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

ページ番号1027623　 更新日 令和3年7月21日

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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

July 9,2021

 During a screening test for COVID-19 variants in an infected case within Iwate, the L452R mutation (a mutation with the possibility of being the Delta variant type) was found. Going forward, the Iwate Prefecture Research Institute for Environmental Sciences and Public Health will conduct genome analysis in order to confirm the variant.

 Within infected cases in Iwate, the original variant of COVID-19 was almost completely replaced by the more infectious Alpha variant in mid-June. The Delta variant has been suggested to be even more infectious, so now we are facing the possibility that the spread of infections will proceed even quicker than before.

 Additionally, another increase in the spread of infections has led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo, which has a large influence on the rest of the country. An increase in the movement of people can be expected during the 4-day holiday from July 22 to 24 as well as Japan’s summer vacation period, so there is a concern that there will be an increase in the spread of infections within Iwate.

 Due to this increased risk of infection, today, I will enact a Declaration of Vigilance in Iwate, and work with the people of Iwate to even more thoroughly prevent infection.

 To the people of Iwate, I would like to ask you to once again thoroughly enact infection prevention measures such as the basic steps below in order to prevent the spread of variant cases of COVID-19.

  • Please wear appropriate masks in the proper way.
  • Please continue to wear masks even after being vaccinated.
  • Please avoid any situation that is at risk of the “Three C’s”(closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings) even if it only fits one or two of the criteria.
  • Please wear masks during conversation at meals with others.
  • Please visit a medical facility as soon as possible if you are feeling ill with symptoms like a high fever or a cough.
  • To medical facilities: please proactively test patients with symptoms such as a fever.

 Even if the whole of Iwate works to prevent the spread of infection, should the virus spread even further or our healthcare system reaches a critical stage, then we may have to consider placing movement restrictive measures and other stringent measures by declaring our own state of emergency or manbо (stricter control and containment) measures. To prevent that from happening, I would like to ask all residents for their cooperation in practicing safety measures as thoroughly as possible.

From the National Governors’ Association - Make this a summer for protecting ourselves, our families, and our homelands!

Be cautious when taking trips across prefectural lines!

  • We’re headed into Japan’s summer vacation and O-bon holiday season. Please take into account COVID-19 infection levels, consult with family and friends, and be cautious when making any decisions to cross prefectural borders for unnecessary reasons, including for travel, visits to relatives, and business purposes.
  •  In particular to prevent the spread of infections between different regions, as a rule, please halt or postpone any movement to areas under a declaration of a state of emergency, areas under stricter control and containment measures (“manbo”), or other such regions.
  • Should you need to cross prefectural lines for a necessary matter, be sure to thoroughly work to prevent infection and further spread at your destination.

Cheer on the Olympics from home!

  • In order to prevent the spread of infection to Olympic athletes and the rest of the world, please watch the events on TV with your family at home so we can cheer on these athletes while also protecting our health.

Let’s take our infection prevention to the next level!

  • We must be vigilant against COVID variants such as the highly infectious Delta variant. Until the majority of people get the vaccine, please continue to wear non-woven face masks and work to avoid the Three C’s (closed spaces, crowded places, close contact).
  • When at dinner parties and events, please refrain from making loud voices and otherwise causing a commotion, as that could lead to the spread of droplets and thus being infected.
  • When eating with others, please eat at places that have been designated as restaurants that follow the COVID guidelines. Also, please be sure to only eat in small parties, only stay for a short time, wear a mask when not eating or drinking, refrain from commotion, and otherwise thoroughly carry out prevention measures.
  • Please make use of flex-time work schedules and teleworking systems in order to decrease the amount of people out and about.

Cooperate with requests from prefectural governments!

  • Please do as much as possible to comply with requests like refraining from unnecessary outings and reducing business hours and alcohol-serving hours at restaurants.
  • Please cooperate in investigations done to reduce the spread of infection, including those at public health centers at your destination.

July 11, 2021

National Governors’ Association

A Request from Iwate Prefecture

Regarding Safety Tips to Reduce Risk of Infection

Front Page

Back Page

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.

Current state of COVID-19 in Iwate

Confirmed positive cases in Iwate: 1,874
(As of July 21st, 2021, 15pm)

Tests for COVID-19 administered in Iwate:91,524 (Results: 1,874 confirmed positive)
(As of July 21st, 2021)

Information on the COVID-19 vaccine

Current state of COVID-19 in Japan

To prevent the further spread of the virus, we kindly ask all residents to refrain from traveling to “regions that have declared a State of Emergency”, unless it is for urgent and essential reasons. In addition, please make careful consideration when traveling to regions that are or have been reporting “15 or more new cases within the most recent week (per a population of 100,000)”, one of several conditions indicating the rate of infections; or to areas that have announced to refrain traveling or going out for similar non-urgent and non-essential reasons.

Information

English Links

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)

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Office of International Affairs, Department of Homeland Promotion
(020-8570)　10-1 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, JAPAN
Phone number:019-629-5765 Facsimile:019-629-5254
You can access our question form here.