A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (Aug 27th)

-A message given by Governor Tasso during the 20th meeting of the Iwate Prefecture COVID-19 Countermeasures HQ (August 27th)-

Since our first case on July 29th, we have now a total of 19 confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Iwate, including the family cluster case that was confirmed yesterday.

While we will strive to provide adequate medical care to the infected patients, by not only limiting ourselves to the guidelines of what constitutes a close contact by the national government, we will inspect anything we find suspicious in order to search and confirm positive cases swiftly as possible and prevent the further spread of the virus.

In order to prevent the further spread across regions and to protect the health of all, including those near to the infected patients, we thank you for your understanding and would like to kindly ask for your continued support and cooperation.

We are seeing an increase in the virus spreading within families. Therefore, in regard to conducting preventive measures within the household:

1) Please continue to follow basic measures such as frequently washing your hands, ventilating frequently, and following the coughing etiquette even within your home.

2) During meals, avoid sharing meals or serving meals on a big plate. Instead, prepare and serve meals on individual, smaller serving plates.

3) Check your body temperature every morning and to look out for any health issues. If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, please contact the hotline of the Consultation Center for Recent Arrivals and Those Exposed to People Confirmed to have COVID-19, or your local hospital, for consultation or further assistance. 

I sincerely wish a fast recovery to those who have been infected.

Any discrimination, prejudice, slander or severe bashing towards the infected, their family members, and also their workplace will potentially discourage those with symptoms to seek consultations, resulting in the further invisible spread of the virus. Such acts are not tolerated even from a standpoint of protecting human rights. Therefore, we ask all residents to remain calm and civil, and above all, show sincere compassion.