Take careful actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 ～ Now the summer is here ～
July 22, 2020
NISHIDA Mutsumi
President
University of the Ryukyus
First, I would like to express my sincere sympathy to those affected by the floods in July 2020. I hope that normal conditions are restored as soon as possible. Dear students, faculty, and staff members of the University of the Ryukyus, I hope you are getting along with the strong sunshine.
This year, we are facing COVID-19 and we had record breaking heavy rains. It seems that we had disasters more than enough for the year in the first half of this year. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation despite you may often experience inconveniences.
This summer supposed to be a special one with the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. People all around the world could have been watching the games. Okinawa would have been busy with all the tourists from other parts of Japan and foreign countries, enjoying beaches and walking around town. I feel sad that this summer is completely different from how it would have been.
Still, we are going to have consecutive holidays, summer break, and Obon festival that we all have been waiting for. The Japanese government and local governments are providing subsidies for domestic travel. Some of you may be planning to go visit your family or go traveling for the first time in a long time.
However, we see the increase in COVID-19 cases again in many parts of Japan. At the end of May, the state of emergency was lifted. COVID-19 which was almost under control except in some areas is now spreading again along with the resume of economic activities and reopening of businesses that increased people’s mobility and large-scale events. In some parts of Japan, the spread of COVID-19 is at the same level as before the state of emergency declaration. In some areas, the spread is even serious.
Risk Management Headquarters of the University of Ryukyus has been sending Campus Advisory from our wish that you “don’t get infected and don’t infect others”. Including Okinawa, the spread of COVID-19 is observed in many parts of Japan. We ask you to make careful decisions and to continue your cooperation to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
◎ Take special notice of the followings
1. Please read the Campus Advisory (July 9th, 2020) again. There is advice on “Health Observation” and “Travelling (Business trip)”.
*Please take special notice of the request to keep a record of the route you have taken and observe your health for two weeks after coming back to Okinawa. You can also find how to contact the public health center if you have cold-like symptoms or discomfort (Please look at the flowcharts).
2. If you are planning to travel, please check the warnings, restrictions, and requests for the municipality of the destination and behave accordingly.
3. In Okinawa, most COVID-19 cases are brought in from other prefectures (or related to them). Also, a cluster of more than 100 COVID-19 cases on US military bases was confirmed. We are concerned about secondary infections and community infections. Please act with that in mind even if you are staying in Okinawa.
4. Many infections are reported to happen at “restaurants”. If you are dining out, please go to restaurants taking appropriate infection prevention measures. If the foods are served on big plates for all, please use a pair of chopsticks to share the food instead of using your chopsticks to get the food from the plate. Please do not offer other people to drink from your glass and use individual glasses. And please refrain from speaking loudly.
5. Anyone can get infected with COVID-19. If there were COVID-19 case around you, please strictly refrain from spreading information on SNS that can identify the individual to protect the individual from online smears and ensure to protect one’s human rights and privacy as well as to make sure that the infected individual to feel safe.
We recommend you using the COVID-19 Contact-Confirming App “COCOA”. You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 without recording the information that can identify individuals.
