Message by Governor Kuroiwa(英語)

Message by Governor Kuroiwa

New cases of the novel coronavirus infection have been rapidly increasing in November. 

The number of newly confirmed cases exceeded 200 two days in a row: 205 yesterday and 226 the day before yesterday.  The prefectural government monitors the state of infection every day, and the occupancy rate of the entire hospital beds, one of the indexes to show the bed shortage level, rose above the standard for State III (rapid increase). We issued Medical Alert on November 14 requesting Kanagawa Model-certified medical institutions accepting COVID-19 patients to expand the number of their beds for the infected.  However, the situation is extremely tight due to the steep rise in the hospitalized patients.

In order to prevent collapse of the medical system and ensure the necessary number of beds, we will review the present standard for hospital admission.  With regard to the so-called active epidemiological investigation, we will shift its focus to medical institutions with high risks and homes for the elderly after consultation with the municipalities operating their public health centers, as infection is widely spreading in some regions and it is difficult to fulfill the objective of the investigation, which is to identify the infection sources to prevent further spread.

To stop this ever-expanding infections, I ask for your cooperation.  Please keep in mind that the virus is always around you, and thoroughly take basic measures of “MASK”, which stands for
M for mask wearing in an appropriate manner,
A for alcoholic disinfection,
S for screening using acrylic boards, etc. and
K for keeping social distance and ventilating, plus humidifying in winter time.

Please refrain from dining in a large group and for a long time as long as possible because it imposes higher risk of infection.  Avoid visiting shops and restaurants where the “List of Measures against COVID-19” is not displayed if you eat meals together.  Keep wearing a mask even when dining, except for the time of actual eating and drinking, as the virus spreads through droplets generated in conversations.

The prefectural government promotes “dining wearing a mask” along with the new program to rent acrylic boards, circulators and humidifiers to restaurants for free.

Because of the critical situation of hospitals, we all have to share a stronger sense of crisis.  So, until “dining wearing a mask” becomes widely practiced and the infection gets under control, I request the contractors to suspend sales of new coupons of “Go To Eat Kanagawa” from November 25 under the authority of the governor.

If this situation continues, the infection level will be raised to Stage III (rapid increase). To stop this, each one of us is required to take prevention measures in daily life.

In coping with difficult times, your understanding and cooperation for our united effort to combat COVID-19 would be highly appreciated.

November 20, 2020
KUROIWA Yuji
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

 

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