Message by Governor Kuroiwa(英語)

The number of new COVID-19 infection cases rapidly increased in a short period of time due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Kanagawa is not faced with hospital bed shortage right now, however, the situation may change in a moment if the infection now prevalent among young people further spreads to the elderly, who are at high risk for developing severe symptoms.

It is also feared that social and economic activities may be paralyzed if so-called essential workers become unable to work due to infection, etc.

Based on this serious situation, the national government today decided to apply the priority measures to prevent the spread of the disease to Tokyo and three prefectures, including Kanagawa, under the Act on Special Measures starting from January 21 to February 13.

In response to this, Kanagawa Prefectural Government (K.P.G.) makes requests to the prefectural citizens and business operators as below.

[To prefectural citizens]

Keep in mind that crowds pose a high risk of infection and avoid crowded places.  Be sure to wear a mask even when dining unless you actually eat and drink.  Thoroughly implement basic infection preventions measures of M-A-S-K (M for mask wearing, A for alcoholic disinfection, S for screening using acrylic board and short contacting time and K for keeping social distance and ventilating plus humidifying).  Do not visit eating and drinking establishments that are not certified as restaurants practicing mask wearing recommendation or establishments that are open even after 21:00.

What we should do now is to prevent infection among the elderly.  Let me ask each one of you again to take precautions.

[To business operators]

• Certified establishments are requested to select either of the following business hours: To operate until 21:00 and serve alcohol by 20:00 or to operate until 20:00 and serve no alcohol.  The amount of cooperation subsidy to be granted differ depending on the selected operation hours. 
  The number of customers at a table is limited to four.  However, in the cases of using restaurants for a wedding party or celebration/mourning occasion such as Buddhist memorial service, there is no limitation on the number of attendees if it is confirmed that all the participants test negative for COVID-19 on the day of the event.
• Eating and drinking establishments that are not certified are requested to operate until 20:00 without serving alcohol, four people or less at a table. 
• Uncertified establishments are also eligible for cooperation subsidy if they shorten their business hours on our request.
• The maximum number of audience at large scale events shall be 20,000 people on condition that an infection prevention safety plan is formulated and confirmed by K.P.G.  However, if all visitors exceeding 20,000 test negative on the day, visitors are admitted up to the capacity of the venue. 
• Operators of medical, welfare and utility businesses are requested to take full anti-infection measures for their employees and make efforts to continue operation even if many of their employees become infected or come into close contact with an infected person.

The prefectural government responded quickly to secure the medical care provision system, increasing the hospital bed number for COVID-19 patients to phase III at the end of the last year, securing more lodging facilities for recuperation and enhancing support system for patients recovering at home. 

It gives me pain to place a burden on the prefectural citizens and business operators again by taking these quasi-emergency measures.  I hope that we can overcome this crisis as soon as possible with this stricter measures in place for 24 days.  Your continued understanding and cooperation would be highly appreciated.

 

January 19, 2022
KUROIWA Yuji
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture