A message from the Governor of Iwate about COVID-19 (April 26th)

 A message to Iwate residents

A third state of emergency was declared for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo from April 25 to May 11.

 In the Kansai region, the number of infections with the new variant type has surpassed the original type, in which infections continue to spread rapidly. There is also an alarming increase in the ratio of infections with the new variant in the greater Tokyo area, with concerns that infections will continue to spread or increase at a quick pace.

 An infection case with the new variant has also been confirmed here in Iwate. To prevent the spread of infections with this new variant, it is important not to increase the daily number of newly infected patients.

 As more people will most likely travel and gather during the upcoming Golden Week holidays, it is crucial to be extra vigilant when you are in a situation with a high risk of infection.
 I would like all residents and visitors to be extra careful in following basic safety measures such as avoiding the “3 Cs”, frequently washing your hands with soap, and always wearing your masks. Additionally, I would like to request the following:

 Please refrain from traveling to areas declared in the state of emergency or in the manbo (stricter control and containment) measures for non-essential and non-urgent reasons (ex. going home or leisure travel) to prevent the further spread of the virus.

 Please also make careful considerations if you have plans to travel to regions with widespread infections or to places with stay-at-home measures.

 If you plan to attend events with a large number of participants or go to places where a large number of people will gather, please practice thorough preventative measures. If you are experiencing any symptoms such as fever, please stay home as much as possible.

 If you are visiting Iwate from another prefecture with official safety measures to stay-at-home, etc., please also follow those measures your first two weeks here. However, this is not a flat request to stay at home.

 For all accommodation facilities, restaurants, and other shops in the entertainment district, please strictly follow industry-specific guidelines to prevent infections; and I ask all customers to follow these guidelines.

 For event organizers, I ask to implement various safety measures such as avoiding overcrowded entries and exits to the venue, requesting attendees to install contact-tracing apps such as COCOA (COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application), and practicing infection control measures such as “If-Support-Iwate” to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Thank you very much.