Message by Governor Kuroiwa(英語)

Message by Governor Kuroiwa 

Since lifting of the state of emergency declaration on the 21st last month, Kanagawa Prefectural Government has requested the prefectural citizens and business operators to refrain from unessential outings and shorten business hours to 21:00 to prevent “rebound” in new cases of infection.

Owing to your understanding and cooperation, infections in Kanagawa largely declined to the level equivalent to Stage II. However, the number of new cases turned upward in April, and now it stands at the same level as that in mid-February in the last emergency period. Ratio of young people is on the rise, which is said to be the sign of surge in the overall population. Infections with variants are spreading, too.

New cases per day in Kanagawa exceeded 200 for the third straight day. Looking back on the past months, I found that it was mid-November when the figure of new cases went beyond 200 for the first time. Infections rapidly spread one and a half months later, leading to the second declaration of a state of emergency.

Based on this experience, we consider it important to find out the sign of surge in infections accurately and take proactive prevention measures at an early stage. Yesterday, we made a request to the national government to authorize Kanagawa to toughen anti-virus measures in accordance with the Act on Special Measures. In response, the national government decided to apply priority measures to prevent infections to Kanagawa for 22 days effective from April 20 until May 11. The prefectural government decided to add Yokohama City, Kawasaki City and Sagamihara City to the list of areas in need of the priority measures.

To avoid the third state of emergency declaration, we strongly ask the prefectural citizens and business operators to take the following measures.

[To prefectural citizens]

• Avoid outings unless it is necessary for living. Refrain from moving beyond the prefectural borders excluding for commuting to workplaces and schools.
• Do not visit shops and eateries not displaying the “List of Prevention Measures against COVID-19 Infections”. Especially, avoid going to eating and drinking establishments operating even after the requested closing time.
• Keep wearing a mask when eating out irrespective of daytime and nighttime. The prefectural government will promote this new rule through various approaches.
• Do not drink alcohol on the street. We will patrol downtown areas in cooperation with relevant agencies.

[To business operators]

• The request to close business by 21:00 until April 21 will be revised as follows.

• Eating and drinking establishment operators are requested to thoroughly practice basic infection prevention measures, such as recommendation of mask wearing while dining, alcoholic disinfection of hands, installment of acrylic boards and frequent ventilation.
• Prefectural officials will visit each establishment to confirm that these measures are properly taken. Also, we make a new program to certify restaurants that are actively promoting mask wearing, and support them.
• Business operators that meet the request will receive financial compensation.  Displaying the “List of Prevention Measures against COVID-19 Infection” and encouraging customers to wear a mask while dining remain to be the conditions to receive it. From April 20, the amount of compensation will be determined according to the scale of the business, both inside and outside the designated areas.
• Many cluster infections have occurred in so-called “daytime karaoke” occasions across the country. Eating establishments are requested to refrain from using karaoke equipment.
• In holding events, limit the number of participants up to 5,000 people. Closing time should be by 20:00 in the designated areas and 21:00 in other areas.
• Please continue implementing teleworking and work rotation to reduce workers’　attendance by 70%. Measures such as staggering working hours and lunch breaks are encouraged to prevent crowded situations during commuting and at workplace. And also, discourage employees from dining in a group.

The prefectural government, examining the cases of so-called “third wave”, concluded agreement with medical institutes approved as Kanagawa Model to increase the secured hospital beds from 1,555 to 1,790 at the maximum, and reviewed the necessary number of beds for the five respective phases of infection. We are thus further strengthening the medical care system of Kanagawa.

Now we are entering the consecutive national holidays of “Golden Week” when flow of people is expected be more active. However, if each one of us takes thorough preventive measures when there is a sign of infection spread, we will be able to contain the rapid rise that we saw in January. We ask for your united cooperation in the endeavor to overcome this difficult time.

April 16, 2021
KUROIWA Yuji
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

 

• Have you ever seen “List of Prevention Measures against COVID-19 Infection”?