nursing Home (Gyoda City, 4 people) and Shiinoki no Sato (Misato City, 3 people). For children with disabilities, 8 places are available in 2 facilities (Aiko En in Higashi Matsuyama City and Ranzankyo in Ranzan Town).

Saitama Prefecture promulgated and enforced the "Saitama Prefecture Carer Support Ordinance" on March 31^st, 2020. This is the first Ordinance in the nation to provide support for carers who are engaged in unpaid nursing care for their family, relatives, or friends. For further information, please visit the following website. http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0001/news/page/2020/0930-07.html