An Appeal to Shiga Residents Regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus

On April 7th, the national government announced a state of emergency in 7 prefectures: Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

This does not apply to Shiga.

We are focusing on two objectives to prevent the situation from getting worse:

1. Working on avoiding the spread of the virus.
2. Adjusting the system to provide medical care with a focus on patients with severe symptoms.

In order to avoid the spread of the virus, and to protect your life and livelihood, we ask for your cooperation in doing the following:

1. Avoid travel to areas with high levels of infection, especially Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka.
2. Do your best to fend off the virus by properly washing your hands, respecting coughing and sneezing etiquette, and eating and sleeping well.
3. Don’t create settings where all “Three Cs” overlap in your everyday life, including at work: spaces that are closed and crowded, and where you are in close contact with others. Stay away from such places.
4. If you have cold symptoms, a fever of 37.5℃ or over lasting for 4 days or more, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, contact the Center for returnees and people who’ve come in contact with the infected. If you do not speak Japanese, call the Shiga Foreign Residents Information Center instead.

This is the most important time to act. Whatever you do, please stay calm.

Let’s all do our best together.

MIKAZUKI Taizo, Governor of Shiga

April 7, 2020

Center for returnees and people who’ve come in contact with the infected

Pharmaceutical and Infectious Disease Prevention Office, Department of Public Health Care and Welfare, Shiga Prefectural Government

(24/7, including holidays)

080-2470-8042

Shiga Foreign Residents Information Center

(Weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Telephone: 077-523-5646

Email: [email protected]

Available languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Nepali, Russian, Hindi

Note: For enquiries related to COVID-19, please call or email, and avoid coming to the center in person.

• Closed spaces with poor ventilation
• Crowded places with many people nearby
• Close-contact settings, such as close-range conversations