First COVID-19 Case Confirmed in Shiga A Message from the Governor to the People of Shiga

Today, the first case of COVID-19 in Shiga was confirmed. The patient is currently under observation and receiving treatment while we are investigating his movements until now.
COVID-19 has struck throughout Japan, with over 1,000 confirmed cases so far.
We should all be careful and work together to overcome this difficult situation. Here are four things you should know:
1. The prefecture has established a 24/7 contact center. Don’t hesitate to contact it if you have any concerns. We have also set up a system for examinations and treatment, which you can use without worry.
2. We are also cancelling or postponing various events across Shiga, as well as doing our best to reduce the number of instances where many people gather, including by closing schools until the end of the schoolyear. Please avoid staying in crowded places for long periods of time as much as possible. We hope for your understanding and cooperation.
3. Be sure to have a balanced diet, and get enough sleep and exercise to keep your immune system strong enough to fight off any viruses.
4. Please contact us if your business is seeing a decline in clients or sales and you are having trouble making a living. If you cannot go to work because you have children, you can contact the center responsible for employment and labor. We want to build a system that allows everyone to work together, for example by allowing parents to secure a space at a day care within Shiga or a place for children with disabilities.
The next one to two weeks will be very important. We hope that you will stay calm and take the appropriate infection control measures to protect the health of your family and other loved ones.