Message by Governor Kuroiwa(英語)

Message by Governor Kuroiwa 

Following the lift of the state of emergency declaration on March 21, more and more people are going downtown feeling a sense of freedom, tempted by the spring weather.  It has been found out by the monitoring to date that when the infection rate among people in their 20s and 30s increases, that of the entire population also goes up later.  We have to be more vigilant as the infection rate of young generation in Kanagawa is already on the rise now.  If we fail to fully take basic infection prevention measures, there will be an upsurge in COVID-19 infections again, which might lead to the third issuance of the declaration.

Now, what we should keep in mind is prevention of rebound. 

In light of the situation, Kanagawa Prefectural Government decided to designate the weeks until April 21 as the “Period for prevention of rebound” and continue its request for avoiding outings and shortening business hours.

If the situation improves with your cooperation, we would consider early withdrawal of the request.  Let me ask you to take thorough measures on eating and drinking occasions, the critical point in infection prevention.  

[To prefectural citizens]

• To reduce contacts with others, refrain from outing as much as possible unless it is necessary to maintain living.  When you eat out, make it a practice to wear a mask during a conversation regardless of day and night.  Lunchtime and coffee break are not exceptional.  Please also eat quietly and alone.  The important point is to take thorough precaution for droplets. 
• Cherry blossoms are in season, but do not have a get-together for cherry viewing.  Refrain from having parties, such as thank-you parties and welcome/farewell parties including the ones for new students. 

[To business operators]

• We will extend the request to close business by 21:00 to April 21.  Serving alcohol should be stopped by 20:00.  Business operators that meet the request will receive \40,000 a day for the cooperation.  Displaying the “List of Prevention Measures against COVID-19 Infection” and encouraging customers to wear a mask during a conversation remain to be the conditions to receive the financial compensation.
• Observe the guideline by business category, and keep taking thorough measures, such as installing acrylic boards and limiting number of customers using CO2 measuring devices.

The prefectural government will make an all-out effort to take stronger measures to respond to the spread of the variants, watch patients recuperating at home and improve the prefecture’s medical care system “Kanagawa Model”.

Please keep in mind that we are always exposed to the novel coronavirus.  In order to prevent resurgence of infections, I ask you again to keep practicing the basic infection prevention measures of MASK.

 

M for mask wearing in an appropriate manner
A for alcoholic disinfection
S for screening using acrylic boards, etc
K for keeping social distance and ventilating, plus humidifying in winter time

 

March 24, 2021
KUROIWA Yuji
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

 

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