Information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Iwate Prefecture

We have gathered information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as Iwate’s current status below in English. However, for the most up-to-date information, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare’s website, linked below.

Messages from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19

A message from Governor Tasso during the 67th meeting of the Iwate Prefecture COVID-19 Countermeasures HQ (December 26th)

Recently, the number of new cases has reached around 2000 people every day and as of today, the number of cases per 100,000 people is 951.8. While a steady decrease has been observed in the last four days, the amount of new cases is still high.

Currently, the burden on the medical system is increasing as a result of the spread of the virus. 41.1% of the beds reserved for coronavirus patients are currently in use, and in some areas, more than 50% of the beds are in use.

There has been an increase in the number of medical workers who are unable to work due to close contact or infection, proportionate to the number of cases observed in the prefecture. It is getting to the point where we are being forced to place restrictions on general healthcare such as testing and treatment at certain medical facilities.

I ask everyone to be thorough in infection prevention measures in order to prevent an increase in new cases and prevent further burden on the medical system.

Soon, it will be the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. People will be out and about and meet up with people they don’t regularly meet up with.

Given the current infection situation, anyone can become a close contact or be infected at any time.

With the support of the prefectural medical association and medical facilities, we will ensure that medical treatment will be available throughout the New Year period, however, I ask everyone to avoid going outside if you have symptoms such as coughing or fever, and to prepare rapid antigen tests and fever medicine at home.

I ask everyone, during the New Year period, to be thorough in their infection prevention measures. If you plan to meet people who are likely to become severely infected, such as the elderly or people with underlying conditions, please be even more careful to prevent getting infected and infecting others.

• A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (December 26th)
• A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (November 30th)
• A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (November 18th)
• Message Archive

A Request from Iwate Prefecture

Regarding Safety Tips to Reduce Risk of Infection

• Source: 【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】Installing COCOA (Japanese)（外部リンク）
• Source: 【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】Installing COCOA (English)（外部リンク）

COVID-19 Multilingual Guide

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has set up a webpage with resources and guides regarding COVID-19 in Japan. The page provides various information on how you can prevent the spread of the virus, how you can receive help regarding COVID-19 in your own native language, steps to take if you suspect being infected with COVID-19, and other useful information.

The guideline is available in several languages such as Plain Japanese, English, Chinese, Portuguese, and Korean. Other languages will be available as downloadable pamphlets. Please follow the link below for more information.

• Source:【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】COVID-19 Multilingual Guide（外部リンク）

Current state of COVID-19 in Iwate

Number of tests conducted in Iwate: 662,680
(As of February 2nd, 2023, 3pm)

Confirmed positive cases in Iwate: 226,691
(As of February 2nd, 2023, 3pm)

• Information on Confirmed Cases in Iwate (February, 2023)
• Information on Confirmed Cases in Iwate (Past Cases)
• Iwate State of Emergency (Revised on February 1st 2022)
• Source: 【Iwate Prefecture】Information on the Coronavirus (JPN page)
• Source:【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】Novel Coronavirus Cases in Japan (JPN page)（外部リンク）
• Source: 【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】Map of virus cases in Japan (not including Diamond Princess/returnee cases) (JPN page)（外部リンク）

Information on the COVID-19 vaccine

• Vaccine Information for COVID-19

Current state of COVID-19 in Japan

• Information on the COVID-19 situation in Japan

Information

• Implementation of Recuperating at Home
• Free PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing
• Points to consider following 10 July （PDF 237.9KB）
• Consultation Hotlines/Centers in Iwate for Possible COVID-19 Cases
• Flyers Regarding Preventative Measures in Iwate (Updated 0827)
• Regarding Government Social Support
• Notice from Iwate International Association（外部リンク）

English Links

• 【Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare】About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)（外部リンク）
• 【World Health Organization (WHO)】Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak（外部リンク）
• 【Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)】Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory information（外部リンク）
• 【NHK World】Coronavirus outbreak（外部リンク）
• 【JNTO】Guide for when you are feeling ill (Search medical institutions, travel insurance, and more)（外部リンク）
• 【Iwate International Association】（外部リンク）

English Language Hotline

Iwate Support Center for Foreign Residents

For questions or concerns about daily life, visa issues, and others, please contact the Iwate Support Center for Foreign Residents located in Aiina 5th Floor. They are also currently taking inquiries about the novel coronavirus situation in Iwate.

Operation hours: 9am to 8pm
(daily, except end-of-the year holidays and other specified days)

For Japanese, English, or Chinese: 9am to 8pm (daily)
For Spanish: 9am to 4pm (Saturdays)
Please contact us for consultations in other languages.

019-654-8900

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Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare COVID-19 Hotline

For a smooth and easier communication, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare runs a call center to answer any inquiries related to the COVID-19 situation in Japan.

Operation hours: 365 days
(Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese)

For Thai: 9am to 6pm
For Vietnamese: 10am to 7pm
For all other languages: 9am to 9pm

0120-565653 (Free dial)

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Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC)

A help desk at the Foreign Residents Support Center in Shinjuku has been set up for any inquiries related to the novel coronavirus. If you would like to consult regarding loss of job, difficulties adjusting to life in Japan, new concerns or struggles due to the impact of the coronavirus, please contact the support center for a consultation. Couseling will be available in total 14 languages. Please follow the link below for more information.

Operation hours: 9am to 5pm (weekdays, Mon-Fri)
(Japanese, Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), Nepali, Indonesian, Thai, Khmer (Cambodian), Burmese, and Mongolian)

0120-76-2029 (free dial)

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Japan Visitor Hotline

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) runs a multilingual call center for foreigners to use in emergency situations. You can call any time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are taking questions related to the novel coronavirus – call here first if you think you have symptoms and can’t speak Japanese.

050-3816-2787
 (English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese)

• Details: Iwate Support Center for Foreign Residents (Japanese)
• Details: Foreign Residents Support Center（外部リンク）
• Details: Japan Visitor Hotline（外部リンク）