March 24 , 2020

Kumamoto University’s Correspondence to the Outbreak of the COVID-19

(Protocol Version 11-5)

（KU website: https://www.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/whatsnew/koho/korona）

　In order to control/prevent the virus transmission, all faculty members, professors, and students of Kumamoto University are requested to take measures including the following but not limited to;
　- Keep calm and attempt not to have excessive anxiety
　- Cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve or anything else other than your palms when cough or sneeze
　- Wash your hands properly and frequently (rub alcohol hand-sanitizer on to your hands and between fingers)
Please note that all precautions should be taken as if to prevent other infectious diseases such as common cold and influenza.

1. Correspondence of Faculty Members and Students
　[Going Abroad]
  a. As advised on Overseas Safety Information published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, do not travel to any of the LEVEL 3 areas/regions/countries below listed (including both personal and business trips.)

  b. Avoid taking non-emergency and/or unnecessary trips to any of the LEVEL 2 areas/regions/countries.
 
  c. When you plan any trips abroad (including personal trips,) please ensure to check and pay attention to the most up-to-date information by accessing Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website* and Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Quarantine Station’s website**. In addition, ensure to notify of your trip plan to the General Affairs Division officer (in case of a Faculty member) or the Educational Affairs Division officers at your faculty/school (in case of a student) prior to the trip.

  d. Please visit Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s website for more information.
     * http://www2.anzen.mofa.go.jp (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
   ** http://www.forth.go.jp/topics/fragment1.html (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Quarantine Station)
       https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html
       (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)

　[Returning from Your Trip]
  a. Any returnees and visitors from any part of the areas listed as LEVEL 2 or 3 must remain at home and quarantine him/herself for 14 days
　- If you enter Japan after March 8th, the 14-day quarantine period begins from the day after entering Japan
　- If you enter Japan on or before March 8th, these 14 days begin from the day of entry
　- In above both cases, if you are a returnee or a visitor from People’s Republic of China or Republic of Korea, the standby period at the designated place assigned by the Quarantine Director is also counted towards it

  b. Above mentioned rules for traveling to LEVEL 2 and 3 as well as the 14-day quarantine period apply to those who would enter listed countries/areas as part of their transits.

  c. Utilize the self-observation sheet in order to maintain and observe your health during the 14-day quarantine period and FAX it to KU Health Centre when the period is over.

  Important Notifications:
　 For those newly-arriving international students from either People’s Republic of China and Republic of Korea are not allowed their entries into Japan until March 31, 2020. However, this does not apply to you if you have applied for the re-entry when leaving Japan.

　 People (both foreign and Japanese nationals) who enter Japan from LEVEL 3 countries/areas including Islamic Republic of Iran, Italian Republic, and Republic of San Marino will be requested to take a PCR test and health observation at the airport or the place of entry, self-quarantine for 14 days, and refrain the use of public transportation.

　 For the time being, Ministry of Justice denies permission to land in Japan to the following foreign nationals as ones who fall under the Article 5, paragraph (1), item (xiv) of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, unless the circumstances are exceptional. Foreign nationals who have stayed in any of the LEVEL 3 cities/provinces/regions within 14 days prior to the application for landing (“Information Related to New Coronavirus Infection(COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency.” The Ministry of Justice：Information Related to New Coronavirus Infection(COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency, The Ministry of Justice, 11 Mar. 2020, www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html.)

   [Health Maintenance]
   a. When having cold-like symptoms, take a leave of absence (utilize the self-observation sheet)

   b. Also, if you have following symptoms, contact the “Help Line” at any Public Health Centre locations***;
      - Cold-like symptoms and a fever higher than 37.5℃/99.5℉ for more than four consecutive days
      - A fatigue or a difficulty in breathing
      Please note that the elderly and people with primary conditions/diseases should contact the “Help Line” if above symptoms continue for more than two days.

   c. If diagnosed as a suspected case after consulting with the “Help Line,” they will give you a referral to a specialist. When visit the specialist’s office, avoid taking any public transportation.
      Also, please contact KU Health Centre at 096-342-2164 not only prior to and after your visitation to a specialist’s office but also the diagnosis/the examination result becomes available.
      *** Each public health centre’s support desk will work as a “Help Line” and schedule an appointment with a medical institution, so please find the one nearby from the list on the following page and contact them.

  [Attending Events]
   a. Refrain from attending any events which are held at a venue where it is poorly ventilated, densely crowded, also a high risk of having unpredictable contacts with an unspecified majority is present. These venues are considered at a high risk of making clusters.

   b. Any events organized, run, and enforced by Kumamoto University should be cancelled or postponed in order to control and prevent the spread of the virus and put attendees’ health and safety concerns as the first priority in regard to Japanese Governments’ Basic Principle. These events include;
     - Children’s events
     - Events which the elderly’s attendance is foreseeably high
     - Events which an unspecified majority will attend
     - Events involve face-to-face conversation

  c. As for other events, re-consideration of its necessity, detailed planning, and precautions for virus prevention should be taken in measure.

   [Obtaining the Most Up-To-Date Information]
     The most current information is available and should be obtained from each of the following website;
     Ministry of Education: [COVID-19］Information about MEXT’s measures
     https://www.mext.go.jp/en/mext_00006.html
     Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
     https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.htm
     Office for Pandemic Influenza and New Infection Diseases Preparedness and Response, Cabinet Secretariat:  
     http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/influenza/novel_coronavirus.html
     (contents available in Japanese only)
     Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/
     (contents available in Japanese only)
     Ministry of Justice: Information related to New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency
     http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html

2. Establishing the Crisis Management Headquarters for COVID-19
　For the prevention and the control of the spread of virus infection/transmission, KU has established the Crisis Management Headquarters.
　Any decisions to be made by the Crisis Management Headquarters will be notified via e-mails or posted on University Portal.
　To accommodate to the constantly-changing situation, the Headquarters will monitor the following section “3. Assumable Future Events” contents closely, make appropriate decisions to overcome each equivalent situation, and inform all staff members and students regarding the future countermeasures; therefore, please beware of any new information to be released.

3. Assumable Future Events
　① “Restriction on People Migration” issued by WHO (Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared on January 30, 2020)
　② A confirmed case or a suspected case found among the University staff members and students (including their co-living family members)
　③ A suspected case of a secondary transmission/infection originated by a University staff member

4. KU’s Correspondence to the Above Events
　① Restriction of business trips both inside of Japan and aboard
　② and ③ Closure of classes and/or Closure of University
　* This is subject to change as each situation will be observed, then an appropriate solution will be proposed


General Affairs Division
Ext. 3117 & 3118

Kumamoto University’s Correspondence to the Outbreak of the COVID-19 (Version Protocol 11-3) and List of Public Health Centres (Help Line)
 

LEVEL 3

Country	Areas/Provinces/Regions
People’s Republic of China	Hubei Province, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Republic of Korea	Daegu, Gyeongsan-city, Andong-city, Yeongcheon-city, Chilgok-gun, Uiseong-gun, Seongju-gun, Cheongdo-gun, Gunwi-gun, Bonghwagun
Countries Enforced Throughout  Republic of San Marino, Republic of Iceland, Principality of Andorra, Italian Republic, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Austria, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Swiss Confederation, Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Slovenia, Kingdom of Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Kingdom of Norway, Vatican City, French Republic, Kingdom of Belgium, Republic of Malta, Principality of Monaco, Principality of Liechtenstein, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Islamic Republic of Iran

LEVEL 2