Dear YNU Students, Faculties, and Administrative Staffs

January 21, 2022(Updated on January 31, 2022 )
TAKAGI Masaki
Executive Director (General Affairs)
OHSHIGE Kenji
Director, Health Service Center

YNU have been asking for your cooperation in taking the following measures under this crucial moment to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus infection.
Currently, the outbreak of Omicron variants has led to a dramatic increase in new coronavirus infections nationwide, and it is said that the sixth wave has arrived.From January 21st, Kanagawa Prefecture has applied “semi-state of emergency COVID-19 measures”. In addition, with the rapid replacement of Omicron variants, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has reviewed the waiting period for close contacts of Omicron variant patients based on the scientific knowledge obtained so far.
　Under these circumstances, we have renewed part of the measures to be taken at YNU. Please make sure to follow these advice.
　Please note that these measures are subject to change in accordance with the progress of the situations, and updates will be available on the website of YNU.

1. What to do when infected with novel coronavirus

(1) In accordance with the School Health and Safety Act or the working regulations of YNU, students, faculties and administrative staffs who have been diagnosed to have the novel coronavirus infection are: requested to notify to the Health Service Center via telephone calls (045-335-1518, 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays); prohibited to attend classes or to commute until they are cured of the infection. In such case, please inform the Health Service Center that you are finished with the treatment and submit a certificate as mentioned.

(2) In accordance with the School Health and Safety Act or the working regulations of YNU, students, faculties and administrative staffs who have been identified to have close contact with person infected with novel coronavirus are: requested to notify to the Health Service Center via telephone calls (045-335-1518, 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays); and prohibited to attend classes or to commute for 7 days following the last date of the close contact with person infected with novel coronavirus.

(3) Students, faculties and administrative staffs who have cold-like symptoms such as fever, severe listlessness (sense of fatigue), or feelings of oppression (breathing difficulties) are requested to consult with the nearest municipal call center via telephone or a medical institution which accept fever outpatients and PCR testing. When instructed to go to a medical institution, you are also advised to, avoid contact with other persons, wear a mask, etc., and immediately present to a medical institution after giving advance notice of your visit. In addition, please notify the result of diagnosis to the Health Service Center. In such case, they are prohibited to attend classes or to commute until they are cured of these symptoms in accordance with School Health and Safety Act or the working regulations of YNU. Before returning to the university, wait for 3 days after the symptoms disappears.

(4) For those who does not fall under (3) but have mild cold-like symptoms are requested to stay at home.

(5) For students who fall under (1) to (3) above are advised to contact the office of academic affairs of their undergraduate or graduate school via e-mail or telephone call about your absence from classes and examinations. For faculty/administrative members who fall under (1) to (3) above are requested to take paid holidays from work.

2. Daily health care and basic actions to prevent the infection

　Following the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Government of Japan has been working to end the pandemic as early as possible. Thus, we request all students and faculty/administrative members of YNU to behave in an appropriate manner at this crucial time as persons who promote practical academic research in order to be trusted by society.

(1) We strongly encourage all students and faculty/administrative members to take actions to minimize the risk of being infected. More importantly, young people, in particular, must be aware that they have a great risk of getting an asymptomatic infection and transmitting the virus to others as spreaders.

(2) Moving beyond the area in which you live during this period may increase your risk of being infected and may spread the disease wherever you visit. In addition, if you are infected while traveling beyond your residential area makes it difficult to identify the source of infection. Thus, it is recommended to carefully determine the urgency of traveling beyond your residential area.

(3) Avoid as much as possible going to places or events, regardless of size, where people communicate with each other at close distances in poorly ventilated spaces.

(4) You are advised to take adequate sleep and nutrition, wear a mask, wash hands with soap and disinfect your fingers, as is the case with avoiding influenza. Also, please call the Health Service Center if you feel uneasy about your health

(5) Risk of infection outdoor has also been confirmed. Make sure to wear a mask even when you meet people outside. However, wearing masks under hot and humid weather might bring you a higher risk of heatstroke. If you are staying outdoor and are able to keep distance with other people, you may take off masks.

(6) Regardless of indoor or outdoor, keep silence while eating is required. While waiting in line at the cafeteria, please keep distance with others and refrain from talking.

(7) While there are some people who thinks risks are low eating outside in an open space, it is considered that eating without a mask accompanies a high risk even in outdoors. When eating outside, make sure to take necessary actions as same as those while staying indoors. Drinking outside (including drinking in the streets) will make you to talk in louder voice and produces more droplets which brings you a higher risk of infection, so do not drink outside.

(8) Talking loudly on public transportation may make some people feel uncomfortable even if they are wearing masks. Please keep in mind to behave in a moderate way.

(9) Please refer to the following website when determining whether or not you need to consult with the municipal call center.
- COVID-19 consultation services (call centers)
https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/lang/covid-19-en/consultation-service.html
https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/k2w/covid19/en_call.html

(10) YOKOHAMA National University Infection Prevention Guidelines for In-person Classes
- For Students
/hus/kyomu/27052/38_27052_1_0_220131040703.pdf
- For Teachers
/hus/kyomu/27051/38_27051_1_0_220131040609.pdf


3. Overseas travel from Japan or entering Japan from foreign countries
Please follow the directions from ”Overseas Travel and New Entry into Japan (Second Report)” (Aug. 2, 2021) and “Procedures for new entry into Japan under “New measures for border enforcement (19)” (Updated on January 4, 2022) .

4. Other Notices
　Please make sure to check the latest updates from following websites and be aware not to be confused from unsure information.

<< Related websites, etc. >>- [COVID-19］Information about MEXT’s measures (the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
https://www.mext.go.jp/en/mext_00006.html

- COVID-19 Information and Resources (the website of the Cabinet Secretariat)
https://corona.go.jp/en/

- About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000164708_00079.html

- 有关新型冠状病毒感染症（厚生劳动省网站）
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_09534.html

- The website of overseas safety (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/ *In Japanese

- Kanagawa Prefecture Novel Coronavirus Infection Hotline
Tel: 0570-056774 Hours: open for 24 hours

- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
https://www.japan.travel/en/

- Notice and hotline on Novel Coronavirus Infection from each prefecture (linked to Prime Minister’s Office of Japan Website)
https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/pages/corona_news.html *In Japanese

- Information on the jurisdictions of public healthcare centers (the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/kenkou/hokenjo/ *In Japanese