A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (Feb 8th)

A message from Governor Tasso during a meeting of
the Iwate Prefecture COVID-19 Countermeasures HQ (February 8, 2021)

 The state of emergency declared by the national government last month was extended to March 7, 2021 for the following prefectures: Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Gifu, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka.

 In light of this, I would like to ask everyone again to please refrain from traveling to areas listed under the state of emergency for non-essential and non-urgent reasons (ex. going home or leisure travel) to prevent the further spread of the virus.

 I also ask that you exercise special caution in traveling to and from areas with a large spread of infections.

 For periodical updates of the coronavirus situation in Japan, please visit the official prefectural website. Also, please be sure to check the coronavirus situation of the region you intend to visit if you will need to travel between prefectures.

 As for Iwate, while there was a cluster case that occurred in Miyako when we entered February, in the most recent week (as of Feb. 8), we have had 1.5 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, and our hospital bed usage is at 8% of our prepared capacity. Therefore, our healthcare system is not in danger to reach Stage III levels yet.

 Once again, if you are feeling ill with symptoms like a high fever or a cough, please consult with either your primary care/family doctor or the COVID-19 Consultation Center to take the PCR test as soon as possible.

 In addition, aside from being mindful of the coronavirus safety measures, it is also important to be up-to-date with your regular health checkups. You may make your condition worse if you refrain from visiting doctors for a physical checkup for cancers and other illnesses out of fear of catching the virus. Please do not hesitate to visit the doctor since preventative measures, such as adequate ventilation and disinfecting workspaces, are strictly conducted at medical institutions to ensure that patients can visit with peace of mind.

 Thank you very much.