Guidelines to Bear in Mind Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Infection (No.5)
March 04, 2020
March 4, 2020
To all Okayama University Students and Staff
MAKINO Hirofumi, President of Okayama University
We wish to inform you about changes in the regions regarding which voluntary restraints on travel or a period of observation of symptoms after returning to or entering Japan are necessary due to the spread of infection of the novel coronavirus infection.
In addition, from the viewpoint of prevention of the spread of infection, we request that you do not make imprudent visits to places where large numbers of people are gathered and that you desist from any actions that might elevate the risk of the spread of the infection.
We request that students, faculty members and staff confirm anew the following guidelines to bear in mind and act in an appropriate manner.
(Main changes)
- Regions regarding which voluntary restraints on travel or a period of observation of symptoms after returning to or entering Japan are necessary have been changed from “China” to “regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over.”
- A guideline on treatment in the case that a person is identified as having had close contact with the infected person has been added. (Student authorized absence from classes, Staff and Faculty Members’ Exemption from Duties)
- Preventative measures against the spread of infection
- Guide for medical examination or consultation
- Those Returning to or entering Japan from regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over
- Voluntary restraint on travel to regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over
- Student authorized absence from classes
- Staff and Faculty Members’ Exemption from Duties
- Notification of overseas travel
- Voluntary restraint on acceptance of research scholars, etc.
- Voluntary restraint on volunteer activities, etc.
- Voluntary restraint on the holding of events, etc.
(Preventative measures against the spread of infection)1 As hand washing (prevention against contact infection), wearing a mask for cough etiquette (prevention of infection by airborne droplets) are considered effective for the prevention of the spread of novel coronavirus infection, please ensure that you carry out these preventative measures in a thoroughgoing manner. In addition, as far as possible, please check your own physical condition (e.g. by taking your own temperature, etc.).
If you have symptoms of a cold, such as a fever, take it easy and rest at home. Not coming to the university or going to work when you are feeling unwell are good preventative measures against the spread of infection.
(Guide for medical examination or consultation)2 If you have the following symptoms, please consult your nearest “Returnee or Contact Consultation Center.” As a result of the consultation, in the case that there is a suspicion of novel coronavirus infection, you will be asked to go to a medical institute that has established a returnee or contact outpatient facility. Please wear a mask and undergo an examination at that facility.
◆ Returnee or Contact Consultation Center (Public Health Center)
＜Consultation Center for Returnees or Contacts regarding Novel Coronavirus Infection (Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website)＞
* As a result of the examination, if there is suspicion of novel coronavirus infection, please contact the Okayama University Health Service Center by telephone.
Additionally, if you are diagnosed as having the novel coronavirus infection, please immediately contact the Health Service Center and the faculty, etc. that you are belong to.
○ Health Service Center
TEL 086-251-7217（Weekdays 8:30 to 17:00）
(Those Returning to or Entering Japan from regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over)3 Those returning to or entering Japan from regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over (including transit), please contact the Health Service Center by telephone. Please stay at home to observe your symptoms for 14 days after returning to or entering Japan even if you feel that you are in good physical condition. Please ensure that you, without fail, always take your temperature every day (twice, once in the morning and once in the evening), wash your hands and wear a mask.
Please see the following website for information on regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over.
○ Overseas travel safety information/ Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* All regions or parts of China, South Korea, Iran and Italy have been identified as regions at or exceeding level 2. (As of March 4, 2020)
○ Health Service Center
TEL 086-251-7217（Weekdays 8:30 to 17:00）
Health Service Center
(Voluntary restraint on travel to regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over)4 For the foreseeable future, regarding travel to regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over, please take action such as postponing or cancelling your travel in accordance with the risk level.
(Student authorized absence from classes)5 In the case that you are diagnosed as having novel coronavirus infection at a medical institute, if you are identified as having had close contact with the infected person, or if you return or enter from a region having an infection risk of level 2 or over, as in 3 above, students who need to be absent from classes will be treated as having authorized absence from classes.
Call for Caution regarding the Novel Coronavirus Infection
(Staff and Faculty Members’ Exemption from Duties)6 In the case of diagnosis as having novel coronavirus infection at a medical institute, if you are identified as having had close contact with the infected person, or if you return to or enter from a region having an infection risk of level 2 or over, as in 3 above, staff and faculty members who cannot be present at their posts to engage in work duties will be treated as having staff and faculty members’ exemption from duties.
(February 3 General Affairs and Planning Department Personnel Division Personnel Notification “Regarding Employment Measures, etc. Related to Novel Coronavirus Infection”)
(Notification of overseas travel)7 In the case of overseas travel, staff and faculty members should please submit a Notification of Overseas Travel. Students must, without fail, register overseas travel using a Notification of Travel Abroad for Study or a Notification of Private Overseas Travel using the Okayama University International Exchange Support/Overseas Travel Registration System while at the same time registering your travel on the “Tabi-reji” (for overseas stays of less than three months) or the “Zairyu Todoke ORRnet” (for residence overseas of three months or more) operated by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Voluntary restraint on acceptance of research scholars, etc.)8 Please either postpone or cancel acceptance of research scholars, etc. from regions having an infection risk of level 2 or over.
(Voluntary restraint on volunteer activities, etc.)9 Please exercise voluntary restraint on voluntary support activities in places where people affected by the novel coronavirus are staying or are present, and please exercise careful and voluntary restraint against any careless approach to such a place.
(Voluntary restraint on the holding of events, etc.)10 From the viewpoint of preventing the spread of infection, we ask the organizers of events, etc. to consider once again the necessity of holding the event, etc. based on the spread of infection and the situation of the venue.
Furthermore, if the event is to be held in a venue which has “poor ventilation,” or in a “space in which people will spend some time in crowded conditions,” or in a “place where there is a high probability of contact among large numbers of unspecified persons,” please exercise voluntary restraint in participation in the event.
As the situation is changing even at present, please pay attention to new information, including at the following websites. In addition, please keep in mind sufficient care for personal information and ensure that you remain calm when making responses or taking measures.
〇Overseas travel safety information/ Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
〇Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
〇Notifications and telephone consultation desks for novel coronavirus in each prefecture (Prime Minister’s Office website)
〇“Tabi-regi” or the “Zairyu Todoke ORRnet” /Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
〇Okayama University International Exchange Support/Overseas Travel Registration System
○Regarding Infection measures
Health Service Center 086-251-7217
Safety and Health Department, Health Division 086-251-8984,7286,7100
○Regarding study abroad program and international student affairs
International Affairs Department 086-252-7079（inbound）,7037（outbound）
○Regarding student and academic affairs
Academic Affairs Department 086-251-8423
○Regarding matters related to staff and work
General Affairs and Planning Department, Personnel Division 086-251-7029
○Regarding events, etc.
General Affairs and Planning Department, General Affairs Division 086-251-7007