Message by Governor Kuroiwa(英語)

Message by Governor Kuroiwa

Let me express my deep gratitude to the prefectural citizens and business operators for the understanding and cooperation to our request for refraining from outing and shortening business hours since the state of emergency was declared to Kanagawa on January 7.

The number of new COVID-19 infections in Kanagawa has decreased compared with the number when the declaration was made.  However, the severe state of the medical care system still continues, and the situation remains unpredictable.

Against this background, the national government decided to extend the state of emergency declaration until March 7.

In response to this decision, Kanagawa Prefectural Government will extend its request to the prefectural citizens and business operators to avoid unessential outings, close eating and drinking establishments by 20:00 (provision of alcohol by 19:00) and scale down events until March 7.  Especially, I strongly ask you the following.

[To prefectural citizens]

• There are still many people on the street in daytime.  Avoid going out to shopping and entertainment districts and having an after-ceremony meal together even during daytime so as to reduce contacts with other people as much as possible.  Use delivery or take-out meal services for lunch.  Refrain from going on a graduation trip and holding a graduation party.

[To business operators]

•  In order to reduce movement of people in daytime, please thoroughly implement teleworking, rotation of staff and staggering working hours to reduce office attendance by 70%.  The prefectural government offers assistance programs to introduce teleworking.
• Encourage your staff to have lunch at different times to prevent infection in the office, in addition to refraining from outings and dining together.
• Please turn off neon signs by 20:00 and illuminations at an earlier time.
• Eating and drinking establishments are requested to focus more on delivery or take-out services.
• Business operators that accept our request for shortening business hours are able to receive financial compensation for cooperation.  Display of the “List of Prevention Measures against COVID-19 Infection” is required to receive it.

The state of emergency declaration will be lifted once the spread of infection stops.  However, if we don’t continue the thorough basic infection prevention measures, the third declaration would be unavoidable.

Dining and drinking occasions are the critical point in preventing infection.  So, I ask you the following basic measures.

[To prefectural citizens]

• At a restaurant, eat without talking, eat by yourself or if dining with someone, wear a mask when you have a conversation.

[To business operators]

• Place acrylic boards, etc. to prevent spread of droplets.

The prefectural government continues its utmost effort in securing the medical care system.  We will also develop a system to enable regular testing for elderly facility workers as soon as possible while paying attention not to increase the burden on public health centers.

We will further enhance the call-center counseling programs for various issues that the prefectural citizens and business operators are facing.

Now we need to have a strong sense of crises.  Let us work together to overcome this emergency.

 

February 2, 2021
KUROIWA Yuji
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture