Kyoto University’s Policy on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Ver. 3)

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Kyoto University’s Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) was added to the Japanese government’s list of designated infectious diseases on 28 January 2020 (effective from 1 February 2020).
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has set the following infectious disease warning levels:

  • Hubei Province: Level 3 (avoid all travel), announced on 24 January 2020.
  • Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province: Level 3 (avoid all travel), announced on 14 February 2020. All other areas in China: Level 2 (avoid non-essential travel), announced on 31 January 2020.
  • Daegu City and Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea: Level 2 (avoid non-essential travel), announced on 25 February 2020.
    According to the notice issued by the Embassy of Japan in Korea on 25 February 2020, the South Korean government raised its virus alert level to the highest level (“serious”) on 23 February 2020 due to the rapid spread of the infection. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also raised its travel warning for South Korea to its highest level (level 3: “avoid nonessential travel”).
  • Iran: Level 2 (avoid non-essential travel), announced on 26 February 2020.

Based on the current situation, Kyoto University has adopted the following policy regarding overseas travel, etc. As the situation is changing rapidly, please be sure to obtain the latest information.

1. Overseas Travel

  1. China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
    Based on Kyoto University’s Criteria for Overseas Travel Permission, all Kyoto University students are instructed “not to travel in principle” to China (including Hong Kong and Macau). Faculty, and staff are strongly recommended to avoid any travel to China (including Hong Kong, and Macau). Regarding travel to Hubei Province and Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province (for which MOFA has issued infectious disease warnings of level 3: “Avoid all travel”), the university has issued a “travel not permitted” instruction for students and a “travel not permitted in principle” instruction for faculty and staff members.

  2. South Korea
    Students, faculty, and staff are strongly recommended to reconsider non-essential travel to South Korea. Students are instructed “not to travel in principle” to Daegu City and Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, for which MOFA has issued infectious disease warnings of level 2: “Avoid Non-essential travel”.

  3. Iran
    As MOFA has set its infectious disease warning level for Iran to Level 2, faculty and staff members are strongly recommended to avoid any travel to Iran.
    Please note that regardless of the disease warning level, MOFA’s general travel warning levels for Iran vary from Level 2 (“Avoid non-essential travel”) to Level 4 (“Evacuate and avoid all travel”) depending on the region. Students are instructed “not to travel in principle” to the areas designated as Level 2 and “not to travel” to areas designated as Level 3 or Level 4. Faculty and staff members are instructed “not to travel in principle” to areas designated as Level 3 and “not to travel” to areas designated as Level 4.

  4. Information regarding each respective country or region’s entry restrictions and other conditions imposed on travelers from Japan and Japanese nationals with regards to the novel coronavirus can be found on MOFA’s Overseas Travel Safety Information website. If you are planning to travel overseas, please be sure to check the most recent information regarding entry restrictions, strengthened quarantine measures, and travel warnings for Japan provided by official sites, such as MOFA’s Overseas Travel Safety Information website and the websites of the relevant countries’ governments.

2. If you are currently in China and/or traveling (or returning) to Japan from China

  1. Please immediately report the following information to your department: the areas in China in which you have stayed, the date of your arrival in Japan, your health condition at the time of your arrival in Japan (whether or not you have a fever or cough, whether you have taken medicine for a fever or cough, etc.)
  2. Students, faculty, and staff who are staying in China and have symptoms such as a fever or cough, should seek medical care at a local healthcare provider, and report the diagnosis to their department as soon as possible.
  3. If you have symptoms such as a fever or coughing upon your arrival in Japan, please be sure to report it to a quarantine officer at the airport, as well as to your department.

3. After traveling (or returning) to Japan from China

  1. Please be sure to monitor your health for any symptoms, such as fever or coughing (recording your physical condition and temperature) for at least two weeks after returning from China or traveling to China.
  2. Please continue to monitor your health carefully, and stay at home (studying at home, etc.) unless you must go out due to unavoidable circumstances.
  3. If you have any such symptoms, please do not go directly to a medical facility in person. First, be sure to consult with a consultation service or local public health center and report it to your department.

4. Regarding classes and regular examinations

Each department shall take appropriate measures to minimize the impact on students who must continue their studies, etc., while staying at home, such as setting report assignments or holding makeup exams at a later date.

5. In the case that a student, faculty, or staff member is confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus

Any student, faculty, or staff member who is confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus must either be hospitalized or recuperate at home. They are not permitted to come to the university. They must inform their department of the situation. Once they have recovered from the virus, they may come to the university only after they have submitted evidence of their full recovery issued by the doctor supervising their treatment.

6. Other important precautions

If you have any symptoms, please do not go directly to a medical facility in person. First, be sure to contact a consultation service or local public health center and follow their instructions. Please also report the matter to your department and the university clinic (075-753-2405) and continue to keep them updated of the situation.

Information issued by the university

Consultation Services

  • Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Japanese, English and Chinese) : 0120-565653（toll free） (9:00–21:00)
  • Kyoto City consultation service for persons recently arrived in Japan or who may be at risk of infection (Japanese only): 075-222-3421 (24 hours per day)
  • Kyoto Prefecture consultation service for persons recently arrived in Japan or who may be at risk of infection (Japanese only): 075-414-4726  (24 hours per day)
  • Uji City, Yamashirokita Health Center (Japanese only): 0774-21-2911 (Weekdays: 8:30–17:15)

Residents of cities other than those listed above should contact the relevant consultation service or the nearest Public Health Center.

Links

Contact

Risk Management Section, General Affairs Department
E-mail: 830riskkanrikakari*mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Please replace * with @)

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